I was walking on the small platform on the prairie, and thought I spied a piece of paper--maybe a candy bar wrapper--in the ephemeral pond below the platform. I stopped and turned to pick it up out of the water, but just before I reached for it, I realized it wasn't trash--it was the open mouth of a Cottonmouth (some people call these Water Moccasins).

It was trying to be fierce, but every time it rattled its tail (which was just underwater), it made bubbles in the water, and I couldn't help but laugh. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a clear shot of this snake because of the grass, and I wasn't going to tempt fate again by reaching out and moving the grass for a better shot. I was excited to see this snake--I don't get to see many snakes at the park (except in the Nature Center).