The recent promotion of inquiry-based learning techniques (Uno, 1990) is well suited to the use of animals in the classroom. Working with living organisms directly engages students and stimulates them to actively participate in the learning process. Students develop a greater appreciation for living things, the natural world, and their impact on local environments by interacting with live animals. Through the process of experimenting with animals, students also meet many of the National Science Education Standards set forth by the National Research Council (NRC, 1996) and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy set forth by the AAAS (AAAS, 1993). The goal of this paper is to describe an inquiry-based project in which snakes are used to illustrate the relationships between predator and prey and the importance of sign stimuli in attraction. The exercise described is also useful for sharpening the observational skills of students and for reinforcing the importance of gathering and analyzing quantitative data. This exercise is also beneficial for instructors wishing to meet the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996). Experience suggests that this exercise is appropriate for students in middle school, high school, and college. (Contains 3 tables.)