How to catch critters at work

I happen to work at a Nature Center. We recently adopted a fox snake and added it to the animals in our displays. Imagine my surprise this morning when I unlocked the front door and the following occurred.

How to catch critters at work...

Step 1. Do a double take and note that really is a snake inside the front door.
Step 2. Panic!
Step 3. Begin pumping personal supply of adrenaline.
Step 4. Check snake's cage to see if this is our snake or an additional snake that has gained entrance to the building.
Step 5. Panic.
Step 6. Log on Internet to verify what a fox snake really looks like.
Step 7. Note Wikipedia's information that "They are generally docile animals but may bite when molested."
Step 8. PANIC!
Step 9. Take many deep breaths and devise plan to capture said snake without molesting it.
Step 10. Remove garbage liner from trash can.
Step 11. Get tongs from kitchen.
Step 12. Panic.
Step 13. Take additional deep breaths and gain minuscule amount of courage to confront snake.
Step 14. Lay garbage can on side by snake's head.
Step 15. Use tongs to scoot snake into container.
Step 16. Panic, then take more deep breaths.
Step 17. Gently transport container to snake cage.
Step 18. Remove rocks, light, etc. from top of cage.
Step 19. Remove lid to cage.
Step 20. Note the snake hissing in the container.
Step 21. Panic!
Step 22. Dump snake into cage.
Step 23. Panic.
Step 24. Retrieve container from cage after dropping the entire thing inside. (Are you laughing yet?)
Step 25. Quickly return lid, rocks, light, etc. to top of cage and wonder how on earth the snake got out in the first place.
Step 26. Deep cleansing breaths.
Step 27. Return trash can and reline.
Step 28. Wash tongs.
Step 29. DEEP...CLEANSING...BREATHS.
Step 30. Finish turning on lights and opening the nature center for the day.
Step 31. Sigh of relief.
Step 32. Leave note for coworkers to figure out way to keep the snake in its cage.
Step 33. Go to office.
Step 34. Find salamander in your office space. ...



This is going to be one loooooong day!


Remember, I majored in Business in college. I'm sure you wish you could have witnessed the above and I'm also sure it would have been hysterically funny to watch. At least I can smile about it now while I'm recovering.