It’s a real wakeup shock to walk up on a 3 to 4 foot snake laying in the sun right beside the trail. My mind registered him and my muscles reacted instinctively. Before I even realized it, I had jumped 2 feet in the air and backward. Only then did I become consciously aware there was a snake, and what I had done. Ancient survival programming recognizing a danger pattern and firing. There is still that animal core of protective instinct deep within us.

Mr. Gopher Snake remained frozen, his own instinct telling him not to move. I left him in peace to soak up as much sun as he wanted. He has a tale to tell Mrs. Gopher Snake this evening.