Any reptile identifiers out there?

Round eye pupil. Should be non-venomous. Also, the head is not shaped like an arrowhead - another "good snake" sign. No pits under the eyes means it is likely not a viper. Looks like a rat snake and we try to keep them around.
 
Sunfire96 said:
Most of what you said is incorrect about identifying venomous snakes
https://medium.com/natural-world/how-not-to-id-a-venomous-snake-8c7de2d0ca2e
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As a retired scientist that keyed-out species for a living, I really try NOT to geek people out. I would rather informally give an example of how to key-out a species. In this case, it was in PA USA, and had a lot of indicators that show it is not poisonous. This is what I passed on. Yes, there are snakes IDs that do not apply for snakes worldwide, but dang - this was PA and the list of potential snakes was limited.
 
Daniel Parshley said:
As a retired scientist that keyed-out species for a living, I really try NOT to geek people out. I would rather informally give an example of how to key-out a species. In this case, it was in PA USA, and had a lot of indicators that show it is not poisonous. This is what I passed on. Yes, there are snakes IDs that do not apply for snakes worldwide, but dang - this was PA and the list of potential snakes was limited.
Click to expand...
Did you mean venomous?
 
Used to get a number of Black Racers in the yard, and they scared the shit out of my wife, even though they are harmless. Now that we have a couple of decent sized hawks around the house, no more snakes.
 
Sunfire96 said:
Did you mean venomous?
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I love your wit and bet you're fun to have a beer with. Yes, poisonous. Some folks think you can get sick from handling snakes, and there is one that is both venomous and poisonous (I feel the geek coming), but it is not in the USA. Snakes, like people, live by the Great Truth. They both want to live in safety and comfort, have food to eat, and procreate. That poor snake is afraid you're gonna' eat him and just wants to get away from you.
 
On Friday, while working in our yard, I spotted a tiny little snake next to the compost heap. I was breaking up chunks of compost using a hula hoe, and almost got the little snake. Fortunately, it escaped under the deck. I think it was a garter snake - they seem pretty common around here, and apparently they are good at controlling slugs.
 
Daniel Parshley said:
I love your wit and bet you're fun to have a beer with. Yes, poisonous. Some folks think you can get sick from handling snakes, and there is one that is both venomous and poisonous (I feel the geek coming), but it is not in the USA. Snakes, like people, live by the Great Truth. They both want to live in safety and comfort, have food to eat, and procreate. That poor snake is afraid you're gonna' eat him and just wants to get away from you.
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I can vouch for the "fun to have a beer with". Last Saturday of every month, 4 pm NY time, on zoom.

You should join us.
 
I got Jack Russell's and one of them is incredibly good at warning me when there is a snake around. The other is an ace with rats and mice, while the youngster (half Jacky) hasn't got a clue :)
Unfortunately, the other day they got hold of a variegated bush snake and killed it proper (it was in 4 pieces)
 
My Idea of a good Snake is a _ _ _ only joking:D.

Most snakes around where I live are non venomous well that's if carpet python is still classified as un venomous.
I've seen the odd Red bellied black snake and whip snakes but thank God no Eastern Brown snakes.

I even had one hanging off the back of my pest control Ute a few years ago scared the crap outta me as I spotted it in the rear view mirror and It took awhile to establish the fact it was on the outside of the cab :eek:. Lucky after a bit of nervous looking I saw it was just a tree snake.
Not good advertising in a pest control vehicle :D.

I'm in the leave em alone and they'll leave you alone Camp.

Quickest way of getting bitten by a snake is trying to kill it:).

I respect their privacy :p.
 
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Yeah, couldn't remember what was which ;)
But only in spelling. No problems in practice :p
 
Trialben said:
My Idea of a good Snake is a _ _ _ only joking:D.

Most snakes around where I live are non venomous well that's if carpet python is still classified as un venomous.
I've seen the odd Red bellied black snake and whip snakes but thank God no Eastern Brown snakes.

I even had one hanging off the back of my pest control Ute a few years ago scared the crap outta me as I spotted it in the rear view mirror and It took awhile to establish the fact it was on the outside of the cab :eek:. Lucky after a bit of nervous looking I saw it was just a tree snake.
Not good advertising in a pest control vehicle :D.

I'm in the leave em alone and they'll leave you alone Camp.

Quickest way of getting bitten by a snake is trying to kill it:).

I respect their privacy :p.
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Now that made me laugh out loud. The mental image of the pest control guy freaking out over the snake ON the truck.
 
Ward Chillington said:
I'd use snake TONGS......somehow in my mind a snake THONG might be a bit flimsy....but thank you for that funny mental image!
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Reminds me of Christmas before last sitting on the Patios having a fee beers with friends and family.
I herd the chooks start cackling.

So I went over to investigate yup a carpet pythons got one by its tail and is thinking this will make a tasty meal.

Anyhow yup I grabbed the BBQ tongs thinking I'll just grab it with this and throw it over the fence.

Well in my enibriated state I thought that plenty safe as I went over to play Steve Irwin and rescue my chickens :D.

Well I Shat myself real quick when I studied the length of this thing easily it stretched down one side of my chook house and all the way around to the other corner where the chooks were roosting!:eek:

I took another double take on the BBQ tongs and the size of the python and thought "I'm outta my depth here":p

So I did what any Manly men would do I gave him a stern talking too told him/her please don't eat my chooks gave it a gentle reminder tap with the tongs and made a hasty retreat outta there:D!!

Next morning all chooks were accountable for so i guess it did the trick;).
 
Trialben said:
Reminds me of Christmas before last sitting on the Patios having a fee beers with friends and family.
I herd the chooks start cackling.

So I went over to investigate yup a carpet pythons got one by its tail and is thinking this will make a tasty meal.

Anyhow yup I grabbed the BBQ tongs thinking I'll just grab it with this and throw it over the fence.

Well in my enibriated state I thought that plenty safe as I went over to play Steve Irwin and rescue my chickens :D.

Well I Shat myself real quick when I studied the length of this thing easily it stretched down one side of my chook house and all the way around to the other corner where the chooks were roosting!:eek:

I took another double take on the BBQ tongs and the size of the python and thought "I'm outta my depth here":p

So I did what any Manly men would do I gave him a stern talking too told him/her please don't eat my chooks gave it a gentle reminder tap with the tongs and made a hasty retreat outta there:D!!

Next morning all chooks were accountable for so i guess it did the trick;).
Click to expand...
A gripping read, real life, real drama. Well played sir
 
Craigerrr said:
A gripping read, real life, real drama. Well played sir
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And lived to tell the tale:p!

I did once as a young lad try and pick up a king brown snake whilst collecting firewood lol.

I've developed a healthy respect for them:)
 
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