|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on March 1, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Without a photo, it is going to be difficult to help you positivily identify the snake.
You might want to go to a local Library or Book Store, and take a look at the photos in their Field Guides to Reptiles.
Also, you might want to check this web site: http://www.knology.net/~korell/nasnakes.htm
They have photos of a lot of Alabama snakes, if you click on the different names. Unfortunatly, the photos are not the best of quality. Still, it might be enough for you to identify the snake you saw.
Another site to try is Outdoor Alabama at: http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Snakes/ There you will find a list of about 20 common snakes and you can click through to see the photos.
Another site to try is this one: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl-guide/fl-snakeslist.htm Although it has photos of Florida snakes, most of the same are found in your state.
Let us know if you find a snake in the photos in any of the sites that matches what you saw.
Hope this helps. Best Regards JohnZ
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by mhutch on March 2, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I looked at all of those sites. Didn't find it, but did learn a little more. It was definitely spots, not blotches. It had keeled scales not smooth. I have been able to eliminate some snakes from all the info/pics I've seen.
You all must think I am making all of it up since I am giving a pretty good amt. of info. I have a medical background, and my husband and daddy are both investigators so I have learned what to look for it just a few seconds or minutes. If I see one like it again, I will hopefully be able to take a picture. I do think I will be seeing more because of the major road construction nearby causing them to move here and the new construction to the house; wood piles, sand,etc. Although, unlike most of you, I hope I never see one of any kind again. I do not like snakes, but do respect them. I also appreciate all of you who study them, and not have/play with them to just be cool.
Could/Would any of you recommend a snake repellent for our house and yard? I do not want my children to get bitten.
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by live4hots on March 2, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Go to tongs.com they do have a product(snakeaway). Im not sure if it really works or not. I think the even better solution is to educate them on the Native snakes in your area. There are lots of books and info on the net out there that are intresting to kids. Show them pics of the venomous species and non venomous species. Make it into a game. My girls love it! They feel they are a part of my hobby and they soak up the knowledge. My 4yr old can name every venomous species in the state of Kansas on sight!100% everytime! Her favorite stuffed animal is a large green rattlesnake..lol Chip off the old block I guess. Educate your kids about the true risks of sharing space with reptiles and teach them to respect the animal and they will do just fine.Be careful though!! They might get the bug that most of us have. Then your house will be full of snakes..lol :) Hope this helps some...........Trey
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on March 2, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Sorry to hear that the web sites did not have the snake you saw, but, like you said, you learned something, so that is good.
This in a way helps, in that, if the snake did not match the common harmless snakes in the photos, and did not match the venomous snakes in the photos, it is most likely some sort of harmless ground snake.
If you do see another one, you might turn a large garbidge can over on its side and chase the snake into it with a broom, then turn the can upright again. That way you could take a photo of it or possibly have someone come take a look. (we have quite a few Alabama members at this site).
As far as the snake repellent, the commercial stuff is quite expensive, and is nothing more than moth ball powder ( nampha ). You can buy the same stuff a whole lot cheaper as moth ball powder at a hardware or grocery store. Then sprinkle it around. It is supposed to work to some extent, as snakes have very sensitive smelling ability, and the moth balls would be irritating. Of course, it would soak into the ground after every rain. Use the powder, or if all you can find is the moth balls, crush them up so your kids dont find them and think they are something to play with.
One of the best things you can do to repel snakes is to keep the grass cut short, and do not have log piles, grass piles, old boards, and other junk around the yard. These things attract rodents, which attract snakes.
Let us know if you ever get a photo of the snake, or capture it. Best Regards JohnZ
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by timberrattlesnake89 on March 3, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
To me it sounds likes like maybe a baby Coachwhip. They have spots when they are babies and are known to be agressive too. If not that then maybe a baby black racer or some type of water snake.
Phillip
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by bush_viper17 on March 3, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
http://www.orange.k12.oh.us/teachers/mhs/bsosic/2004-2005/ohiosnakes/graphics/snakephotos/Red-bellied_Snake_2.jpg was this it?
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by mhutch on March 3, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
bush_viper17, no that wasn't it. The snake I saw was a whole lot darker in color. And had destinctive(sp?) spots. I bought some moth balls and am going to put them(powder) starting on the porches and laundry room, moving to the garage and out into the yard. Maybe this way, they will be pushed into the woods/creek around the house. It's funny, I am the only one who has encounter snakes around this house-2x in the past 5yrs(lived in HI for 4 of those 5).
I used to work in my garden, at night, in the hi desert of CA where green mojaves run rampant(My husband, an MP, had to get one out of someone's garage.)and was not scared. But this scared me because I didn't know what kind it was and almost struck my daughter.
Again, I appreciate all of your help. And yes, I will be educating my daughters on the different types of snakes. I've even thought about getting up with my college bio teacher to help me, because I remember some of the great pictures he had. My oldest,6yo, is like a sponge so I know she will learn and ID them quickly.
I'm going to keep checking just in case someone from AL can ID this snake for me. Thanks so very much!!!!
mary
|
| |
|
RE: Please help ID this snake!
|
Reply
|
|
by mhutch on March 3, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I think I have found what kind it was. Thanks to Doug H., I believe it was a DeKays snake. I found this picture, http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/snakes/brownsnake_2.jpg. The snake had markings like this but was much, much darker.
I cannot tell all of you how grateful I am for all of your help!
mary
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
