BOISE, Idaho - A series of unbelievable wildlife photographs are beginning to make the Internet rounds about a man who came across a snake and a hawk floating on the Snake River.The hawk and snake were found floating in the middle of a life and death battle.
And the origins of the chain letter has the incredible act of wildlife occurring right here in the northwest on the Snake River. But that's not the case.
"It did not happen on the Snake River," said Bill Bosworth, a staff biologist with the Idaho Fish and Game.
The email chain letter says the person found the hawk and snake back in November.
Idaho Fish and Game says there were several clues to debunk the northwest angle. Biologists believe the snake is not an Idaho native and the beach in the photographs does not resemble the Snake River.
The guy in the photograph is also wearing shorts and sandals in November, which would make things a little chilly.
When Bosworth initially saw the pictures, staff members were intrigued at first and wanted to investigate.
"The snake could have been a species that we were not aware was here in Idaho," Bosworth said. "But we get these types of stories from time to time."
And while the story didn't happen here in Idaho, the pictures are still pretty fascinating.
"You don't see (something like this) happen too often," he said.
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Here's the beginning of the chain letter:
"This has to be the weirdest thing that ever floated by me on the Snake River. They were stuck together in death lock, each wanting to kill the other first. My guess is that the falcon snatched up the tasty snake, and it somehow got its tail around the falcon's neck, strangling it in midair causing both of them to crash into the river. "
They are both alive and well, considering. I think a few more minutes and the snake would have won. The tail was actually tied in a knot around the neck, and getting tighter by the second. I got the snake untied, and well, as you can see, they both made it. This is another one of those stories you tell, and are always acknowledged with "yeah, right!" Well, here's the proof."
"Neither of them bit me or scratched me; the snake didn't want to stop biting the falcon's leg, and only let go after I had untied everything else. I got the water out of the falcon's lungs with birdie inversion technique, and stayed with him until he was almost dried off in the sun, and flying a little. Ball of snake and falcon, that is the weirdest thing I have pulled out of the water so far, it beats the wagon wheel!"
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