A friend of ours who lives just outside Valor e-mailed me this picture of a garden visitor hoping I could identify it. After a bit of head scratching and research I reckon it's a Montpellier Snake.
She was clearing weeds at the base of the yucca plant and was only alerted to the snake when the dog started barking. She estimates it was between 5 and 6 feet in length, and rather aggressive.
Good job she and the dog kept their distance as these snakes are venomous.
