I was out photographing a nearby area, when I noticed something in the cholla. It was a dead snake. I don't know how it would have gotten up there unless some stupid yokel (and there are too many of those around here) chucked it in there. Maybe I'm being too cynical. Maybe it was trying to get at a cactus wren nest. But I didn't notice any nests and I doubt that snakes can climb cacti. Anyway, it was a gopher snake and even though rather large, they are harmless and eat rattlers.
Definitly looks like a molt, considering there're holes in it - not too many snakes I know have gashes in their side ;)
The snake has a face. Do they shed their face when they moult? It was about four feet off the ground. Would a snake climb through 4 feet of those thorns to moult? And how would it get down afterwards? I can't even understand how cactus wrens can navigate through those plants to get to their nests. I think they nest there to avoid snakes and other predators.
