Don't tread on me

This beautiful Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) was the highlight of my day today. I'm not sure who saw who first. Nor am I sure who even reacted first. What I do know is that the snake coiled and began rattling before I could've stepped on it. "Don't tread on me" couldn't be stated more clearly.



"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretentions of quarrelling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenceless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defence, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?" -Benjamin Franklin