The collective view of YT's from Trinidad is that the population has gone arboreal due to the introduction of the mongoose and the on sight slaughter by man. This presupposes that the snakes were already somewhat arboreal and that those individuals with a higher perpensity to climb thus passed this genetic code on to their offspring. The thought was these snakes were more arboreal as juveniles and sub adults (not hatchlings) and returned to the terrestrial life after they attained some size. On Trinidad
they are rarely seen because of this tree dwelling habit.
The YT's on Tobago are more commonly seen and are considered less arboreal because of this.
I have personally seen a four foot D.cooperi about twenty feet high in a tree being mobbed by blue jays.
I have observed black racers hunting in trees as well ( they were also discovered through blue jays).

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