Sweet Honey in the Rock
by Judy Kennedy
Title
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Artist
Judy Kennedy
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
On September 8, 2019, I went outside to fill up the birdbaths around twilight when I discovered this beautiful, young Mojave Rattlesnake crossing my yard. This did not startle for I’m accustomed to these events living in a remote location out in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, USA. I calmly captured it with snake tongs and put it in a bucket with a lid until I could release it back into the wild the next day. I always take advantage of the situation and get some video footage and photographs out of it for artistic and educational purposes. I love these snakes and the mojave (pronounced mohavee with the accent on the “ha”) is probably my favorite rattler because its markings are so distinct. Considered one of the most dangerous vipers in the United States, its venom is neurotoxic - meaning that if you’re unlucky enough to get in its way and suffer the consequences, the symptoms include paralysis, difficulty breathing, and even death. They were here first, and only strike in self-defense. They keep rodent populations down and are equally vital for the health of the ecosystem. I hope that their beauty as reflected in my art helps people to appreciate them more. About the name - my husband suggested “Sweet Snake.” I love its honey color though and it made me think of one of my favorite singing groups, “Sweet Honey in the Rock.” The way the snake flowed over the rocks so smoothly and gracefully - I knew immediately that their name was the best fit for this sweet snake too! A video on the rescue and release of Sweet Honey in the Rock is at https://youtu.be/Pno9QU5thYU
Uploaded
November 19th, 2019
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