Blacksnakes, in flagrante delicto

I’m not going to actually post these photos directly to the blog, because I think many people will find them frightening or disgusting, especially those who have a phobia of snakes. So, instead, below are links that you can click on if you really want to see the photos.

While doing chicken chores this afternoon, the lower bodies of two blacksnakes were hanging down through the trap door in the chickens’ two-level chicken house. I ran and grabbed the camera, and the snakes were still at it when I came back. I am fairly snake phobic myself, but I’m becoming less so, as I accept the fact that snakes are an important part of the local ecology, and as I get used to seeing them. I’ve gotten pretty brave, as you can see just because I took these photos (with a 70mm lens). These X-rated photos shed a lot of light on snake anatomy and behavior.

Trigger alert! Do not view these photos if you have a phobia of snakes. These photos are rated X.

Photo 1

Photo 2