It’s August, and the wildlife at the Refuge are finding shady spots to escape the heat of the day. Your best chance of seeing birds and mammals is early in the morning or again in the evening.

An exception is some of our cold-blooded friends. On a warm, sunny day, you just might come upon a snake (sometimes fondly referred to as a “nope rope”) resting in the sunshine and soaking up the heat. The snakes you’re most likely to see are Northwestern Garter Snakes. These snakes are harmless, but you should still give them plenty of space. The energy they expend trying to get away from people leaves them with less energy to avoid predators. And, as friends of the Refuge and the outdoors, we all know not to disturb wildlife.

Everyone reading this is probably thinking either “Eww, snakes!” or “Cool, snakes!” There seem to be very few people who simply shrug and say, “Hmm, snakes, whatever.” I used to be in the “Eww” camp, but after meeting a couple of amazing boa constrictors, I’ve moved firmly into the “Cool” camp.

Speaking of boa constrictors, there are some small Rubber Boas living on the Refuge. Growing up to about two feet long, they tend to stay hidden in deep grass and near the water. Even if you try to find one, you’re unlikely to succeed. They are incredibly shy.

The Northwestern Garter Snake is also fairly small, averaging 12 to 24 inches in length. Their coloring varies, with dark bodies and stripes that can be surprisingly vibrant.

Whether you’re walking the Oaks to Wetlands Trail or driving along the Auto Tour, keep an eye out. That stick lying in the middle of the trail just might be a snake, and you don’t want to scare or accidentally squash it.

Also this month, be sure to visit our exhibit at Meeting History: Exploring Ridgefield’s Told and Untold Stories, presented by the Multicultural Initiative. The exhibit will be open during the last two weekends of August in the Greely Building, located at 304 Pioneer Street.