Unwelcome Guest

For those of you who missed it and were asking, here is a picture of the univited guest to the Bear Lodge Writers publication party at Devil's Tower. Yep. A three foot long rattlesnake. He was right in the middle of the picnic area, with kids and party goers running all around. But who almost stepped on him? Of course, me. Amazing how that rattle sound can stop you dead in your tracks. We faced off, I backed away and got the park ranger who was attending the publication party, she called for another ranger to wrangle the snake with a ridiculously short stick. While we waited for Snake Wrangler Boy to show up, we kept a respectful distance and watched. The rattler was fine, gliding about, tasting the air, until Snake Boy arrived and approached with a set of snake tongs in hand. Then the snake curled up and rattled. It was a standoff. I've seen rattlers launch themselves forward, no way would I approach one with a puny three foot long grabber stick. Even a six foot long one is living dangerously. I think Snake Boy had second thoughts, too. The rangers finally herded him off into the tall grass. A quarter mile down the road is an all you can eat prairie dog buffet, so why was the rattlesnake in our midst? For the cookies? The story readings? For the chance to have its picture taken? (Look at me, not the Tower, dang it!)

Wyoming wildlife, gotta love it.

Bear Lodge Writers newest book--
In The Shadow Of The Bear Lodge: Writings From The Black Hills- An anthology by Bearlodge Writers.