I happened upon a three-foot Western Fox Snake while hiking through the prairie at Hickory Grove. At first I didn’t know which end was which — it’s tail was in the tall grass and it’s head was in the center of a weed in the middle of the trail. I think it thought it was hiding.
When I got close and started taking photos, it started coiling. It also rattled its tail against the ground to make a sound somewhat like a rattlesnake’s rattle. I wasn’t fooled for a second. I circled it a couple times, and as I did so, it coiled more and more. I tried to get it to move, but it steadfastly refused. It seemed to want a fight, so I gave it my shoe to bite, which it did three or four times, giving off a little hiss each time. I left it coiled in the trail, but when I went back two or three minutes later, it was gone.
Very cool. He did seem to like looking at the bottom of your shoe.