Another snake ID thread

[K191145]

Maybe the indiscriminate killing by humans?  At the very least it could explain less snakes seen around populated areas.

 

Well I admit I don't get out in the country like I used to but I have always seen a few snakes around the yard, and many dead on the road and I do drive a fair amount. Just haven't seen that many lately.

[Dolomite`s Breezy]

I like snakes..We never go out of our way to harm them or even kill them..We had a few rattlers over the years on our property.. killed those cause of our chickens and child still being at home.i think this is one of those snakes that rasp their scales onto each other to sound badass?

 

When I mow and I even see a small garter snake.. it gets moved out of harms way....

This was just a neat snake..wished he would not have ran it over but I bet he didnt see it in the leaves on the road.

[bersaguy]

Back when I was growing up on the farm I got to watch an interesting show one morning while sitting on back porch drinking cup of coffee. I saw some movement in the back of the yard that was fenced for chickens and ducks. At first I saw a black racer raise it's head up about a foot out of the grass. Then it went back down and about 2 minutes later popped it's head up again and it had moved about 5 feet. Then as I watched I could see movement again from another direction. As I watched the black racer was actually stalking a Copper head that was a bit smaller than the racer. As time went on all hell broke loose as the Copper head crawled across what appeared to be a spot just behind the racers head area. All at once the racer struck the Copperhead and began to coil itself in a constricting move and both snakes were rolled up together. After about 15 minutes I watched the racer unwrap from the Copperhead and begin to consume the Copperhead, head first. Took the racer about 25 minutes to completely consume it's meal. I have only been moved down here about 3 months when I saw this and I was just amazed as I had never seen anything like it before. At that point I knew why my Grandfather told me to never kill a Black snake. He said they do much more good than harm. I try not to kill any non venomous snake if I can avoid it............... :up:  :up: 

[A.J. Holst]

A snake thread with no Samuel L Jackson meme? Y'all are slipping...

[monkeylizard]

[dawgdoc]

Back when I was growing up on the farm I got to watch an interesting show one morning while sitting on back porch drinking cup of coffee. I saw some movement in the back of the yard that was fenced for chickens and ducks. At first I saw a black racer raise it's head up about a foot out of the grass. Then it went back down and about 2 minutes later popped it's head up again and it had moved about 5 feet. Then as I watched I could see movement again from another direction. As I watched the black racer was actually stalking a Copper head that was a bit smaller than the racer. As time went on all hell broke loose as the Copper head crawled across what appeared to be a spot just behind the racers head area. All at once the racer struck the Copperhead and began to coil itself in a constricting move and both snakes were rolled up together. After about 15 minutes I watched the racer unwrap from the Copperhead and begin to consume the Copperhead, head first. Took the racer about 25 minutes to completely consume it's meal. I have only been moved down here about 3 months when I saw this and I was just amazed as I had never seen anything like it before. At that point I knew why my Grandfather told me to never kill a Black snake. He said they do much more good than harm. I try not to kill any non venomous snake if I can avoid it............... :up:  :up:

 

Do you think it could have been a black kingsnake?  They are immune to pit viper venom, and they use constriction to kill.  Black racers on the other hand, despite being named Coluber constrictor, actually just grab and eat their prey, and they aren't immune to venom.

 

The snakes that many people call "Black Snakes" could be Black Kingsnakes, Black Racers, Black Ratsnakes, Coachwhips or even Eastern Kingsnakes (which have much more white on them than the others).

[peejman]

Do you think it could have been a black kingsnake? They are immune to pit viper venom, and they use constriction to kill. Black racers on the other hand, despite being named Coluber constrictor, actually just grab and eat their prey, and they aren't immune to venom.

The snakes that many people call "Black Snakes" could be Black Kingsnakes, Black Racers, Black Ratsnakes, Coachwhips or even Eastern Kingsnakes (which have much more white on them than the others).

Yes, it has to have been a kingsnake. They're very similar in appearance to black rat/racer snakes.

Either way, good reason to not kill any black snake. It either eats copperheads or it eats rats and other vermin. Edited November 3, 2015 by peejman

[Monkeybat]

I've seen tons of snakes this year.  I've had at least 6 in my garage.  We live close to Old Hickory Lake.  That could be why.  I don't need rodent patrol.  I've got an outdoor ninja kitty that is a beast mouse hunter.

[Monkeybat]

We just got another rat snake on Thursday just outside our garage.  Well, actually my outdoor ninja kitty was playing with it.  She played with it to death.   :rofl:

[bersaguy]

Do you think it could have been a black kingsnake?  They are immune to pit viper venom, and they use constriction to kill.  Black racers on the other hand, despite being named Coluber constrictor, actually just grab and eat their prey, and they aren't immune to venom.

 

The snakes that many people call "Black Snakes" could be Black Kingsnakes, Black Racers, Black Ratsnakes, Coachwhips or even Eastern Kingsnakes (which have much more white on them than the others).

It could have very well been since it was shortly after our moving onto Grandfathers Farm here from West Chicago and I was not to familiar with snakes in the south. All I know is it was black from a distance and Grandfather told me to not kill any black snakes period.