This could have ended badly for our resident blacksnake.
We count on him or her to keep down the rodent population and to deter copperheads.
While Layla was definitely interested, she was also a bit intimidated.
The snake was in defense mode but really just wanted to get away.
John, who took these pictures, was able to get Layla inside so that Big Black could ooze away back to his/her job. I hated to miss the action but was in the house with Josie and didn't want to bring her out in case Layla attacked the snake. Which, thanks to John, didn't happen. Country living. . .