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For Memorial Day this year my wife's family had a cookout up in Provo Canyon at one of those picnic sites along the Provo river.  I hadn't started looking around yet for snakes this year so I wasn't ready for the large gopher snake that I found wandering through the picnic grounds.  I suppose that there is enough food remains to feed an army of field mice and that's probably enough enticement for gopher snakes to be on the prowl.

Although finding gopher snakes is always a treat, the most amazing part about this trip can be seen in one of the photos.  My mother-in-law, one of the most devout ophidiophiles (fear of snakes) that I know, actually was interested in holding the snake.  I'm still in shock about this.  It was notable enough to merit a photo.

After everyone got a chance to hold the snake I took it higher up on the mountain and let it go.  It was a very nicely marked gopher snake and very gentle.