A nice surprise in my backyard earlier!

strange_wings

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It was kind of funny, DH and I were out working on some yard stuff so I have no idea how long we were being watched. I didn't even notice the snake until DH walked right passed it on his way to the shop.








For the most part it stayed stretched out like in the first picture. I only wish I had a better and quicker camera. At one point it actually stretched out and up to check out the camera itself - if my camera was better I'd have an extremely close up tongue picture.



It was actually a little darker in person than in the pictures, though they do show the red nicely.
I'm guessing rat snake, due to the face and temperament (very docile), but I honestly haven't spotted one that looks like this one before. Then again I never get to go herping due to health.
 

twstychik

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What ever he is he's pretty... and looooooong! Bit of an odd spot to sun himself though.
 
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strange_wings

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It was in the shade. I know that snake was mostly sitting there observing us. I've never seen a wild snake that curious before.

It was probably close to 4 foot in length.
 

twstychik

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Interesting... I wonder if he's working on a human thesis.
I also have to say that I LOVE that you think finding a snake in the yard is a "nice surprise". I agree but so many others would have tried to kill him.

Which (for anyone in that catagory reading) is NOT a good idea. You never know what type of snake you might be dealing with and it's best not to interact with any snake you find... leave it to the pros.
 

pami

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Originally Posted by twstychik

I agree but so many others would have tried to kill him.
That always makes me so mad when someone says they killed a snake. Just because it was "there".
I am deathly afraid of snakes but I wouldnt kill one.

Strange_wings helped us so much when we found one in our pool. They do have humane traps for snakes and they can be relocated.
There is a guy where I live that does snake rescue.
 
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strange_wings

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I would rather find a snake in my backyard than mice, rats, or worse - packrats in my house.
We have some fields nearby (live at the edge of town) and it looks like past owners have mice and rat problems. So I'd much rather prefer nature's way of handling pest and controlling disease.

I only worry that the baby opossum I've seen about may become its next meal. The opossum is about the size of a pet rat. But oh well, that's nature.
 

AbbysMom

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OMG! That wouldn't have been a "nice" surprise for me!
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

It was in the shade. I know that snake was mostly sitting there observing us. I've never seen a wild snake that curious before.
"Hmmmm...how ssssshall I get the humansssss to asssssisst me?" LOL, sorry, I couldn't resist!


Seriously, I don't have a problem with snakes IF they are outside and IF they are not poisonous. Since moving to the country I've only encountered two snakes, one black (rat snake?) and one garter snake, but we do have copperheads around here that can harm the animals so I can't guarantee their safety if they show up in our yard.

But, was that snake skinny? Or was it just because it was laying weird on the fencing? Of course, since he probably just woke up from hibernation he probably IS hungry. Maybe he was just contemplating a very BIG happy meal!
 
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strange_wings

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^Snakes have been up for a bit. It's actually HOT here so all the reptiles are well out of hibernation.

It wasn't skinny - as in starved. Looking for a meal, though, would be likely. In person it's head actually looked a lot smaller than it did in the pictures, too.

I really don't have a problem with copperheads.
I see them around ponds here but they usually slip off into the water and prefer to avoid any confrontation at all. Well, maybe my only problem with them is that I can't get a good look at them when they swim off quickly! They're truly beautiful snakes.

Black snakes in some areas can be indigo snake (common name of a snake thats protected in some states - habitat loss and collecting them for pet trade have seriously damaged the wild population). They're solid black.
Rats will have a white chin, so do black racers. Racers are smoother and have larger eyes. Both are blotchy marked as babies and juvies.

Others could be black pine snakes (can be brown too), but they don't have the lighter chins of rats and racers. And there's ring necks - common and obviously named for the ring around their necks. They're also incredibly tiny.


I've probably left a lot out, but I'm tired and going to bed now.
 

momofmany

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Snakes give me the willies when I encounter them, but totally respect them. I was shoveling rocks last weekend and scooped up a small garter snake with the shovel (it was hiding underneath the rocks). I'm so glad I didn't injure it when I was scooping. It was in the wheelbarrow and couldn't get out, so I built it a ramp with the rocks that were already there so it could get itself out. I couldn't bring myself to pick it up and move it to safety.
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

^Snakes have been up for a bit. It's actually HOT here so all the reptiles are well out of hibernation.

It wasn't skinny - as in starved. Looking for a meal, though, would be likely. In person it's head actually looked a lot smaller than it did in the pictures, too.

I really don't have a problem with copperheads.
I see them around ponds here but they usually slip off into the water and prefer to avoid any confrontation at all. Well, maybe my only problem with them is that I can't get a good look at them when they swim off quickly! They're truly beautiful snakes.

Black snakes in some areas can be indigo snake (common name of a snake thats protected in some states - habitat loss and collecting them for pet trade have seriously damaged the wild population). They're solid black.
Rats will have a white chin, so do black racers. Racers are smoother and have larger eyes. Both are blotchy marked as babies and juvies.

Others could be black pine snakes (can be brown too), but they don't have the lighter chins of rats and racers. And there's ring necks - common and obviously named for the ring around their necks. They're also incredibly tiny.


I've probably left a lot out, but I'm tired and going to bed now.
The black snake was probably a rat or racer because I do remember white under his lower jaw. It wasn't a ring neck because he definitely wasn't tiny!

Copperheads really wouldn't bother me if it was JUST me, but my dogs aren't the brightest when it comes to things like that, plus my neice (12) and nephew(7) come around a lot and I don't want them to try to play with one. Plus, I've seen the damage a copperhead can do to a dog that is trying to protect a child (mega vet bills).

What is the best way to shoo a snake back into the woods? I don't care if they stay there because the dogs and kids aren't allowed back there unless it's winter, but I'm really now sure how to do it.
 
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strange_wings

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Originally Posted by calico2222

What is the best way to shoo a snake back into the woods? I don't care if they stay there because the dogs and kids aren't allowed back there unless it's winter, but I'm really now sure how to do it.
From a distance, if it was venomous and you couldn't wait for someone else to move it? Probably a water hose with a spray nozzle. Just be aware it will head for the nearest cover not necessarily the woods.

As for the kids, educate them!
The 12 year old should already know better but the 7 year old should be able to learn and remember. Teach respect instead of fear, and how to avoid getting themselves into problems to begin with and they'll be fine. Though for the most part kids make way too much noise/vibrations for a snake to hang around.
 

plebayo

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That's really cool! I don't know what I'd do though personally because the only snakes we see here are little gardner snakes... that thing is huge in comparison.
 
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