What kind of snake is this?

Humblegunner's yard | 5/09/09 | humblegunner

[humblegunner]

This afternoon I happened to look out the back and saw something
black and long in the middle of the yard. I just mowed yesterday
so I knew the yard was free of sticks and such.

Turns out it was a big black snake!

He isn't a rattler, does not look loke a water moccasin or a black snake.

What the heck kind of snake is he? He has the triangular head which
means he is a bad one, but I can't place his breed.

Anyway, photography being as dangerous as it is, he got wrecked up some
which is just as well. He might have bitten one of the animals.

So who knows any herpetology?

[Hot Tabasco]

I would be wondering where the rest of this dead snakes family is?

In mourning I would assume....or perhaps plotting revenge.

[mware]

headless deadicus

LOL, Carolius Linneaus would be proud.

[mware]

Puts me in mind of Zell Miller telling CPAC about a water moccasin that was under his front porch.

Said he did not call animal control, the police dept. or any other government agency. He just got a shovel and chopped its head off.

[FreedomPoster]

With the price of ammo currently, I can certainly understand that.

[humblegunner]

could it be Humble Tx or Conroe. Snakes all around.

Almost exactly.

I'm between Huffman and New Caney, thriving metropolises both.

[humblegunner]

They were so thick on some property over on the east side of lake Houston

That's exactly where I am.

[humblegunner]

Of course ammo prices have gone up since then, and availablity has gone down.

Yep.

Different times, different protocol.

[Caipirabob]

What kind of snake is this?

The TASTY KIND...

[Caipirabob]

Thanks for post #64, ETL.

Obviously too close to looking like a cottonmouth to take a chance.

[waxer1]

Looks like a yellowbellied water snake...NON VENOMOUS! Why did you kill it?

Couldn’t you just scoop it up and stick it in the brush somewhere?

Why do people do this? Just move it.

[ETL]

Thanks for post #64, ETL. Obviously too close to looking like a cottonmouth to take a chance.

You're welcome. I added more info about them later in the thread.

For the sake of convenience, here it is again...

================================

In addition to the heat-sensing organs ('pits'), pit vipers apparently have 'folding' or 'movable' fangs. The fangs of other vipers' are fixed.

Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma is a venomous pitviper subspecies[4] found in the south central United States. It is the smallest of the three subspecies tends to be darker in color.

Common names: western cottonmouth,[2] water moccasin, cottonmouth,[3] more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agkistrodon_piscivorus_leucostoma
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How to Spot a Cottonmouth Snake

The Cottonmouth is the only poisonous water snake found in North America. It is a pit viper and senses movement with its pit in between its eyes. The Cottonmouth snake is found in three subspecies. The Western Cottonmouth, the Eastern Cottonmouth, and the Florida Cottonmouth have common characteristics and traits that distinguish them from nonvenomous water snakes.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2090701_spot-cottonmouth-snake.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
__________________________________________

How to Identify a Pit Viper

1) Know the pit vipers range and habitat. A pit viper is one of the widest reaching groups of snakes in the world. They are found throughout the Americas, as well as Asia. They can survive in the hottest deserts, as well the wettest rain forest. Pit vipers are very adaptable snakes.

2) Realize that in North America, there are three major species of pit vipers. They are the cottonmouth, copperhead and rattlesnakes.

3) Observe that pit vipers can range in size from less than 30 cm all the way up to 12 feet long. An average size for a pit viper is probably around 5 feet long.

4) See that a pit viper has a heat sensing organ between its eye and nostril. This pit is the major feature that sets pit vipers apart. It allows the snake to sense heat. Some refer to this as a sixth sense.

5) Compare a pit vipers fangs to a rear fanged species such as the cobra. A pit viper folds its fangs under and back into the roof of its mouth. A cobra has fixed fangs that do not fold. The pit viper will extend the fangs out when it strikes in a stabbing motion, burying venom deep within its prey.

6) Observe that a pit viper's head is often triangular in shape, and is markedly wider than the neck of the snake. This is often due to the large venom glands in the snake's jaw. These glands also contain an extra muscle that allows for delivery of the venom through the fangs.

7) Know that pit vipers are generally give birth to live young as opposed to many other snake species that lay eggs. This allows the pit viper to deliver large amounts of young in a single birthing.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4493653_identify-pit-viper.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
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Here are a couple of zoom-ins of humblegunner's photos:

[Pikachu_Dad]

nonvenemous?

That sure looks like a triangular shaped head to me!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Shame it wasn't the Fron Dusk Till Dawn snake.

[waxer1]

Just because they have a triangular head does not mean they are poisonous. Some of your pythons have angular heads like that.

I understand the fear of snakes. Hell, I have a big fear of flying. When I run across a snake, I usually just grab a shovel and move it.

I am not condeming anyone for killing it, but I think just moving it out of the way is better.

[al_c]

Call TGI Friday’s .... they need it for their steamed broccoli side dish.

[humblegunner]

Why did you kill it?

It seemed more prudent than taking the time to research it's type
while it maybe killed a pet or got under the house to remain a threat to them.

In this part of Texas we are rich with poisonous snakes.

We have laws here stating we can use deadly force against intruders
on our property if we perceive a threat. I honored the snake
by treating him as an equal and therefor subject to this law.

[waxer1]

We have laws here stating we can use deadly force against intruders
on our property if we perceive a threat. I honored the snake
by treating him as an equal and therefor subject to this law.

Fair enough. Did the snake pose a threat other than passing across your property? Did not look like it to me. Unless your life is threatened, you cannot use lethal force to protect property. Don’t you just love little debates like this? I do!!! ;-)

[humblegunner]

Did the snake pose a threat other than passing across your property?

Yes.

He was packin' venom and I have a couple of curious cats.

I calmly asked him to depart and he threatened me with his fangs.

At this point I pronounced sentence upon him and carried out just punishment.

[Revelation 911]

The pictures sort of indicate that the snake was moving away from you, trying to avoid you, as most snakes tend to do and that you perused it, it got defensive and then you killed it with a shovel. Again, not saying that was wrong but looking at it from the snake’s perspective, you were the aggressor.

HG is lucky honestly - cotton mouths can be aggressive, and actually pursue any percieved threat

[Arrowhead1952]

Help me out here? (we’re Lake Travis people)

We used to kill water moccasins in the farm stock tanks, and she is correct. They STINK when you kill them. Just short of Pepe Le Pu, but I've come close to throwing up from the stench.