Montana Tales & Trails

Snake season is here.

Not a hunting season, but a season to admire Montana's snakes for what they are: a vital cog in the natural world that serves an important purpose even if some of us suffer the heebie-jeebies at the mere thought of a snake.

Last week while out for a morning jog, I passed a gopher snake (our subspecies is the bullsnake) lying motionless and camouflaged on a bed of gravel next to the trail. No telling how many people walked or ran by the reptile without noticing it.

It was soaking in the morning sun, warming up its body temperature. If it were not disturbed, it would slithe...