by Marilyn Gottshall

The first thing you come upon when you visit the 80 acre Oregon Gardens is the
Amazing Water Garden where both American and Curly Leaf Pondweed laze about on
still waters. Little fishes dart, barely rippling the surface, and bullfrogs croak to a regular
beat. Hardly a place where you’d expect to find drama.

But shortly after my friend and I settled into the vibe, there was a disturbance in the
Force. A twelve inch garter snake slithered rapidly over the pond pads with something in
its mouth. As it hurled itself onto the grass, we could see a small fish flapping furiously in
its grip. As we watched, the snake’s jaw opened wider and wider, and slowly the three
inch fish began to disappear into its gullet. Gradually we could see the snake’s body
distend as the fish was moved further down the craw. And so it goes…

Here’s a video of the event. Notice how the snake’s body expands as it swallows the fish.