snake!

Today Dorothy and I heard a commotion in the elm tree outside. There was an American Gold Finch valiantly defending its nest from the intrusion of a black snake. I grabbed my rifle trusty and although it was a trifle rusty I managed to shoot the slithering serpent out of the tree. Then I cut off his head with a shovel. I laid the hammer down next to the snake so you could get an idea of the size of this critter. The hammer is 12" long.