I was just about to enter Catch the Wind from Explore the Wild on the back side of the outdoor loop trail when I spotted something stretched out on the path fifty feet or so ahead of me. It was either a snake or a twig that had fallen from a nearby tree. If a snake, it was a thin one. I increased my pace.

As I sped up, two mourning doves that were also in the path, thinking I was chasing after them, panicked, one of them stumbling over the snake causing it to coil up in defensive mode.

As I came closer, the snake turned and high-tailed it back toward the safety of the grass on the side of the path.

The snake clearly wanted to be on the other side of the path. It came back out of the grass several minutes later and hastily crossed in front of me.

Typically, I see rough green snakes only once per year here at the Museum. The infrequent sightings of these gentle, slender snakes is not due to their rarity, but to their color and habits. They disappear quickly in the green grass, shrubs and small trees where they spend most of their time hunting for insects and spiders.

Till next year, green snake!