During my time as a citizen, 78-84, NEVER did I see a snake within the city limits at any of the rides or attractions I worked at...EXCEPT for a greenish brown water snake that lived behind the diving bell and stayed under a boat that we flipped upside down to keep rain out of when we were not using it. The "Juniors" knew well to tap the bottom of the boat with an oar a couple of times before turning it over to use it. The water snake would take out across the back of the lake and disappear. He was a pretty big sucker, though! Sometimes guests would see him and pause and watch and point at him. He never hurt any of us, and we never hurt him. I was surprised in 79 while working at the Jim Owens Float Trip which was surrounded by woods that NO snakes were ever spotted. In the fall, the "river rats" working at the float trip would have to put on waders and get into the channel and scrape off leaves from the screens that went in front of pumps, getting fallen leaves off them so the pumps could work easier. Never once did any of us see a snake.
In the late 70's there was a rumor that a snake was in FITH. Jeff Kimes, a "fireman" there, once even called into the famous Springfield, MO KTTS Radio "Cracker Barrel Time" to address the rumor. (There was NO snake in there.) Now, there are plenty of chipmunks, squirrels raccoons, possums, skunks, and other assorted small critters that roam the park, especially at night. They love getting into trash cans and eating the food and drinks left behind. Once I arrived early in 79 at the float trip to clean up for the day, and a restling noise and scratching came from a trash can on the dock. Scared the fire out of me, I figured it was a skunk and that I was doomed. I pulled the thing over to the edge of the dock, pointed the top of it to the woods, and kicked it over. Then I ran fast as I could to the other side of the dock, jumping the channel in the process. One happy chipmonk fled the premises, and I breathed a BIG sigh of relief!
