Leeches, snakes make for odd pets

Leeches. Grandson Jacob had leeches in a jar. Where did he get them? He found them in the little creek a block more or less from his house. Why did he have them in a jar? Because he’s a free range boy, who is allowed to explore his world. He reminds me so much of my brother, Michael. 

Just recently Michael found a snake in his yard. Of course he picked it up to show his wife who did not appreciate the find. He wasn’t sure what kind of snake it was, only that it was about three feet long. I’m glad I missed it. He let the snake loose close to where he had found it.

When Michael was about Jacob’s age we were down at the creek when he thrust a rusty soft drink can in my face with the words, “Sissy, look what I found!” Just then a snake about as big around as my finger popped its little head out of the can. Of course, I screamed and Michael laughed.

Jacob and Michael have only met once, at my mom’s funeral. Still, the two are so much alike. They both love fishing, snakes, and anything that would make me cringe. They both have a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. 

The leeches that Jacob had were small ones, they looked like they were two or three inches long. Thankfully what he found were not giant Amazon leeches which can grow to be about 18 inches in length.

I don’t think he could find a jar big enough to hold a couple of those. 

I remember reading about leeches being used medicinally in the Middle Ages. They were used to treat a wide assortment of ailments, such as mental illness, tumors, skin diseases, gout and whooping cough as well as the run of the mill headache. Personally, I prefer modern drugs like aspirin instead of nasty bloodsuckers.

I did not know that leeches breathe through their skin or that they have one to four pairs of eyes.

Apparently they also have three jaws containing sharp teeth that make a Y-shaped opening in the skin. The leech’s saliva numbs the area while dilating the blood vessels and prevents the blood from clotting. Then they settle in for a fresh snack.

Scientists have managed to use the anticoagulant, hirudin, extracted from European medicinal leeches to prevent blood clots after certain surgeries. 

The leeches Jacob found were not used to cure any disease. They were used to chase his mother around the yard. If I know Jacob, he will do the same thing I did a few minutes ago. He will search the internet and by day's end will know more about leeches than most of the rest of us. Before you ask, I am not an expert on leeches or anything else. 

In addition to Jacob's new pets, it is the time of year that baseball rules his days. Since Jacob and his little brother, Nicholas. are on different teams their parents have a lot of running around to get the boys to wherever the  current game is. Jacob is a pitcher and Nicholas is a catcher. As far as I know they do not take leeches to the game with them. 

Big sister, Emma, doesn’t play baseball. Her sport of choice seems to be swimming. I’m not sure if she signed up this year or not. I am sure that she had nothing to do with Jacob’s jar of leeches.  

Most of the time the children are told to let their catches go before bedtime. I sure hope the leeches were returned to their homes before dark. Can you imagine the stories they could tell to their leech buddies?