Don’t worry, this is not a poisonous snake! This is a nonvenomous water snake, probably a Diamond-backed Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer). See the round pupil? If this were the similar-looking Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous), it would have elliptical “snake eyes.” I admit, that distinction is not one I’d like to be close enough to see in real time!

I wondered about the use of the phrase “snake eyes” as it relates to dice games. Then I wondered if rolling two 1′s is called snake eyes because of the round eyes of snakes like these water snakes. So…I had to look it up. Did you know that rolling “snake eyes” doesn’t have anything to do with a snake’s eyes at all? According to Wikipedia, the symbol of two 1′s is based on the general resemblence to eyes, but the snake part has to do with “treachery and betrayal.”  And apparently the dots on a die have actual names – “pips.” Which sends my strange mind off on an English literature tangent involving Dickens. I’m going to resist the urge to research the reason why dots on die are called pips!

Anyway, I saw more snakes in just a few hours than I have ever seen before. I was visiting one of my favorite haunts, The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. I’ve been through the wetland area many times, but this time was very, very different: there were almost as many snakes as turtles! I passed quite a few people on the boardwalk that day, and most of the “grown-ups” seemed surprised and maybe a little alarmed at the number of snakes, while the kids were mostly excited.

I’ve been learning about all kinds of wildlife through the Texas Master Naturalists program I’ve been attending since early February.  Now, instead of recoiling from snakes, I lean over the rail and look closer!

In this next picture, you can see the yellow color on the snake’s chin and belly. Each photo has a different snake in it, by the way! I must say, they all look fat and happy.

This last picture is my first attempt at piecing two pictures together. This snake was so long that I could not get it all in one frame! Enjoy

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