Can anybody tell me what this ugly cuss might be? He decided to slither up on my back deck and hang out for a while. I stopped hubby from whacking him with a shovel but I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not. I'm in Texas now by the way.

Cottonmouth........:yay:

Cottonmouth........:yay:

Naw... Cottonmouth Water Moccasin (http://www.wf.net/~snake/moccasin.htm)

I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not.

Pick it up and find out.

You should know within a few seconds.

Here snakey, snakey..............

Purty... http://z.about.com/d/urbanlegends/1/7/b/n/texas_rattlesnake.jpg

Naw... Cottonmouth Water Moccasin (http://www.wf.net/~snake/moccasin.htm)

:yawn:............you ever been in a boat with one.....I have....down south, moccasin.......means only one snake..they will chase your ass and you will leave the boat.

Purty... http://z.about.com/d/urbanlegends/1/7/b/n/texas_rattlesnake.jpg

Eastern DiamondBacks are bigger....................that's a small 'rattler....:coffee:

:yawn:............you ever been in a boat with one.....I have....down south, moccasin.......means only one snake..they will chase your ass and you will leave the boat.
So. It doesn't look like one.


Eastern DiamondBacks are bigger....................that's a small 'rattler....:coffee:

It's a fake picture.

Can anybody tell me what this ugly cuss might be? He decided to slither up on my back deck and hang out for a while. I stopped hubby from whacking him with a shovel but I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not. I'm in Texas now by the way.

Common Garter Snake
NOT poisonous.

FYI - Cotton mouths are not found north of Norfolk VA

Common Garter Snake
NOT poisonous.

FYI - Cotton mouths are not found north of Norfolk VA

She's in Texas...Western Cottonmouth........:duh:

So. It doesn't look like one.

It's a fake picture.

It is........

Here is a really good website for identifying your Texas snakes.

NON-POISONOUS: THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OF TEXAS - Other Non-Venomous Texas Snakes - Species Index (http://www.texas-venomous.com/othersnakesindex.html)

POISONOUS: THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OF TEXAS - An Online Herepetological Resource Since 1997 - Species Index (http://www.texas-venomous.com/speciesindex.html)

I think it favors the (non-poisonous) desert king snake.

THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OF TEXAS - Gerald Keown's Herpetological Resource Site - Other Non-Venomous Snakes - Desert Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula splendida (http://www.texas-venomous.com/splendida.html)

It is........

How do you know? How many Texas cottonmouth's have you encountered...:confused:

Here is the western cottonmouth... WESTERN COTTONMOUTH (http://www.texas-venomous.com/leucostoma.html)

Looks like a poisonous head shape to me. Poisonous snakes tend to have triangle heads because of their venom pits. I see a triangle, but the pic isn't clear. I'm thinking one of the many rattle snake varieties in Texas. Put him in a bucket and take him out for a long ride and release....:yay:

HA! There was no way I was gonna mess with that aggressive little bugger, I shot that picture very carefully. We have a lot of snakes around here, relocating one would be just a drop in the bucket. This is why every pic of my kids outside shows them in cowboy boots and jeans, my relatives laugh but I've ran across about 5 or 6 snakes in the last year and half the time I didn't notice them until they either rattled or coiled up. I just leave the critters alone, they go on their merry way pretty quickly once you retreat. Hubby on the other hand kills any snake on sight in kind of a horrified violent rage that I find it rather unnerving. Snakes make a lot of folks crazy....

She's in Texas...Western Cottonmouth........:duh:

:lol: She should try SoTX.com

How do you know? How many Texas cottonmouth's have you encountered...:confused:

Here is the western cottonmouth... WESTERN COTTONMOUTH (http://www.texas-venomous.com/leucostoma.html)

I've encountered many cottonmouths..................Western, Florida .......all in the Magnolia State......don't get me started.

HA! There was no way I was gonna mess with that aggressive little bugger, I shot that picture very carefully. We have a lot of snakes around here, relocating one would be just a drop in the bucket. This is why every pic of my kids outside shows them in cowboy boots and jeans, my relatives laugh but I've ran across about 5 or 6 snakes in the last year and half the time I didn't notice them until they either rattled or coiled up. I just leave the critters alone, they go on their merry way pretty quickly once you retreat. Hubby on the other hand kills any snake on sight in kind of a horrified violent rage that I find it rather unnerving. Snakes make a lot of folks crazy....

