Venomous snakes

[omega_man]

If it was between 9-13" long, the closest I can key it out to is a Florida Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa).

This webpage shows a picture of one:
http://www.snakeremovaltrap.com/florida-snake-photos.html

Along with the scale patterns down the middle of its back, look at its head--from you're picture, the head is darkish with a light-colored wide lateral band. According to my literature, that is a key diagnostic of a Florida Brown (if it was a smaller snake). It also inhabits the northern portion of Florida (like the panhandle and then extend that across).

This is the best I can come up with unless it's a juvenile of a larger species.

Oh yea, non-venomous

[Jamie]

My AO is chock full of snakes, but almost entirely bereft of venomous ones...I've been in venomous snake-country for extended periods of time though, and avoiding contact is way better than dealing with the issue, and is possible....

Jamie

[xxxDarksidexxx]

If it was between 9-13" long, the closest I can key it out to is a Florida Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa).

This webpage shows a picture of one:
http://www.snakeremovaltrap.com/florida-snake-photos.html

Along with the scale patterns down the middle of its back, look at its head--from you're picture, the head is darkish with a light-colored wide lateral band. According to my literature, that is a key diagnostic of a Florida Brown (if it was a smaller snake). It also inhabits the northern portion of Florida (like the panhandle and then extend that across).

This is the best I can come up with unless it's a juvenile of a larger species.

Oh yea, non-venomous

yep i agree Fl brown snake. thanks for the info.

[omega_man]

cool!

[Woods Walker]

If it was between 9-13" long, the closest I can key it out to is a Florida Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa).

This webpage shows a picture of one:
http://www.snakeremovaltrap.com/florida-snake-photos.html

Along with the scale patterns down the middle of its back, look at its head--from you're picture, the head is darkish with a light-colored wide lateral band. According to my literature, that is a key diagnostic of a Florida Brown (if it was a smaller snake). It also inhabits the northern portion of Florida (like the panhandle and then extend that across).

This is the best I can come up with unless it's a juvenile of a larger species.

Oh yea, non-venomous

yep i agree Fl brown snake. thanks for the info.

Yup. We have something like it up here. One bite and you will be dead before your carcass hits the deck. .....

[bacpacjac]

Thanks WW! This is a great help! Gorgeous pictures too!

[silversnake]

If it was between 9-13" long, the closest I can key it out to is a Florida Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa).

This webpage shows a picture of one:
http://www.snakeremovaltrap.com/florida-snake-photos.html

Along with the scale patterns down the middle of its back, look at its head--from you're picture, the head is darkish with a light-colored wide lateral band. According to my literature, that is a key diagnostic of a Florida Brown (if it was a smaller snake). It also inhabits the northern portion of Florida (like the panhandle and then extend that across).

This is the best I can come up with unless it's a juvenile of a larger species.

Oh yea, non-venomous

yep i agree Fl brown snake. thanks for the info.

Yup. We have something like it up here. One bite and you will be dead before your carcass hits the deck. .....

Wow! Didn't know how lucky I was. I caught a Dekay in my compost bin this past weekend. Fortunately, my crazy good snake handling skills kept me safe from this dangerous predator's bite. I just know he was stalking my house looking for a chance to kill me in my sleep.

Seriously though, cute little snakes. The garters are also out in force this spring as my wife and I saw several during an hour and a half walk at the local Audubon sanctuary and she got pictures of a neighborhood cat catching and eating one in our back yard earlier. It's nice that venemous species are so rare in our area, but kinda sad too. I'd love to see a Timber Rattler in the wild around here just to know that they're still out there. Definitely give them their space though.

[omega_man]

I was blessed to have an Eastern Kingsnake calling my composte bin home! Awesome snake. I let it go in the woods behind my house. I feel very thankful for providing the habitat for such a charismatic and efficient friend.

[jamoni]

Fun!

[Woods Walker]

Not venomous but still kinda cool. The infamus New England black mamba aka Eastern Black Rat snake.





