The warm spring air drifted into the chamber that had protected her during the long winter months, signaling the coming spring. A female northern pine snake, she trusted her ancient instinct to rise to the surface of her hibernaculum to greet the warmth of the day.

With a careful flick of the tongue, she inspected the air for any sign of danger. When the time felt right, she moved deftly out of her chamber and into the pine needles, oak leaves and shrubs that gave her a nearly perfect camouflage…