Attention one and all: that special time of year has arrived. Finally, after a long, long school year, teachers are subjected to their annual, involuntary, two-month unpaid furlough. I have already managed to catch up on some desperately needed sleep and I have begun the process of figuring out what I’m going to do with myself. This, inevitably, will involve a pilgrimage to one of my favorite places on Earth – Slabsides.

For those newer readers who may be unfamiliar with some of my travels over the past 25 years, Slabsides is the beloved summertime retreat of my favorite naturalist of all time, John Burroughs. It was made famous by his writings in the Atlantic back at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th. Few people know his name these days, but at one point John Burroughs was as famous as John Muir. In fact, the two men were great friends and Muir was the very first person to visit Slabsides as an overnight guest.

To further add to Burroughs’ stock, it should be mentioned that he was also a very close friend of Teddy Roosevelt. Their friendship lasted for 30 years and Roosevelt actually called Burroughs, ”Oom John.” It sounds like nonsense until you understand that the Roosevelts were originally Dutch and the word ”Oom” means Uncle. Burroughs, Muir and Roosevelt were all champions of conservation and together the three men had a massive role in the creation of the national park system.

Slabsides is a log cabin built up in the woods away from the “busy” commotion of the Hudson River in West Park, New York. His formal residence was only a little more than a mile away, so this was essentially his private retreat where he could entertain guests and focus on his writing. When I finally win the lottery I am going to build a Slabsides of my own down in the vicinity of my Thinking Chair.

Slabsides is now the featured destination in the John Burroughs Sanctuary and has been registered as a National Historical Landmark. I have visited many times, but I don’t think that I have ever managed a trip in July. So, this is one of my planned adventures for this month. There are many things to look forward to seeing at Slabsides, but none stand out in my head as clearly as the day that I stumbled upon a black rat snake (Pantherophisalleghaniensis) climbing a tree. To date, it is the only time I have ever seen this particular species of snake.

Growing up to six feet in length, the black rat snake is probably going to be the largest snake that you ever see in New England. However, you might not see one in the summertime because they tend to be nocturnal. They are an arboreal species, which means that they are outstanding climbers, and it was this sort of behavior that allowed me to notice one of these snakes in the first place. I was simply lucky to have looked to my left as I was walking down a dirt road in the sanctuary. Had I looked to the right, I would have passed the snake, completely oblivious to its presence.

The black rat snake is a formidable predator of small animals and it subdues its prey by the process of constriction. Basically, the snake grabs you with its mouth and then wraps itself around you. Then, the coils tighten until your heart gives out, or you suffocate. In this manner, the black rat snake can go after different species like rats, mice, voles, small squirrels, frogs, other snakes, birds and bird eggs. Clearly, the eggs are simply swallowed whole.

But it’s not all fun and games for this large snake. It takes a while for a snake to reach six feet in length and when they are on the smaller side they are vulnerable to predators like hawks, owls, foxes, raccoons, and even domestic dogs and cats. Once they reach full adult size, however, they have no known predators other than ignorant and irrational humans. Black rat snakes cannot hurt humans and may only represent a threat (and a very small one) to young chickens.

Since these snakes are most active during the nighttime hours during the summer, and since some of their activity may take place far above the ground in the branches of trees, it is unlikely that many people will see one. Here in western Massachusetts we find ourselves at the extreme northern limit of this species’ range, which may lead to them existing in smaller numbers. Altogether, this is going to be an uncommon species that few people are ever lucky enough to see.

So, the next time you are out for a walk you should remember to keep your eyes open and remember to scan your surroundings. The other very important thing to remember is that most of the snakes that you will ever see are non-venomous species that couldn’t hurt you in any way. They are simply out there living their lives and they most often accomplish this with humans being completely unaware of their presence. When it comes to snakes, the best policy is live and let live.

Bill Danielson has been a professional writer and nature photographer for 26 years. He has worked for the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts State Parks and he currently teaches high school biology and physics. For more in formation visit his website at www.speakingofnature.com, or head over to Speaking of Nature on Facebook.

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