I'm glad you let them go in their merry way. You sure do have plenty of snake varieties in Texas so it seems the best approach. My husband used to kill snakes at first sight too... but I've convinced him to treat them differently and now we shoo them away. They serve a great purpose in our eco-system.

They serve a great purpose in our eco-system.

Until they bite the dumb dog.
I only kill copperheads, and the pups will now let me know where they are.

HA! There was no way I was gonna mess with that aggressive little bugger, I shot that picture very carefully. We have a lot of snakes around here, relocating one would be just a drop in the bucket. This is why every pic of my kids outside shows them in cowboy boots and jeans, my relatives laugh but I've ran across about 5 or 6 snakes in the last year and half the time I didn't notice them until they either rattled or coiled up. I just leave the critters alone, they go on their merry way pretty quickly once you retreat. Hubby on the other hand kills any snake on sight in kind of a horrified violent rage that I find it rather unnerving. Snakes make a lot of folks crazy....

Yep! Thats me!! Hubby and I would get along great! :lol: I know its not right, I guess.

I'm glad you let them go in their merry way. You sure do have plenty of snake varieties in Texas so it seems the best approach. My husband used to kill snakes at first sight too... but I've convinced him to treat them differently and now we shoo them away. They serve a great purpose in our eco-system.

Thanks for the links, I poked around there for a bit but I didn't see anything real close. They wanted a donation to ID a pic :rolleyes:. I figure it's good to keep anything alive that keeps the rodent population down. I sent the pic to my horse trainer, she's pretty well versed on the local fauna.

Until they bite the dumb dog.
I only kill copperheads, and the pups will now let me know where they are.

If it weren't illegal to kill copperheads I'd have to say I agree with you. However, due to the law and all... :coffee:

If it weren't illegal to kill copperheads I'd have to say I agree with you. However, due to the law and all... :coffee:

I'm a really, really, really BAD person.

My husband used to kill snakes at first sight too... but I've convinced him to treat them differently and now we shoo them away. They serve a great purpose in our eco-system.

Cats :yay:
let him rain havoc on stray cats

They're an invasive species and serve no purpose in the local ecosystem

If it weren't illegal to kill copperheads I'd have to say I agree with you. However, due to the law and all... :coffee:

I didn't know that...one law I have broken many times...and will ignore now that I am aware of it.

Can anybody tell me what this ugly cuss might be? He decided to slither up on my back deck and hang out for a while. I stopped hubby from whacking him with a shovel but I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not. I'm in Texas now by the way.

OK what is odd here is that the head is diamond shaped which is typical of a domestic to US poisonous species, however the eyes do not have the cat like pupil so I would venture to say it is a type of water snake.

Looks like my google search proved it here is a link

Diamond Backed Water Snake (http://www.texassnakes.net/DiamondBacked.htm)

OK what is odd here is that the head is diamond shaped which is typical of a domestic to US poisonous species, however the eyes do not have the cat like pupil so I would venture to say it is a type of water snake.

Looks like my google search proved it here is a link

Diamond Backed Water Snake (http://www.texassnakes.net/DiamondBacked.htm)

Well, that last picture certainly looked like the correct head shape. If it is a water snake he is far from any water! Our stock pond has been dry for 6 months and this area is pretty far from any natural bodies of water.

Well, that last picture certainly looked like the correct head shape. If it is a water snake he is far from any water! Our stock pond has been dry for 6 months and this area is pretty far from any natural bodies of water.

Could be lost or a pet.

Cats :yay:
let him rain havoc on stray cats

They're an invasive species and serve no purpose in the local ecosystem

I've got 2 vile feral cats I'm close to pulling out the .22 and dispatching. They pee in my garage, crap in my garden, and have destroyed all my bedding plants on either side of the garage. The leave foot prints all over our vehicles and eat the dog's food. They have taken up permanent residence and they need to go! My Australian Shepherd won't even chase them since he was raised with my 2 old indoor cats and doesn't seem to regard these interlopers as enemies. This whole area is infested with feral cats.

Can anybody tell me what this ugly cuss might be? He decided to slither up on my back deck and hang out for a while. I stopped hubby from whacking him with a shovel but I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not. I'm in Texas now by the way.

Don't go by this 100% of the time, but ANY snake with a triangle shaped head.. leave alone.. In other words, if it has a triangle shaped head, it's probably a viper (poisonous) of some kind, that is NOT saying if it doesn't have a triangle shaped head that it's safe to play with.

