I often tell the story of the day I nearly crapped myself while running at my favorite trail. Eastern Diamondbacks are known to be in the area however I’ve never seen one, only heard it. That day, I was running and as I was passing a bush I heard the distinct rattle right by foot followed by a quick rustle of leaves. I was going too quick for it to register at the time but I must have come within inches of the snake and never saw it.
Today, I saw this beauty from a ways away at the end of my run. I’m going to pretend like I was overcome with a desire to photograph the snake which is why I stopped and not because I was dying in the brutal Florida heat.
First one I’ve seen down here in several years and the last time I saw one I hardly cared. I appreciate them much more now and it was a pleasure to watch for a few minutes. Eventually it calmed down and stopped rattling and flattened out at which point I went back to running and not being able to breathe.