Snake in the Grass

Colloquialisms usually have a basis in reality. There are snakes in the grass and they move fast and disappear quickly. This is a Pacific Gopher Snake and can be confused with a rattlesnake because of its coloration. This is an adult, about four feet long, a beauty to behold. The snake stuck its tongue out every few seconds, and retracted it so fast that I needed a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second to capture it. Pituophis catenifer catenifer

Categories: [Valley Oak Woodland] [reptiles]

Latest Comment

Wow! What a beautiful creature. I love how the patterns on his back blend in with the grasses. Ma Nature at her best.
Elaine @ 06-15-2010
Coolness! :^)
Kathe @ 06-15-2010
A-mazing.
Pat @ 06-15-2010
Great photo! I'm entranced by the tongue.
Patty @ 06-15-2010
Great timing. Definitely not the ominous triangular head of a rattler.
Did you have camera set up already when critter happened to come your way? Or did you see it and quickly grab/set up the camera?
Either way, you nailed it.
Mindy | iPhone Photo Fun @ 06-16-2010
Excellent shot!
I'm impressed with your speed and reflexes.
But be careful.
frankdejol @ 06-18-2010
A very pretty snake! Saw a similar South of San Jose in the hills
JC @ 06-18-2010
What a great find!! I'm not sure - had I stumbled upon this - that I would have taken out my camera. Probably would have run!!! Excellent!!
Marcie @ 06-20-2010

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