Fortunately, the heroic firefighters contained the fire and all the animals were returned to their enclosures within the following two days.

In the midst of this pre-evacuation commotion, an Animal Planet-type adventure occurred at WERC.

As preparations were being made to ready vehicles for a quick get-away, something odd was noticed halfway down WERC's driveway.

A close (and very careful) inspection revealed a 5-foot-long brown and white king snake entwined around a rattlesnake. Immune to the rattlesnake's venom, king snakes hunt and kill by striking and coiling (constricting) around their prey. Like a scene out of "Raw Nature," the rattler was furiously lashing its tail but the king snake wouldn't loosen its grip.

California king snakes, which can grow up to 6 feet long, range throughout most of the western United States and are common in a wide variety of habitats including forests, woodlands, marshes, deserts, grasslands and semi-rural backyards. The glossy snake has alternating bands of black or brown and white or cream.

The king snake's name is fitting: Besides devouring snakes, including other king snakes, it also dines on an amazing smorgasbord of other wildlife, including small rodents, lizards, birds, turtles and frogs.

It's strongly suspected that "our hero" is Cat-Got-My-Tongue (CGMT), WERC's former educational king snake, which, just as his name says, had his tongue completely pulled out by a cat. CGMT thrived for two years under the expert care of one of WERC's volunteers, who was shocked one day to see CGMT's tongue flicking at him. This miraculous recovery meant that CGMT no longer needed to be kept captive as an educational animal and the ornery reptile was released in the grassy hills near WERC where he has now proven his worth as a natural, efficient - and free - pest exterminator.

The rattlesnake is the ONLY venomous native snake in our area. Learning to recognize the different species will not only help keep you safe but will allow you to appreciate all the benefits of our native reptiles.

WERC volunteers and staff are doubly appreciative that this particular king snake saved them from the grim possibility of being bitten as they walked up the driveway in the dark of early evening to evacuate the animals.