Just Another Snake Story
Last Thursday I encountered 3 black rat snakes. The first was a jet black animal I spotted crawling along the roots of a wind-felled tree. He was safe but I stopped to take a closer look and say hello. The second was a newly hatched baby crossing the road. Baby black rat snakes are patterned in varying shades for grey. At this age they are somewhat delicate creatures and I gently lifted it off the road and placed it safely off to the side. It seemed to view my assistance as a non event and took its time disappearing into the cover where I'd placed it. The third snake was an attractively patterned 5 footer. It was also crossing the road, but was less interested in my help. The car in front of me had just passed over him and I thought he’d been hit as he was all coiled up and thrashing but he was fine; fine being a relative term. Frankly, he was in mortal terror. Out in the open with huge noisy metal objects hurtl...