Looking at the picture in your first post, I see a pronounced triangle shaped head.. unless the angle of the camera is bad.. Doesn't matter what it is at that point, it's poisonous, leave it alone.

OK what is odd here is that the head is diamond shaped which is typical of a domestic to US poisonous species, however the eyes do not have the cat like pupil so I would venture to say it is a type of water snake.

Looks like my google search proved it here is a link

Diamond Backed Water Snake (http://www.texassnakes.net/DiamondBacked.htm)

See, I thought the location, not the look, of the eyes was different.. Usually the viper has the eyes set farther back on the head.. near the corners of the triangle.. he has his eyes set way forward near the end of his head..

BUT even if he is a non-venomous snake.. I stand by my Triangle Head, Stay Away philosophy.

Could be lost or a pet.

This is a VERY rural area, mostly ranchers, so I doubt that it was a pet but who knows. Most places out this way have stock ponds dug but they seem pretty small, muddy, and lifeless to support reptiles.

See, I thought the location, not the look, of the eyes was different.. Usually the viper has the eyes set farther back on the head.. near the corners of the triangle.. he has his eyes set way forward near the end of his head..

BUT even if he is a non-venomous snake.. I stand by my Triangle Head, Stay Away philosophy.

That is pretty much my policy with any snake, they can still deliver a nasty bite and I'd have a freakin' heart attack if one got me. I swear everything down here is to be avoided. I found a scorpion in my two year olds room the other day, it looks like it was stepped on but was only about 2 feet from her crib. Fire ants infest every part of Texas and you can't even sit on the grass without risking multiple itchy burning painful bites. I miss the far north, give me mosquitoes any day!

See, I thought the location, not the look, of the eyes was different.. Usually the viper has the eyes set farther back on the head.. near the corners of the triangle.. he has his eyes set way forward near the end of his head..

BUT even if he is a non-venomous snake.. I stand by my Triangle Head, Stay Away philosophy.

Yes, I do the same thing stay away if not sure. Although not native in the US a Cobra looks non-poisonous when its just slithering around.. Now when it gets up and throws out its hood then you know your in trouble.

That snake is poisonous. The diamond shaped head is a giveaway.

I'm glad you let them go in their merry way. You sure do have plenty of snake varieties in Texas so it seems the best approach. My husband used to kill snakes at first sight too... but I've convinced him to treat them differently and now we shoo them away. They serve a great purpose in our eco-system.

IMO it goes both ways. Yes they serve a purpose but on the other hand its when you don't see them when you catch a bite. I say kill the poisonous ones.......that way next time they can't get the one up on you and you end up croaking from a bite.

Can anybody tell me what this ugly cuss might be? He decided to slither up on my back deck and hang out for a while. I stopped hubby from whacking him with a shovel but I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not. I'm in Texas now by the way.
Looks like a rat snake. Rat Snake (http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/elaobs.htm)

This is a VERY rural area, mostly ranchers, so I doubt that it was a pet but who knows. Most places out this way have stock ponds dug but they seem pretty small, muddy, and lifeless to support reptiles.



That is pretty much my policy with any snake, they can still deliver a nasty bite and I'd have a freakin' heart attack if one got me. I swear everything down here is to be avoided. I found a scorpion in my two year olds room the other day, it looks like it was stepped on but was only about 2 feet from her crib. Fire ants infest every part of Texas and you can't even sit on the grass without risking multiple itchy burning painful bites. I miss the far north, give me mosquitoes any day!

:killingme:killingme My other half is from the Hill Country and I met my first scorpion after going to bed. Never again. I told him I won't live were you have to watch every step...Oh fire ants....met them too....:popcorn:

:yawn:............you ever been in a boat with one.....I have....down south, moccasin.......means only one snake..they will chase your ass and you will leave the boat.

haha as scary as that sounds, its funny.

Looks like a rat snake. Rat Snake (http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/elaobs.htm)
just to narrow it down a little further, it's a texas rat snake Common and Large Snakes in the Dallas Fort Worth area (http://biology.uta.edu/herpetology/Texas%20rat%20snake.htm)

Now, Im no expert on snakes, but, I do happen to live with one.
and one thing I do know is that there is a difference between poisenous and venomous.
Snakes are venomous. not poisenous.

Just thought I would share.

