But wait people - this was California after all.

The Governor commissioned a panel to study this situation, cost $5 mil. The results are due in 2015. The county issued a warning pamphlet, cost $2 mil, and posted day and night guards along the path to ensure no more snakes bit anyone, at the cost of $10 mil a year. The city commissioned a panel, a symposium and had several university professors debate the problem, costing $2 mil. And they posted warning signs for snake crossings - altho I don't know if snakes read and how do they know where they are supposed to cross?

But then PETA sued on behalf of the snake, saying it was a territorial incursion by people. They won $15 million in a civil trial. They also got all the snakes in that area relocated to a nicer area, at the cost of another $6 mil.

Here in NC the same thing happened to me. Except I have self reliance and carry a walking stick and have been known to look at my surroundings from time to time. I saw the snake. I whacked the snake with a stick and made it into a hatband. Total cost - about $2 for salt to cure the hide.

Who was it said the US is tilted and all the loose nuts roll west?