Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
One has to wonder how many caught the irony brought on by the Boa Constrictor slithering between the folded linen napkins; not the irony of the snake’s behavior, but the paradox of the human reaction to the event.
But first, let’s establish the setting. We were staying at an upscale eco-lodge set in the middle of a Costa Rican rainforest. The resort was nicer than the more humble accommodations we usually frequented and all had been done to ensure the travelers’ comfort while immersing them in the heart of the jungle. Polished hardwood walkways connected the various cabins scattered throughout the tropical foliage. A variety of dining options were provided onsite and we had selected Italian for that night’s dinner. Planners had designed the dining room with open air access to the jumble of vines and broad-leafed plants growing just out of reach of the vacationers which also gave them intimate access to the colorful birds and exotic sounds coming from the forest.
We had almost finished our Lasagna Primavera when a noticeable reaction spread through others enjoying their dining experience. One after another we rose from our table to gather closer to the latest guest. It’s quite likely the reaction would have been considerably different if the snake had been a mature female which average between 7 and 10 feet and can weigh up to 60 pounds, but this one was much less intimidating. One of the resort naturalists calmly used his snake stick to encourage our visitor to head back into more suitable habitat. Thinking the name Boa Constrictor was just a generic name for all snakes of that sort, I asked him what species it was and he informed me it was a Boa Constrictor. It turns out it is one of the few animals whose common English name is the same as its scientific binomial name.
Thinking back on our encounter gave me cause to ponder my own and others’ reaction to this reptile. Humans had voluntarily placed themselves in the middle of a tropical jungle which all sorts of creatures called home. We had removed impediments to these creatures so we could enjoy close encounters with them while dining at our leisure. But then we were shocked when one of them should have crossed that invisible line into “our” territory. How strange. But no stranger than when we place ourselves on that “Old Serpent’s” ground and enjoying tempting ourselves. How strange and how foolish. Common sense tells us if we wish to avoid falling to temptation, the wisest plan is to avoid putting ourselves on Satan’s ground.