Snake identification

[merrill77]

I'm betting someone here can positively ID the species of snake in the picture below. We saw it this morning on the walk in front of our house and now I'm thinking I should have killed it? It appears to be living in the dry-stack rocks walls along our walk. The end of its tail was bright green - maybe it recently shed its skin? As you can see from the small-hand-sized oak leaf beside it, it is a youngster.

[Rob]

Yes, you should have killed it, that's a copperhead. I read somewhere that more people get bit trying to kill them, so I would be careful. I don't like poisonous snakes around my house.

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/copperh.htm

[fergy]

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D2%26hl%3Den

But, I guess I'd ask why you think you should have killed it. Unless you like rodents.

[steelwheel1999]

They are posinious but not extreamly venomful snakes. The are only deadly to folks with weak immune system or alergies to bee stings. I got bit when I was 7 went to hospital they put a bandaid on it and sent me home. They can be agressive so watch out **** be back there or near by to sun again. If I was closer Id catch him for you.

Thanks Mark

[merrill77]

Originally Posted by fergy

But, I guess I'd ask why you think you should have killed it. Unless you like rodents.

Because it's poisonous and I have a pair of 4-year-old boys running around the yard all the time. . Until I had the kids, I would always just live and let live. When they get older (and start demonstrating better judgment), I'll return to that way of thinking...but for now I'll err on the side of caution. They know to beware of snakes, but don't often look where they're walking. There's no shortage of snakes in our area (there are several acres of undeveloped land behind our house with a stream running most of the time) so rodents are not a problem. One living beside our sidewalk steps is a bit too close for my wife's comfort level (and therefore MY comfort level).

[PChristy]

Chris, If I were you I would get rid of that one - Two young boys died here several years ago from bites they got from baby copperheads - The older snakes seem to chose what they bite and can control the venom that they put into the victim but the younger ones just let it all out and keep a look out where there is one you can bet there is another one close by - If you don't like rodents around get several cats

[Mike Davis]

I kill every one I see.

My oldest daughter spent 24 hours in the hospital and two weeks on crutches last summer.

I let the black snakes and most others live, but copperheads, rattlers and moccasins get the hoe or a shotgun blast.

[JackLeg]

Welcome to the South! Either kill that thing or relocate it to New Jersey!

[tommyt654]

Kill it, Skin it, Watch Band it.

[steelwheel1999]

You all are talking like this one is a baby. Let me assure you it is not it takes 1 and 1/2 yrs for a cpopperhead to reach the two foot length, altho it takes 4 years for them to reach the average size of 4 to 5 and 1/2 feet(sometimes diameter of 8" or larger) By the time they are on their second shead the have motrt controle over the venom supply. Snakes are very sensitive to vibration, so those flaping geese on metal rods (if you have the air movement near the rock pile) will discorage their living there. You should also look around for snake poo. It will look like dog poo from a small dog, but will have rodent hair in it and also piles of white poo may also be there. This may be a random event if you have never seen it before. as always be careful.

Thanks Mark

[LeftyTom]

Kill it! If you want rodent & poisonous snake (copperhead, rattlesnake, and water moccasin) control, get a king snake.

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/lamget.htm

[Tar Heel]

Originally Posted by steelwheel1999

...it takes 4 years for them to reach the average size of 4 to 5 and 1/2 feet(sometimes diameter of 8" or larger).

Thanks Mark

Surely, you mean circumference rather than diameter. If not, that is a big, big boy.

[Mike Davis]

Originally Posted by steelwheel1999

You all are talking like this one is a baby. Let me assure you it is not it takes 1 and 1/2 yrs for a cpopperhead to reach the two foot length, altho it takes 4 years for them to reach the average size of 4 to 5 and 1/2 feet(sometimes diameter of 8" or larger) By the time they are on their second shead the have motrt controle over the venom supply. Snakes are very sensitive to vibration, so those flaping geese on metal rods (if you have the air movement near the rock pile) will discorage their living there. You should also look around for snake poo. It will look like dog poo from a small dog, but will have rodent hair in it and also piles of white poo may also be there. This may be a random event if you have never seen it before. as always be careful.

Thanks Mark

So, all these 18 to 28 inch copperheads I kill are only 1 to 2 years old? And where is grand paw?

Now you've got me scared.

[bitbight]

I agree with getting some Kingsnakes into your area. A few years back (20+) I used to train German shepherds for protection work and was at a friends kennel. We were cleaning up and pulled a cotton mouth out of a corner. Chopped the head with a hoe and tossed it into the woodline. Ten minutes later his boy hollers theres another snake. We went to look and saw this Kingsnake circling the cotton mouth which was still convulsing. The Kingsnake struck, coiled, and crushed in a matter of seconds. The funniest part was it kept looking at each end of the cottonmouth trying to find the head. Eventually it just swallowed it from the bloody end. With a few Kingsnakes in your neighborhood you would be taking care of the problem and be ECO friendly.

[smandal]

I have seen a few snakes in the triangle. I use this site for local snake identification:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests...snakepix3.html