Tom's Top Tales - snakes

Email of the week this week came complete with very scary photographs! Who knew there was an imitation rattlesnake abroad?

Hi Tom



My brother is terrified of snakes. While camping with a group this spring on a remote island in Northern Wisconsin we came across the snake in the attached photos. I quickly picked it up with a large stick and my brother, out of his mind with fear, proceeded to run to the canoe and leave us stranded on the island. I thought about launching the viper into the canoe with him, but decided against it. He eventually came back and we got these photos while leaving. The snake is a harmless species known locally as a Fox Snake. It rattles it's tail against dry leaves to fool you into believing it is a rattle snake.

Eric in Wisconsin

You can hear Tom Morton's daily top tales on the Tom Morton show, BBC Radio Scotland Monday-Thursday 1400 -1530 (- 1600 on Fridays).