A few from this year

[Derek1]

Caught this Rat a couple months ago. There is a pond across the street that holds lots of water snakes and occasionally I catch a rat. He was very friendly.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv223/Derekmeredith/56372A98-DFD8-4909-B8E4-E9126C3DC9D9_zpsflazrvxi.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv223/Derekmeredith/D1CDDED6-5E5C-418A-B3B0-AABDF0234EF2_zpsrkdikzb9.jpg

This is a Yellow Belly Racer that lives under my shed. He/She has been around for years. I've never been able to handle her. First she is very fast and when I have caught up with her she is very defensive.


http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv223/Derekmeredith/6C38AC0A-8A63-4C18-BDBB-90C36C0210E5_zpscxmikw1e.jpg

Diamondback Water Snake
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv223/Derekmeredith/EB2E1A6E-DAD3-495F-851F-207D7FAF3232_zps60j9u5kn.jpg

My daughters really enjoy catching Rough Earth Snakes.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv223/Derekmeredith/46362B5D-09A7-4D82-983F-062F07EBD4C0_zpsk9vqflei.jpg

[sharthun]

Nice finds! Looks like the water snake kissed you a couple times and musked! Lol

[Derek1]

The water snakes musk every time! Got a half bite on the thumb. That was my first bite ever.

[sharthun]

The water snakes musk every time! Got a half bite on the thumb. That was my first bite ever.

For sure!! :D

[jpsteele80]

nice finds, id love to see if you could catch that racer, beautiful snake

[toddnbecka]

Racers are very defensive when caught, I managed to grab a big one (around 6') back in college. Black all around, only the chin was yellow. Kept it for a week. and had to wear gloves every time I handled it because it just constantly chewed on anything in reach. Sometime later I read that racers typically act that way when caught, then settle down after a few weeks and make excellent pets. Caught a couple of northern water snakes back in those days too, kept them for a couple months. They weren't bad unless they were in shed, then they'd strike at anything that came near them. One was larger, similar to the one in your pic, and blind in the left eye. No problem to handle at any time if you came up from the blind side, and the smaller one calmed right down once it was in hand even in shed. The black rat was the easiest of the lot, it would buzz the tail tip but didn't strike or bite when approached or handled.

[Jim Smith]

Very nice finds and great photos! I especially like the photo of your daughters with their Rough Earth snakes. I noticed the smear of blood when you were holding the water snake. I caught water snakes all the time as a kid and I can't count the number of times they bit me. I see them now all the time as I live on a 50 acre lake, but I leave them alone since they are usually in the water. Thanks for sharing the photos.

[FWK]

That Yellow Belly is a looker. But then I'm a sucker for racers. Congrats on your first bite. To me having a snake chew on my hand is just a part of herping.