photo by Greg Hofmann

9/16/02: This titanic struggle took place on the sidewalk near the Reserve Visitor Center. The Southern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus) had a firm headlock on the Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus) for many minutes. Since this seemed to be a no-win situation for both creatures, the staff delicately separated the antagonists, who quickly disappeared into the underbrush.