Does anyone know the species? He's sitting across the road from our driveway and my wife is terrified of him. Yeah, that's the ticket, he scares my wife. He's HUGH and SERIES, almost three feet long!
Posted on 05/14/2011 4:05:00 PM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets
Does anyone know the species? He's sitting across the road from our driveway and my wife is terrified of him. Yeah, that's the ticket, he scares my wife. He's HUGH and SERIES, almost three feet long!
Oh boy. Dare I ask how you know this?
The only resemblance that snake bears to a copperhead is that it is also shaped like a snake. Copperheads don’t get that big or dark. Just leave him alone. He is eating your mice and other vermin for you.
Could it be?
Hunh...without the markings it would look like a Moccassin.
I don’t like Moccassins.
Looks like a water snake to me. Not real dangerous but very aggressive.
Good point...
Northern Watersnake. One lives in the ornamental pond at our church and occasionally surprises visitors. Ours is a lighter color, red and brown patterned, which is typical of varieties in a warmer vs. a colder climate.
You wife is scared of it, it is on your property, you love your wife. Kill It!
Hey, Brad’s Gramma! Haven’t seen you in a while. Hope all is well with you!
That is a very rare snake. it is a Kenyan Death Adder. The snake can be found in Kenya, from where it has been illegally imported to Indonesia, Hawaii, Illinois, and Washington DC. the snake is a master of disguise, when coiled it’s markings all it to mimic nonvenemous snakes. Only when the death adder strikes does it’s true nature become apparent to it’s prey...by then it is too late as the snake’s bite is invariable fatal. The male of the species is generally long and thin, the female is shorter and fatter.
There’s only two kinds. Dead and soon to be dead.
Not a herpetologist but if the head is triangular, shoot it. Bullet-shaped heads (except for corals) are usually non-venomous and good for keeping the vermin population down.
If you’re in Iowa and it is a diamondback water snake, it’s illegal to kill. Happily, it’s not venomous; unhappily, it is aggressive. The images on the web show more contrast in the markings, but that one might just be dusty or about to shed.
That’s mean. Besides I think it is the infamous jumping copper headed cobra.
They are called a hog-nose because they have this extension in the nose area. I think it is to make them resemble a poisonous snake. If you can get one where it cannot get away from you, it will flatten his head like a cobra and mimic it's strike (makes me think we must have had cobras in North America at some point).
If that doesn't scare you off, he moves to his next trick: play dead. He will writhe around on the ground in death throes, then roll over on his back and lie still with his tongue hanging out. If I recall, he makes himself stink like death too. And best yet, if you roll him back upright, he rolls right back over and resumes his death pose. Truly great fun as a kid!
Well thank you!!! All is well! And the same with you I hope?
:)
shoot it in the head, skin it & tack it to the wall
Nah Hoop Snake they can roll up in a hoop, roll downhill and stick their spiked tail in you.
Not a black racer. They are much more slender with a shiny black back and white belly.
Yep, latin Natrix s. sipedon, common water snake, common to the entire eastern seaboard of the US. Nasty, agressive, not poisonous but has a dirty bite. Chase him back into the ditch. He is a fish eater.
No no...name it Obama
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