I went for a quick dip in the pool as it was getting dark. However, when I got to the middle of the pool, I noticed a small black snake (about 6 inches) swimming furiously towards me. He was only a couple of inches from me when I saw him. Although I have come a long way in appreciating snakes, I may have let out a less than discreet scream. For years, I've been seeing black snakes in the yard and assuming that they were all black racers. This one, however, has a bright red belly. Turns out it is a black swamp snake. That explains why he could swim so well. We got him out of the pool and close to the lake. However, since it was dark by then, I didn't relish finding any of his siblings in the pool.

He was kind of cute, but I wish he would stay out of my pool.