[NatureNS] Snake question

From: "Wild Flora" <herself@wildflora.com>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <20070625154111.HCVB18000.simmts8-srv.bellnexxia.net@smtp8.sympatico.ca> <00bb01c7b744$82f74210$ca01a8c0@galatea> <03aa01c7b9f0$10bd9ce0$ba910747@yourfa38fa253f>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 20:31:18 -0300
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Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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I had an unusual (for me, anyway) experience with a snake this morning and
wonder if anyone can shed some light on it. I was taking the dog for her
usual morning walk, passing as always over a bridge that crosses a small
brook. On one side of the bridge the road crews have installed a safety
barrier, and there is a lot of rock there-great snake habitat. As we were
passing the end of the safety barrier, I noticed an abrupt movement out of
the corner of my eye and turned to see that a moderately large snake (I'm
pretty sure it was a common garter snake, and it was probably about the size
of my thumb at its widest point) that was coiled up in front of what might
have been a burrow. The odd part was that the snake had its mouth open and
kept striking in my direction. It didn't come anywhere near reaching me - I
was at least a foot too far away - but it kept striking anyway. Mind you,
neither the dog nor I had done anything to disturb the snake other than walk
past it. I found this very odd because, despite having grown up in Texas,
home of the diamondback rattler, I've never seen a snake be aggressive in
this fashion. So I was wondering if anyone else has seen this and what would
explain it. Have I suddenly begun to resemble a very large mouse?

Flora

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<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">I had an un</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">usual =
(for me, anyway) experience with a snake this morning and wonder if =
anyone can shed some light on it. I was taking the dog for her usual =
morning</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> walk, passing as always over a =
bridge that crosses a small brook. On one side of the bridge the road =
crews have installed a safety barrier, and there is a lot of rock =
there</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">&#8212;</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">great =
snake habitat.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> As we were =
passing</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> the end of the safety barrier, I =
noticed an abrupt movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to see =
that a moderately large snake (</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">&#8217;</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">m pretty =
sure it was a</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">common</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">garter =
snake,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> and</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> it =
was</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">probably about the size of my thumb at its widest =
point)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Arial">that</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">was coiled up in front of =
what</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Arial">might have been a</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> =
burrow.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Arial">The odd part was that the snake had its mouth open =
and kept striking in my direction. It didn</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">&#8217;</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">t come anywhere near reaching =
me</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">&#8211;</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> I was =
at least a foot too far away</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">&#8211;</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> but it kept striking anyway. Mind =
you, neither the dog nor I had done anything to disturb the snake other =
than walk past it. I found this very odd because, despite having grown =
up in Texas, home of the diamondback rattler, I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">&#8217;</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">ve never seen a snake be aggressive =
in this fas</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">hion.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"> <FO