The joys of living in Australia

[Marc Montgomery]

Barry, on the Rideau two years ago, A bunch of people were staring down into the lock.. I went over and there on the other side a big black snake was slithering carefully down the iron ladder .....into the swirling turbulent water as the lock filled and swam across to the other side where it slithered up the iron ladder to where we were...when it got out. it was at least 6 ft long! A black rat snake... it dried in the sun a bit and then nonchalantely slithered off down the grass and into the woods..

Now that was one BIG snake... fortunately black rat snakes- which are the biggest in Canada...are non venoumous...though I dont think id like to test their bite ( BTW they climb trees too )

Ive seen the odd water snake around there as well, not quite as big..