65226

65227Now about the shape of the head. Had to download some picts to give examples.
look at both snakes and determine only by the shape of the head which snake you would prefer to play with if you had a choice.

haha as scary as that sounds, its funny.
aint nothing funny about those snakes.
one of the few that will actually chase you. Along the Dismal swamp in Virginia, they hang in the trees over the water wating for fish or small mammals to venture by.
Problem is they dont really have a good idea of size when it comes to food, so when you run your boat under them or walk under them, they will drop on down for dinner.
And as God is my witness, the SOBs will chase you if you run from them.

While avoiding anyone with a triangular head is a good rule to follow if you are unfamiliar or unsure of the species, the Diamond back water snake is one of the species that suffers as a result of this rule :( Here in southern Maryland the eyes are also a safe bet, but most people that don't know what they're looking at right off the bat aren't to interested in getting a real good look at the face :D
I would say without a doubt that this guy is a DBWS :)
As a side note a local snake that suffers from being misrepresented is the Eastern Hognose :( These are beautiful snakes that puff and flatten and much like a copperhead don't seem to book it when approached. I've personally never had one play opossum on me, although they are known for their antics :)

Can anybody tell me what this ugly cuss might be? He decided to slither up on my back deck and hang out for a while. I stopped hubby from whacking him with a shovel but I've no idea if this one is poisonous or not. I'm in Texas now by the way.

The snake is a type of water snake (Nerodia genus). Specifically, it would appear to be a diamondback water snake. Water snakes are harmless...very defensive (will bite if you threaten them), but harmless.

OK what is odd here is that the head is diamond shaped which is typical of a domestic to US poisonous species, however the eyes do not have the cat like pupil so I would venture to say it is a type of water snake.


It is a myth that US snakes can be identified as venomous (not poisonous) by the shape of their head. Most harmless snakes have the ability to flatten their heads into that wedge/triangular shape, and there are some harmless species whose head shapes are already triangular shaped in general. Also, again, it is a myth that the ID can be based on the eye shape. There are plenty of harmless snakes have the cat eye slit type pupils and there are venomous snakes have round eyes.

It is a myth that US snakes can be identified as venomous (not poisonous) by the shape of their head. Most harmless snakes have the ability to flatten their heads into that wedge/triangular shape, and there are some harmless species whose head shapes are already triangular shaped in general. Also, again, it is a myth that the ID can be based on the eye shape. There are plenty of harmless snakes have the cat eye slit type pupils and there are venomous snakes have round eyes.
what about overlapping scales? i was always told that if the scales overlap it's a sure thing the snake is venomous. if the scales dont overlap its probably non-venomous but still possible...

what about overlapping scales? i was always told that if the scales overlap it's a sure thing the snake is venomous. if the scales dont overlap its probably non-venomous but still possible...


Scales are part of the snake's skin..they are the "armor plates" that protect the soft skin underneath (our fingernails protect our soft finger tips). The scales on all snakes are fixed in place on the skin and can overlap or not overlap. ..the amount of overlap depends on the snake. If the snake is fat and full (either with food, excessive intake of air for defensive hissing/posturing, or full of eggs/embryos), the skin will stretch/expand outward so of course the scales spread further apart from each other. If the snake is not full or is sickly/underweight, the skin contracts bringing the scales back together. Think of the skin/scale placement as an accordion.... the skin being the low points of the accordion pleats and the scales being the high points of the pleats and working together allows for expansion and contraction.

aint nothing funny about those snakes.
one of the few that will actually chase you. Along the Dismal swamp in Virginia, they hang in the trees over the water wating for fish or small mammals to venture by.
Problem is they dont really have a good idea of size when it comes to food, so when you run your boat under them or walk under them, they will drop on down for dinner.
And as God is my witness, the SOBs will chase you if you run from them.

When I was Stationed at Dam Neck Va, we'd go fishing and crabbing in Lake Tecumseh. It was loaded with cotton mouth and they chased us out of the water several times.
I was fishing one evening, it started getting dark so I hopped in my jeep and headed back to the barracks. I'm driving out and I see this guy with a couple of Coleman lanterns on the shore and he's sort of hopping/running back and forth between the two lights. I drive on over to see what's up and moccasins are swarming out of the lake attracted by the lights. I tell him he's got to turn off the lights to get the snakes to leave and he tells me he can't turn the lights off with all the snakes here.
I was wearing cut-off and flips flops, not really dressed for kicking snakes, so I left and had a beer. I've often wondered what ever happened to that fellow.