Vanity Help identify this snake found in my bedroom! Please!!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

light brown/grey snake, no obviously pointed head, skinny about 10-12 inches long, looks like a baby

how can i identify this quickly before I figure out what to do with it.

[libravoter]

Sunflower, come in Sunflower,

Give us the all-clear or at least an alls-well, so that we don't start figuring out how to explain this to the New Mexico 911 folks without sounding like a bunch of conservative loons.

[Teacher317]

Well, they have the right bands on the belly, but with no markings on its back? He's marked like crazy.

[Chad Fairbanks]

But no two garter snakes look alike, and most don't even look similar - not even within the species...

[Teacher317]

Sure, but garter snakes tend to have stripes in all cases. She said it was featureless on the back.

MAN, I wish she had a digital camera!! Can we take up a fund really quickly? ;^)

[Teacher317]

Maybe she meant to say it was 8-10 FEET long, and it swallowed her already! Aiiggghhh!

;^)

[GummyIII]

Many species do not show their coloring until maturity or nearing maturity.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Looks like we'll have to wait and see what the animal control guys have to say... she WILL tell us what they say, won't she? LOL!

[GummyIII]

Make that MARKINGS and COLORING...oops!

[libravoter]

That was terrible.

I sentence you to 3 consecutive viewing of "Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom."

[Teacher317]

Yup, and she DID say it looked like a baby (I'd like to know what makes her say that), but 10 inch garter snakes are basically functional adults in most cases. 24 inches is the usual limit, although there have been a few 3-footers.

Since I can't think of any other snakes with a brown belly with yellow stripes which break down towards the tail, I'd love to say garter snake, too... but she ID'ed the flat tan snake in post #178, and that's what is throwing me off of 'em.

[Teacher317]

Yes, ma'am.

*shuffling off to the TV in a sullen, defeated manner*

As if that's a punishment. LOL, it reminds me of the most shocking punishment I've ever witnessed. The kids' mom (who I was tutoring for our college course) was fed up with the rough-housing, and yelled, and I quote, "You kids get in there and watch TV until I bring you ice cream!!!"... and it worked. They got quiet, WHINED ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT, and slowly skulked away to watch TV and await ice cream... I was stunned, and in awe. Amazing. It truly is the tone, and not the words you use!

[libravoter]

Those kids knew a good racket when they saw it. Kind of like Brer Rabbit.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

According to animal control, who contacted someone from the rattlesnake museum, and NM game and fish, I had in my house what's known as the

New Mexico Banded Rock Rattlesnake

She estimated the age between 7-15 days old and recommended having my house carefully checked out ASAP.

I still feel sick.

[Teacher317]

BTW, I'm using this page to search by pattern characteristics, and this page to search Texas species (and get most of the photos).

[Chad Fairbanks]

I think the "transparency" description explains the IDing of that snake... however, when you look at a garter snake (unles it's the black and yellow ones) smetimes it DOES seem "transparent" in some areas, but it's not really transaprent, just the shadow and light effects of their markings... they are interesting snakes to look at from different angles... and those cute litle tounges darting about... :0)

[Teacher317]

WOW, OH, WOW!!!! We were WAY off!

[Chad Fairbanks]

7-15 days old? WHOA! Glad I didn't tell you to pick it up...

[libravoter]

Did someone come and take it away from your house?

[GummyIII]

Yep, with babies, it's very hard to identify one unless very familiar with the characteristics of the baby. Of course, we didn't ask if it had an egg tooth, but if that old, wouldn't probably show, anyhow. Secondly, I'm glad se didn't get close enough to see if it had one! ARGH!

[Teacher317]

I hate to say this, but if they're that young, there might be a nest within crawling range of your house... meaning a few more delightful encounters. What else did the Animal Control guy say?