Eastern Snakes Forum
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To ask a question about a snake, don't reply to this post, go to the forum home page and start a new post. Your question will get a lot more exposure.
Please give us an idea of where you live, as reptiles can often be identified only by locality!
Please do not place messages about killing a snake, and asking what kind it is you have killed! That is like going onto a message board about dogs and telling about torturing one to death, and asking what kind of breed it was. You will likely get "flamed", and likely by the forum owner, depending on his mood that day.
A note about head shape in snakes: Head shape is a totally useless character for identifying a snake, and has nothing to do with whether the serpent is or is not venomous (poisonous). Many harmless snakes, especially when young, have rather large heads. Please describe color, pattern, markings, and habitat where the snake was found. The shape of the head will not help us in any way.
Thank you.
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Re: Found this and almost stepped on it!
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Oh yeah. That is a Gray Rat Snake, the same species of snake we have here (Black Rat Snake), only yours are gray with dark or black blotches (some say "diamonds") down the back.
Rat snakes, though they will eat birds and eggs, are desired by farmers for their insatiable appetite for rats and mice, their main food.
They have neither fangs nor venom, and are harmless to humans. They can usually be picked up in the field if you move slowly and deliberately, coiling the snake as soon as you have it in hand (this seems to calm them down). I have picked many a Rat Snake off the road and moved it, and nary a tooth mark.
If one does nip you, the holes are tiny, and don't penetrate far; just a wash with water, and if available, some soap, and you are fine.
Nice picture, by the way!
--Previous Message--
: I was walking my dog at 9pm in Middle Ga
: when I saw what I thought was a stick
: in the yard. My gut told me it was a
: snake, so I took the dog in the house
: and grabbed my camera. After taking
: the pics, it slithered up one of my 40
: ft tall pine trees. Can you help me
: identify?
:
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The Appalachian Naturalist
Found this and almost stepped on it! - Brianne May 12, 2010, 9:17 am