“Tory, there’s a snake at the desk.” At first I thought she was kidding, but the tone of her voice told me it was definitely not a joke.

“A snake? By your desk?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, I’m on my way up.”

I got back to the front desk and saw the tiniest of brown snakes on the floor by the front desk. I scooped up the little cutie (and proceeded to show it off around the office, because who doesn’t love a cute snake in the office??) Carol wondered aloud how this got inside: maybe nestled in the pant leg of an educator, or perhaps quickly sneaking inside an open door to find a warm spot on a chilly day. Its camouflage game is pretty strong, so who knows!

The 3” DeKay’s Brownsnake that found its way into the Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park (with our amazing receptionist volunteer Carol in the background!)

Ethan and Maggie—2/3rds of our fab Research Team—happened by at just that moment. After ooing and ahing over just how adorable my new snake friend was, they suggested a perfect spot to release in the park near other late-season snake sightings (and therefore likely near a potential hibernaculum). I took a short walk into Riverside Park and released the young snake; I hope to see it again next spring!