Pamo Valley
It was a gorgeous day today with blue sky and warm sun, so I went for a ride out to Pamo Valley. Fortunately, there's not a lot of traffic on this road so I can drive very slowly, along the shoulder on the left side of the road, looking for birds in the weeds and on the barbed wire fences. There I was, minding my own business, working on my farmer's tan by half hanging out the window, scanning for little birdies along the side of the road, just coasting along when suddenly I heard a loud HISS.
It sounded just like a hose sprung a leak. I stopped. The sound stopped. I backed up a few feet. The hiss, louder this time, happened again. I freaked, locked the doors & rolled up the windows. The grass and weeds were about 2-3 feet high. I scanned along the road and into the grass but couldn't see anything. This were I saw the Bobcat - was there one hiding in the grass hissing at me? Is today the day I finally get to see a Rattlesnake? What's making noise?? I didn't dare get out because I am the biggest chicken in the world. I backed up a few more feet and opened the window part way. No sounds. I moved forward a few feet and then HISSSSS. And again, HISSSS. Finally, I see the snake in the grass, but I can't really tell what kind it is. I don't have a walking stick and I'm not about to move the grass back with my hand. What to do, what to do? Think, be creative! ... BINGO! I've got it!
So I threw peanuts at it. Yes, I admit it. I harassed the wildlife by tossing peanuts (which I keep in the truck for the squirrels) out the window and into the grass. It moved a little bit, but not enough for me to get a clear pic or even to tell what kind of snake was trying to kill me. Toss, wait. Toss, wait. Toss, wait. Nothing. Then I ran out of peanuts. My situation looked very bleak, indeed. I was unarmed and possibly in grave danger sitting in my air-conditioned Xterra with a Starbuck's Grande java chip frappaccino, two bottles of water, a Wendy's Jr bacon cheeseburger, and no snake bite kit.
Then suddenly, POP goes the weasel! The cutest little weasel popped his head out of a hole and looked at me. Too cute! He was up & down a couple of times, looking so adorable and letting me get his picture. Then he realized he was about a foot away from the snake. He was pretty curious about the snake, but not at all concerned about me. He strained his neck looking at the snake, back down the hole, up for another look, back down the hole, etc. Finally, the snake just slithered away. The weasel went back down the hole and stayed there. I waited a few minutes, but neither the snake nor the weasel made another appearance.
On the way out, I saw another snake in the road. I believe that this one was "sleeping". The patterns looked similar on the two snakes, and I'm guessing that they were Gopher Snakes. The book says they hiss and pretend to be Rattlesnakes to scare away predators. Like that would scare anyone anyway... geesh! 
Hissing & hiding:
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Long-tailed Weasel?
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Gopher Snake?
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Canon 30D, 100-400L IS
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