So I went walking with my pups today at a park near my house. As I'm walking the trail that runs along a stream, I'm thinking that it's too bad how few snakes and lizards I see around here. I decide I must not be looking hard enough, so every time I hear the leaves on either side of the trail move, I look and usually just find birds. So I keep walking and looking and finally come across a small snake that is maybe three or four feet away. I don't want to get closer with the dogs because I don't want to disturb the snake. I stand there watching only to realize it is two snakes, one a bit smaller that the other, both wrapped all the way around each other and the smaller one's tail moving relentlessly until it gets into the right position and locks up. I have never seen a lock in real life, but I have no doubt, I could even see his muscles contracting near his tail in front of where he wrapped the females tail. A little further along the trail, I saw a single snake on the base of a tree, and then a little further along, another locked pair. All in all I spotted seven snakes, all of which appeared to be the same species and I'm assuming they were Eastern Garters, but not sure. They were all small, maybe 16-24" and the larger females were maybe an inch in diameter. Guess I'm gonna have to learn to look more closely from now on and stop thinking that the noises around me in the woods are always just birds and squirrels.