Chased it off a road just before heading out with my Kayak on a short portage then paddle.

[omega_man]

Had an awesome opportunity today to help work up a tagged Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake! Really cool snake, very very docile actually.

I'll get some pics up as soon as I'm off this government server and can get on photobucket.

pics:

[omega_man]

Moar snakes!

Just got back from a Herpetology trip this weekend. First up is a harmless yellow rat snake. Followed by a Timber Rattlesnake (this color variation found in the coastal plains is commonly referred to as a "Canebrake" rattlesnake, both are taxonomically classed as Crotalus horridus)





Prof getting a little close:


But, like all snakes, this vicious "killer" wants nothing to do with him:


And a gator!

[Regular Guy]

Omega, any pics of of Water snakes? I have some around my yard, at least 2 large 48"-50", what I believe are males. One has a red belly, black back and the other is all black. Both look identical, round heads, large scales.

[omega_man]

Omega, any pics of of Water snakes? I have some around my yard, at least 2 large 48"-50", what I believe are males. One has a red belly, black back and the other is all black. Both look identical, round heads, large scales.

Here is a Northern Water Snake:


Considering you're right on the Fall Line, you could have either Northern or Brown water snakes. The Browns can take on a very dark color, and are often mistaken for Cottonmouths. Is the one really all black? I ask because few snakes in our AO are truely all black--the Black Racer being the only one off the top of my head.

The red bellied one is more than likely a Red-Bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster). Fairly common in your area and reaches the sizes you mentioned. There are other snakes in your area with red bellies, but are more common in swampy, black-water habitats (think Congaree).

Send me pics of the "black" one if you can, I should be able to key it out. (come to think of it, it could also be a Banded Water Snake - they frequently have darker color variations that make the reddish vertical side stripings difficult to see)

[Regular Guy]

No he was all black, I didn't see his belly but I grabbed his tail and didn't see anything but black. The kids saw it too and they said it was all black. They saw the red bellied one as well. Very cool because until now I've only seen babies that are about 6-8" and black with white bands.

Very cool having all my outside "pets" around.

[KentsOkay]

Good thread, I'll have to take the time to read the entire thing and not just flip through for herp pics.

When I was younger I was way into reptiles, and as such constructed numerous snake sticks and lizard nooses. I've never run into a dangerous situation in the wild with snakes, except that one time a cotton mouth decided it would be a cool idea to rush my canoe (paddle harder, the sea serpent bears down on us!). In home though, I've run into them several times. Twice in my old place which backed up to a creek I had to extradite baby copperheads (each was around 12"). I used one of my sticks, broom, a five gallon bucket and a piece of plywood. I tried to jostle it into the bucket with the broom. It struck broom numerous times, so I said screw it, pinned it, and deposited it in the bucket. I was wearing heavy suede gloves, but I have know idea what snakes of that size can puncture (I have no doubts a full sized critter would go right through it). I was also working on the theory that little snake burned all of his venom on the broom. The second snake (found maybe a month later) had the good courtesy of just slithering right into the bucket when asked. Both where deposited in an unused portion of a park near a pond. It's probably unused because all the cane growing along the pond was snake and skeeter paradise and no one ever felt like cutting it

At a state park over Thanksgiving, my extended family was having the annual gathering at one of the CCC constructed buildings. A buzzed aunt opened the bottom of the oven to find a small rattler curled up in what looked like the leftovers of a mouse house. She of course decided to grab for it, I stopped her, she protested that she saw Jack Hannah do it all the time, another family member escorted her away, and I just carried the entire oven drawer out and deposited it in the woods.

Poor little bugger, had himself a comfy little hidey hole and got evicted so close to Christmas! Also, proof alcohol and the Animal Channel probably cause the most snake bites.

Thank goodness I always watched PBS.

