During the hottest part of the day deep within the yellowed grass of Lake Escalon, a snake stirred. She began her search for the heart of the patch, far from the rumbling trails from the heavy footfalls of human visitors. The bottom half of her lithe body was swollen and pulsing. It was her turn to bring forth life. She found a suitable place nestled under the shade of a boulder. It wasn’t long before the first of four babies oozed from her underbelly writhing and indignant at the sudden change of scenery.

Once they were...