Discovering Snakes

Did you see where the Nature journal reported scientists have recovered fossils from a 60-million-year-old South American snake from a Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia. Researchers estimated that it weighed 2,500 pounds, measured 42.7 feet, and was so wide it would have reached up to a person's hips. They named it Titanoboa Cerrejonensis. This is an artist's rendition of what it might look like.

We have some small discoveries ourselves here on the property-

and some not so small-

He needs a close up

Some are very easy to spot on the bare ground-

or in the autumn leaves.





Sometimes they can be found sunning themselves.
Here's Grant, our resident nature guide, with cousins

Andrew and Dylan, discovering a snake doing just that!
Can you spot it? Click for a larger view.

Here are some closeups.

The grandchildren seem pretty brave when it comes to dealing
with snakes, but if they discovered anything bigger than this-





I think this is what we would see.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.



They really aren't as high as they appear to be -
.
.
.
.

Cousins - Katie, Grant, Nathan, and Nick - standing
Andrew and Dylan - still up a tree!

Disclaimer (this picture was taken a few years ago - they are now older)

Don't want any grandkids upset with gramma!