Yeah, I'm probably also pretty dumb for grabbing wild-ass venomous snakes, but in each instance I believe the risk factor to have been low enough to make a positive outcome (for the snake) worthwhile. Most of my fellow Texicans usually introduce ALL snakes to their shovels, which is stupid. Who else is going to keep the mouse and rat count down?

Haven't seen any snakes at my new digs, probably because of the over-abundance of roadrunners. But we do have a lot of frogs that see fit to procreate in our saltwater pool We usually scoop the eggs out, put them in a unoccupied fish tank and release when legged.

[omega_man]

No he was all black, I didn't see his belly but I grabbed his tail and didn't see anything but black. The kids saw it too and they said it was all black. They saw the red bellied one as well. Very cool because until now I've only seen babies that are about 6-8" and black with white bands.

Very cool having all my outside "pets" around.

Yeah, if the snake is all black (top and belly) and that size, then it's a Black Racer. It might not be a "water" snake, but just about all snakes will hang out around water. They also have large scales, but are smooth. As their name indicates, they're very fast. Next time, try to get a good look at the belly. My gut instinct is still either Brown or Banded Water Snake, but Black Racers are very abundant.

[KentsOkay]

Very cool having all my outside "pets" around.

"Outside pets" are awesome. I had a big ol' Texas Spiny Lizard that grew a forked tail that got cozy enough with us that it would eat crickets, mealworms n stuff right out of your hand.

[Evan the Diplomat]

No he was all black, I didn't see his belly but I grabbed his tail and didn't see anything but black. The kids saw it too and they said it was all black. They saw the red bellied one as well. Very cool because until now I've only seen babies that are about 6-8" and black with white bands.

Very cool having all my outside "pets" around.

Black back and a red belly, I'm guessing Farancia abacura AKA the Mud Snake. Since I don't know how to post pictures, follow this link to learn more http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl ... bacura.htm

[omega_man]

Alright, just because I'm a total nerd--here are some pics I took today of preserved specimens in my herpetology lab:

Red-Bellied Water Snake


Banded Water Snake


Black Racer


I love college.

[omega_man]

No he was all black, I didn't see his belly but I grabbed his tail and didn't see anything but black. The kids saw it too and they said it was all black. They saw the red bellied one as well. Very cool because until now I've only seen babies that are about 6-8" and black with white bands.

Very cool having all my outside "pets" around.

Black back and a red belly, I'm guessing Farancia abacura AKA the Mud Snake. Since I don't know how to post pictures, follow this link to learn more http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl ... bacura.htm

That's a good suggestion (and an awesome snake), but I've been to RG's place and it's not Mud Snake habitat. You will find them in very swampy/muddy/black water areas where they feed mainly on Sirens and Amphiumas.

[KentsOkay]

*pics and stuff*

Looks like they'd go well with some pickled eggs and mushrooms!

That's one things I liked about UT, they'd always haul their collection out now and then for a complete show of their stuff. I totally poked an alligator in the stomach when I was young

[Regular Guy]

IDK, but next time your over Omega we should walk behind my house, it's a wetland. About 200 ft in is standing water.

The black one look just like the Racer and he was fast. I chased him at a quick job, not being 100% confident what he was I didn't want to pick him up. The red bellied looked just like the Red Bellied water snake. Too cool that they are hanging out. I'm almost certain there is a Black King snake with white spots as well but I only saw him as a baby.

Coolest backyard pets so far, the Grey fox and the Box and snapping turtles.

[omega_man]

IDK, but next time your over Omega we should walk behind my house, it's a wetland. About 200 ft in is standing water.

The black one look just like the Racer and he was fast. I chased him at a quick job, not being 100% confident what he was I didn't want to pick him up. The red bellied looked just like the Red Bellied water snake. Too cool that they are hanging out. I'm almost certain there is a Black King snake with white spots as well but I only saw him as a baby.

Coolest backyard pets so far, the Grey fox and the Box and snapping turtles.

Hellz Yeah! Pound some Yuenglings and go herping...(insert gator pic 'cuz that's how we do)