“Don’t tread on me!”

Sometimes getting the shot *becomes* the shot.
Motivated by Rick Schies’s — https://365project.org/digitalrn/365/ — “Green Hills” post (now removed), there are some fence shots on the way to the lake that I never stop to get. Probably because I’m in a hurry to get to the lake to row, or to get the boat back to the boathouse in the dark.

This morning was drizzly, so the light was diffused, and the fields are green and lush. So on my way to campus today, I took a detour to the University’s equine center and I took a few shots from the road.

There was a place to turn around just past the equine center, so I turned off and decided to get out and take a few more shots from a different angle. When I turned to go back to my car, I noticed this unhappy guy near my feet.

Straw and green netting from a recent grass planting had caught this “Unfortunate” and he seemed unable to back out the way he had gone through. With my large Swiss Army knife scissors I did some snipping. I hope this guy was eventually able to extract himself from his predicament.

None of my field-and-fence shots was as good as Rick’s “Green Hills,” so I offer “Don’t tread on me!” (“Magnify” only if you dare!)

Thanks to one of my wildlife experts for identifying this as a garter snake.

A year ago (“Ahhh — the colors of springtime!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-03-22

A few days later: He seems to have gotten free. :)

[Tessa]

Very nice of you to offer your help. I probably would have but he looks a bit cross. Nice capture

[MaryBeth Dailey]

OMG! Wow. He is scary! You were brave to reach anywhere near that to try to free him. I hope he got loose.

[Thom Mitchell]

@tesssa He *was* a bit cross. “No good deed,” dontcha know!

[Tessa]

@rhoing are you telling me one good deed deserves another.

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta I did no snipping until I found his tail had no rattle!

[Thom Mitchell]

@tesssa Not sure about that, but he seemed pretty ungrateful. I was thinking more along the lines of no good deed goes unpunished…

[Joyce Wells]

Thom to the rescue!! Yay! The poor thing was probably very frightened! He sure has a bright pink mouth! Very nice catch and release!

[Kim]

Snakes scare me to death! This is an awesome shot. I would have been running like the wind! :)

[Rick Schies]

Well Thom, you definitely found yourself a great photo opp here, and I'm sure in spite of it all, this guy was happy for your assistance. And your shot is wonderful, Thanks for the reference words.

[Michelle]

Wow this is amazing Thom. Favd.. Poor wee fellow.. I hope he was ok after his traumatic experience.

[Nancy ((MoonShadow)]

Spectacular shot...unbelievable...

[Myrna O'Hara]

Wow, this guy wasn't poisonous was he?

[Thom Mitchell]

@sailingmusic I sure hope not! I had my snipping hand right there next to his head...

[Karen bable]

Oh man....I hate to say my help would not have been forthcoming and nor would there be any photo. The only way I go near a snake is if they are a handbag or a pair of shoes!

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta @sparkleplenty1 @kdei @digitalrn @michelleyoung @moonshadow Thank you everyone for your kind comments (and your fav, Michelle)! Today I stopped on my way to the lake and he wasn't stuck in the mesh, so presumably he got free with the help I gave…

@kamb Thanks for a good chuckle, Karen!

[carole albrecht]

I was looking at your pictures with my grandson who is 2 and he really liked the snake. ( they are not very high on my like list) - really glad that he got out.

[Heidi]

Love this and love the story behind the shot!! Hope to see the fence someday, but in the meantime this is a fantastic wildlife shot. A fav for me!!