WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
I was burning a large brush-pile over the weekend & witnessed something bizarre. As I was raking the un-burned brush towards the interior where the flames were, I noticed a garter snake. Instead of slithering away from me into the surrounding high weeds, he decides to slither towards the flames & take his life. I couldn’t understand it & thought about it for awhile. It was unusually cool this morning for June so maybe he felt too cold beyond the brush, but slither towards the hot coals & certain death? That’s when I realized, I know nothing about snakes.
May the forest be with you,
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association