This is a hog-nosed snake. The "master thespians" of the snake world. While completely harmless, their main defense from predators is over-acting. First, they pretend to be dangerous cobras! They flatten their head, as you see here, often rising up and swaying back and forth in a threatening manner. If that doesn't work they flip themselves over on to their backs and writhe around in feigned agony and then play dead, even emanating a death-like smelly liquid from their cloaca. If you set them back on their belly they will flip themselves over again and continue playing dead, as if them flipping themselevs over again does not count as demonstration of life. The whole charade is pretty amusing for we humans to watch, but in reality it often works for the snakes themselves.
In other news, I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time this week and was able to take an injured great horned owl to a rehab center where I am told he was able to be saved. I am very happy about that, as they are truly beautiful birds.
Have a great month, and we'll see you here again in November!
