Help identifying snake please

SCook518 · 07-07-13, 06:14 PM

Hello,
I have looked up every snake picture online and all that's done for me is give me nightmares. This snake was in my yard in Central Texas. We live out in the country. It was very aggressive I used a pool net to try and get it out of the yard. It struck the net repeatedly and shock it's tail and although it did not have a rattle it sure sounded like one. It hissed as well and the inside of it's mouth was white. I interrupted its breakfast it threw up 3 small birds I assume while it was trying to hide behind a gas tank. When I got it in the net finally it jumped out and made it part way up a tree before it knocked it down and finally chased it from the yard. It was really long a good 4' if not longer. I would appreciate help identifying the snake. I have another picture if you want to see it. the head of the snake was solid black and so was its tail. Thank you so much!

Amadeus · 07-07-13, 07:31 PM

I believe it is very high red gopher snake.

sharthun · 07-07-13, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCook518

Hello,
I have looked up every snake picture online and all that's done for me is give me nightmares. This snake was in my yard in Central Texas. We live out in the country. It was very aggressive I used a pool net to try and get it out of the yard. It struck the net repeatedly and shock it's tail and although it did not have a rattle it sure sounded like one. It hissed as well and the inside of it's mouth was white. I interrupted its breakfast it threw up 3 small birds I assume while it was trying to hide behind a gas tank. When I got it in the net finally it jumped out and made it part way up a tree before it knocked it down and finally chased it from the yard. It was really long a good 4' if not longer. I would appreciate help identifying the snake. I have another picture if you want to see it. the head of the snake was solid black and so was its tail. Thank you so much!

Any other pics? Nice find!

smy_749 · 07-07-13, 07:54 PM

Post the other picture. Call in a local herp friend if you know any, maybe he can remove it safely as opposed to beating it around with a stick :-P

The picture is very unclear though..

LadyWraith · 07-07-13, 08:18 PM

My guess is Nerodia fasciata... aka Broad Banded Water Snake.

SCook518 · 07-07-13, 08:43 PM

Thank you everyone. Here is another picture I zoomed as much as I could but I wasn't getting any closer.

Amadeus · 07-07-13, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCook518

Thank you everyone. Here is another picture I zoomed as much as I could but I wasn't getting any closer.

It can only strike half the length of its body as a rule of thumb.

It's not venomous so even if it bites you it will be a prick that some neo will fix.

MDT · 07-07-13, 09:52 PM

I found this pic on Google..... It looks to me to be black rat snake. The white under the chin, the blotched pattern sometimes seen w rat snakes, and the reddish color can be confusing (i ave caught several with a reddish hue). I am assuming BRS are in central Texas.. They are a dime a dozen around here. Anyway....that's my guess...

Amadeus · 07-07-13, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

I found this pic on Google..... It looks to me to be black rat snake. The white under the chin, the blotched pattern sometimes seen w rat snakes, and the reddish color can be confusing (i ave caught several with a reddish hue). I am assuming BRS are in central Texas.. They are a dime a dozen around here. Anyway....that's my guess...

Very similar species but in Texas there are Texas rat snakes. I'm not sure if they have the normal black rats.

snakewright · 07-07-13, 10:03 PM

You ruined his dinner :/ They throw up to get away quicker, and fit into small areas to hide from danger.

snakewright · 07-07-13, 10:12 PM

Did it have fangs when it tried to bite?

I looked up Texas Rattle found this. (Most people probably did, but anyways)

Sweet-water Texas Rattler

Amadeus · 07-07-13, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakewright

Did it have fangs when it tried to bite?

I looked up Texas Rattle found this. (Most people probably did, but anyways)

Sweet-water Texas Rattler

Lol you have a lot to learn....

bcr226 · 07-07-13, 10:31 PM

It looks like a banded red snake (Dinodon rufozonatum).

But it's from the wrong part of the world. Either way, chasing it and smacking it with a stick isn't the best way to handle the situation. There's no need to be afraid of it, just respect it and if it starts hanging around, either get a herper to come move it or start looking for the food source that's keeping it there.

SCook518 · 07-07-13, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakewright

Did it have fangs when it tried to bite?

I looked up Texas Rattle found this. (Most people probably did, but anyways)

Sweet-water Texas Rattler

I am pretty sure it wasn't a rattlesnake, it didn't have rattles or huge fangs.

SCook518 · 07-07-13, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakewright

You ruined his dinner :/ They throw up to get away quicker, and fit into small areas to hide from danger.

It ruined my sleep. I was woken up at 6:30 because the dogs were going crazy.