A red-tailed hawk sighted the tasty potential meal in the grass, swooped down and carried the snake off with its lethal talons, according to Gilroy resident Carmela Siboldi.

Apparently, though, the reptile had lived long enough to learn a few self-defense moves and fought back.

The hawk unceremoniously dropped him and went off to seek some easier prey.

This big adventure caught the attention of a bevy of turkey vultures, which began circling for the chance at a meal of their own.

And then, to add insult to injury, all the commotion attracted a pack of barking dogs looking for a little excitement, too.

Fortunately for the snake, Siboldi witnessed the entire episode.

Seeing the snake coiling tightly to protect itself from the dogs, she took prompt action, chasing away the dogs and corralling the snake into a large pillow case.

The fall from the sky caused swelling in the snake's mouth, and the hawk's talons tore a deep wound in its abdomen.

At WERC, brave volunteers treated the wound with antibiotics and carefully - very carefully - transferred the hissing snake into a large container. Later, at Princevalle Pet Hospital, Dr. Suzanne Colbert closed the wound with dissolving sutures, gave the snake a clean bill of health and okayed its release.

Siboldi was anxious to have the non-venomous snake returned to her fields since it's a superb method of natural pest control, eliminating gophers and ground squirrels.

When released, the hungry snake quickly slithered away into the wild grassy yonder in search of a good meal.