… and seeing a snake on the side of the road is different from encountering them in the wild. The Texas Indigo Snake is a big snake, but we know it’s harmless to humans. Especially from a car window we know it’s harmless.
Out on a wilderness track however, all alone; no-one else for miles, an encounter with a six foot snake just feels different.
It’s right there on the track you’re walking.
It doesn’t seem to be startled by your approach. It stops and watches.
Then turns and disappears into the short grass next to the trail.
Now, knowing this is a harmless snake, and it has disappeared back into the grass, and *probably* has kept on going and is *probably* no longer hidden right within a foot of the trail, and it is in front of you in the direction you mean to travel, what do you do? This is a double-track trail. You cross over to the other track to pass that spot. You do if you’re me anyway.
Out on a wilderness track however, all alone; no-one else for miles, an encounter with a six foot snake just feels different. It’s right there on the track you’re walking. It doesn’t seem to be startled by your approach. It stops and watches. Then turns and disappears into the short grass next to the trail. Now, knowing this is a harmless snake, and it has disappeared back into the grass, and *probably* has kept on going and is *probably* no longer hidden right within a foot of the trail, and it is in front of you in the direction you mean to travel, what do you do? This is a double-track trail. You cross over to the other track to pass that spot. You do if you’re me anyway. 
