Unexpected snowbird things (Punta Gorda, Palmetto: house, neighborhood, living in)

[JERSEY MAN]

Well after a 19 hour drive with an almost 13 year old shepard I arrived in Punta Gorda at 330am. I get off to a quick start this morning and put on my old boat shoes that were in the closet. I stepped on something in the shoe that didn't feel good. It was a Palmetto bug larger than a silver dollar. Yuck. Next start taken down the frobt door shutters to find a snake that made a nest at the base. Did I mention the 3 wasp nest also.

Now I go to the back sliding door shutters to take them down. A large critter bolts by me as I'm on my hands and knees taken off the wing nuts for the shutters. He had a huge nest behind the shutters. Geckos all over. It's a jungle down here. This city boy is off to a fun day. A six pack on ice at the pool for lunch sounds good. Anyone else have anything to share when they arrived back after being away for months.

[Florida or Bust....]

They protect and watch your house while you were away....

[03bluecoupe]

LOL - welcome to Florida son! Glad you made it safely! As for the bugs.... get someone in there and spray. We have a contract with a company (Massey) and I haven't see a bug in the house or on the lanai... (knock on wood) but if I do, they said to call 'em.

Snake? <shudder> and clue what kind?

Anyhow, welcome to the neighborhood. The weather sux doesn't it?

[RobinNYC]

Originally Posted by JERSEY MAN

Well after a 19 hour drive with an almost 13 year old shepard I arrived in Punta Gorda at 330am. I get off to a quick start this morning and put on my old boat shoes that were in the closet. I stepped on something in the shoe that didn't feel good. It was a Palmetto bug larger than a silver dollar. Yuck. Next start taken down the frobt door shutters to find a snake that made a nest at the base. Did I mention the 3 wasp nest also.

Now I go to the back sliding door shutters to take them down. A large critter bolts by me as I'm on my hands and knees taken off the wing nuts for the shutters. He had a huge nest behind the shutters. Geckos all over. It's a jungle down here. This city boy is off to a fun day.

OMG! I know to you it must not be funny, but you made me laugh. I guess us city folk have to get use to having critters around. But I am not sure I like the snake part. How long has it been since your last visit?

[wpc691]

Originally Posted by RobinNYC

OMG! I know to you it must not be funny, but you made me laugh. I guess us city folk have to get use to having critters around. But I am not sure I like the snake part. How long has it been since your last visit?

Snakes keep the rats at bay :-))

[TamRE]

My next door neighbor always finds the slimy green frogs behind his shutters when he takes them down.

I don't know how this happened, but one time my boyfriend and I woke up in the middle of the night and he felt something cold on his face. He thought I was being funny and put an ice cube on him. Well we turned on the light and it was one of those slimy green frogs stuck to his face. Not sure how it got in the house. I am thinking maybe one of the dogs brought it in. But it could have come in through the open slider too, you never know around here what you will run into.

I can tell you stories and stories about bugs, critters and animals that my two beagles get into. Never a dull moment around here.

Welcome back to FL Jersey Man and all the others on their way!

[Sea Ray Mark]

Originally Posted by JERSEY MAN

Well after a 19 hour drive with an almost 13 year old shepard I arrived in Punta Gorda at 330am. I get off to a quick start this morning and put on my old boat shoes that were in the closet. I stepped on something in the shoe that didn't feel good. It was a Palmetto bug larger than a silver dollar. Yuck. Next start taken down the frobt door shutters to find a snake that made a nest at the base. Did I mention the 3 wasp nest also.

Now I go to the back sliding door shutters to take them down. A large critter bolts by me as I'm on my hands and knees taken off the wing nuts for the shutters. He had a huge nest behind the shutters. Geckos all over. It's a jungle down here. This city boy is off to a fun day. A six pack on ice at the pool for lunch sounds good. Anyone else have anything to share when they arrived back after being away for months.

Bobby, i'm sure Gary can tell you stories of how beer goes missing from his fridge when he's gone. Some of those critters are pretty clever. Mark

[RobinNYC]

Originally Posted by wpc691

Snakes keep the rats at bay :-))

RATS! ARE YOU KIDDING! Make note to myself....as soon as I arrive get an exterminator! We have water rats here (NY) but they NEVER come near the house they stay on the bulkhead! I have NEVER seen a snake here either! We do have possums (destroyed the inside of our boat)and raccoons, that's about it! I guess living in Florida is going to be a little challenging with all the new critters to watch out for!

[mktobob]

Welcome back Jersey Man. Did you enjoy the welcoming committees we arranged for you?

[Old Gal]

I guess the frog in the bathroom @ 4 a.m. or the black racer on the lanai are my best stories to date.