From the files of “Well, damn, cold-bloodedness makes for strange bedfellows,” I discovered this odd pairing on Snake Hill during a late afternoon hike earlier today. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. That’s a gorgeously-patterned timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) wrapped up in a molting eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis). The two snakes were coiled up on rock ledge overlooking Cheat River Canyon. This was the best shot I could get given the awkward angle of the ledge. I assume the garter snake, which is blind while it molts, simply sensed a (somewhat) warm body to cuddle with and took advantage.