Oh, Oh, Ophidiophobia
Right: The Eastern Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis Nigra). Below: The common Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).
I LOVE A GOOD PROJECT. For Summer 2021 my mission—should I choose to accept it—was to overcome my irrational fear of snakes. The jury’s still out on how well I’ve done. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t petrified of snakes. I don’t mean I was afraid to be bitten by a snake or afraid of venomous snakes. That would be rational. I was afraid of a PICTURE of a snake. I was afraid of the IDEA of a snake. I can recall in detail every snake I’ve spotted on our property, in the past 30 years. And although I enjoy visiting the woods and river behind our house in winter, I rarely leave the yard during warmer months for fear of a close encounter of the snake kind. Last year, I learned about foraging and the joy of finding edible plants I can harvest and eat, dehydrate, can, or pickle. It started with chanterelle mushrooms which quickly led to honey, oyster, wood ear, and amber jelly mushrooms. I gathered beautyberries and made jelly. I harvested thistle and make thistle pickles. (Say that five times fast.) I sprinkled golden rod in my salads. I made cough medicine from pine needles and tea from wild clover. Throughout the cold months, I couldn’t wait to leap out of bed each morning and venture into our woods to see what I
photo: MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
by Mimi Greenwood Knight
Overcoming My Snake Phobia— One Summer at a Time
could find. It was a magical time. Then came spring. I didn’t want the foraging to end but what to do about my paralyzing snake fear? I consulted a friend of a friend who offered to take me “herping” (snake hunting). It was early March as we ventured into the woods and, every time he mentioned it might be too early to spot any snakes, relief washed over me. In truth, we didn’t find a single one but just being with someone who appreciates their purpose in the world began turning my opinion (ever so slightly). He said things like, “Every snake you see is just looking >>
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