Re: The Eastern Milk Snake (OT)

Posted by Rod in Smiths Falls, ON, on May 30, 2007 at 15:40:12 from (209.71.222.22):

In Reply to: Re: The Eastern Milk Snake (OT) posted by Michael Soldan on May 30, 2007 at 05:26:42:

Michael:

The point, of course, is that the snake wasn't interested in the milk. It just hit whatever came within its limited zone of awareness, and the teat happened to be the lowest part of the moving cow at the time it got its strike together. From there the geometry of the snake's teeth and mouth takes over. Once attached, there's no way off. The constrictor comes out in its instinct to wrap itself around whatever threatens it.

As far as the formation of the hoop, I might have another theory. The snake, after I disturbed it with my camera and it struck dimly at me, (no more than a 3 or 4" lurch) turned its head and slowly made its way back on a reciprocal course all the way to its tail. So I had this snake doubled in my lens. Good pictures, btw, if anybody needs some. I suppose as a burrow-raider the snake is accustomed to going out the same way it came in, but the same behaviour on an open driveway seemed peculiar in the extreme. No, it did not bite its tail and form a hoop, but it looked as though it could have done the tail-biting part as its departure scheme involved doubling up and passing the wagging tail with its head before it very slowly made its way back to cover.

I can see how milk snakes often freak people out. They're pretty strange.

Rod

btw: The attached photo is reduced to 1/2 meg to fit the Board, but the originals are 9 meg.

• Snake Hoop

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