Texas Snake

[TexasRoadSnake]

Hello members! I’m located in the great state of Texas. I know very little about snakes. Please help me identify this snake that was just at the end of my driveway.

[davidhum66]

Hello as well.....also in TX. The picture you have there is a Texas rat snake. HIGHLY beneficial to the area (Austin) as they keep rodent population down. You will see these, often very long snakes, climb high into trees seeking bird nests. They can be aggressive, but typically when they are encountered, they scurry away and fast. Unfortunately, many in TX think it might be poisonous and these guys are killed. Only poisonous snakes in TX (that I'm aware of) are rattlesnakes, copperhead, coral, and water moccasin. The pattern on the back gives people impression that they are a western diamondback. But this pattern is very different from the rattlesnake...and you can easily see/hear the rattles on the end of the poisonous snake.

[ReptiWorldWide]

Hello! That is a beauty of a rat snake! Definitely a TX rat snake, very good to have in your area, and harmless. Though known to be very defensive snakes, so you do risk getting bit when moving this species (in general) but a bite is nothing more than a skin wound, and honestly doesn't hurt all that much! These are a pretty common species in your area, but again, its not venomous in any way.