Friday, July 30, 2010

What's For Dinner?

If you guessed iguana, you'd be correct.

I live on a stretch of the coastal road that is relatively straight for a mile or so AND has no speed bumps in that stretch to slow people down. Consequently, cars, especially taxis, speed by here at an incredibly fast pace.

I am surprised that we don't see more accidents or even deaths on this road.

So yesterday my curiousity was peaked when I kept seeing golf carts and scooters stop in the road to look at something. When I saw the cameras coming out, I knew I had to grab mine and take a look see. Glad I did.

Somebody had hit some unfortunate iguana and plastered it all over the road. But the amazing part was that this brown snake came out of the nearby bushes and was having himself a quick meal.



He was mouthing a piece and then would roll over and over to break it off. I had no idea that snakes were scavengers like that. He disappeared back into the brush with his prize and then momentarily later would reappear to twist off another piece. I watched until traffic became too crowded and then went home.



I can't count how many times I had locals tell me that there are no snakes on the island. Readers of this blog know as well as I do that that is not true. We for sure have boa constrictors in the wild. Seeing this brown snake yesterday makes four different kinds that I have seen over the years here.

I wonder what kind it is?

12 comments:

Calypso said...

Looks like something from the sea????

Merida Mikey said...

It has all the outward appearances of being a "ratonero", or rat snake! And they are not poisonous. However, I avoid all snakes because I can't tell which ones are venenosa (venemous) and which ones aren't. That's a good rule to follow here in Mexico, avoid 'em all, because we have both types.

Sue said...

We saw that iguana the other afternoon as we passed by. I hate to see roadkill and usually Miguel would take the body off the road, but this one was too far smushed. Glad at least it became a meal for something. And yes, we have snakes - wonder why anyone would try to tell us we don't?!

Anonymous said...

I could have done without this posting. Yuck!

Gloria
Roanoke, Virginia

KfromMichigan said...

YUCK!

Anonymous said...

Posted in poor taste.

Life's a Beach! said...

I saw a snake in the road over by the convention center one day and it was bright green. When I first started reading, I thought you were having iguana for dinner. LOL

Jackie said...

I know at least two people who have seen aq boa; One of the boas was white and right on the beach at Mar y Sol.The other spotting was years ago in a friend's backyard.

Jane said...

ROAD KILL STEW
2 lb. Iguana, if you wanna, cubed
8c water
1 pkg onion soup mix
2 tsp instant beef bouillon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, quartered
4 large potatoes, not peeled, but cut up
6 carrots, cut up
biscuit mix

Start this stew in the morning just after [road kill] cleanup. Combine water and next 5 ingredients in a Dutch oven. Add and veggies. Cover and cook at high simmer all day.
About 15 to 20 minutes before serving time, prepare biscuit mix dough and drop by tablespoon onto the top of the bubbling stew. [Yum!]

[Adapted] From The Geezer Cookbook
By Dwayne Pritchett -- "Medicine Man" http://macscouter.com/Cooking/GEEZERCB_BEEF.asp
[which actually has some good recipes.]

Anonymous said...

Cool!...I like snakes..(and spiders too)...Thanks for the story...D.

Unknown said...

Ewww!. Jane, to make things easier, use Iguana Helper. Not as nutritious, but makes a quick meal.

Arizona Kelly said...

Ewwwwwwww!

I've only seen one snake on Isla, and it was on the patio of our palapa. (Sorry Wayne. I know thats probably a bit to close to home for your comfort!) It was less than a foot long and jet black.