Snakes in a Tree

While innocently pulling Italian thistle in Oak Flat one day Jee encountered a snake. It was a rather large snake and Tomas and I joined her to investigate. As I went to return to my patch of thistle I passed right next to the trunk of a large oak tree. Suddenly, I heard a scratching noise and assumed a branch was falling down and scraping against the trunk. I couldn't move in time and before I could look up to see what was falling toward me I was struck in the head by what I assumed was the branch. With horror I realized that the branch that had just hit me in the head was now writhing on the ground. The three foot branch was in fact, a SNAKE! To my dismay Tomas picked up the snake and decided that it would be a good idea to put the snake back in the tree. I was unhappy to be risking another snake encounter but relieved when we were able to move away from the scene of the incident. I don't think I will ever feel safe under a tree in Oak Flat ever again.