I found a match---El Serpiente appears to be a Western Terrestrial Garter  snake.  You take a look and tell me if you think he's the same critter!  I found this really cool site on Snakes of Colorado, but it didn't have a juvenile form of this particular snake, so I wasn't sure........the grown up version loses a lot of his definition.

ANYHOO----I am done now, so don't worry about any more slithery things showing up on my blog.  But, being the homeschool Mom that I am, I had to milk this teachable moment for all it was worth.  So.....for now, no more snakes.  Promise!

(And please Lord, no more visitors of this kind in the neighborhood, K?)

Nancy