Survival

The young Eastern Diamondback that I discovered basking on an abandoned golf course in February of 2009 is still alive and kicking. Just this past February, David and I made another attempt to find him, and there he was.....only about 10 feet from where he was found last year, and even within the same month as last year. This time however, it was a cool cloudy day, as opposed to a cool sunny one, and he had taken refuge under a square piece of hard black plastic.















I suspected right away that this was the same snake. He was the right size, in the right area. I wouldn't know for sure until comparing photos, but sure enough, the proof was in the pics. My baby Eastern from last year had made it through an entire year without falling victim to human expansion. It was great to know that he had been eating well, staying warm, and most importantly, that no one with ill intentions had discovered his home base.















Sadly, this snake may not survive the next year. The area he resides is now a dumping ground for tree stumps removed from the surrounding neighborhood. If he is found by a worker, or even the local kids that play around in this area, he will most likely be killed. But there is hope, as the golf course flanks a conservation area. This determined youngster may choose to leave his birthing place in the next couple years and head for thicker woodlands.