View Full Version : ID snake
jeremiah j
08-30-2010, 01:03
Saw a snake last fall at plumorchard shelter. Was a pretty big snake. Was probably 4 ft long and 2-3 inch diameter at widest. Snake was greenish, yellowish, and most of it was the color of a shiny new penny. Didn't get close enough to see head well. He was in a coil and my dog was barking at him. I'm thinking copperhead because he was a definite copper color but I don't think copperheads are this brilliant of a color. What I've seen they are more dusky. Any ideas as far as ID? I thought my dog was barking at a toad and went to check out and it wasn't a toad. thanks;)
Many Walks
08-30-2010, 11:57
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=209229060589&id=4d55637ef1ff057468a1cf5521e8b156 (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2KJkK1Z03tMxmoAp_OJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBqYWdlNjB lBHBvcwMxOARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZAM-/SIG=1jqkrdlun/EXP=1283269849/**http%3a//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3fback=http%253A%252F%252Fimages.search.yahoo .com%252Fsearch%252Fimages%253F_adv_prop%253Dimage %2526va%253Dyellow%252Brat%252Bsnake%2526fr%253Dyh s-avgb%26w=800%26h=600%26imgurl=i20.photobucket.com% 252Falbums%252Fb220%252Fcrazyreptilegirl%252FPICT1 779.jpg%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.faunaclassif ieds.com%252Fforums%252Fshowthread.php%253Ft%253D8 7436%26size=122KB%26name=...%2byellow%2brat%2bs... %26p=yellow%2brat%2bsnake%26oid=fa81d126a54c779497 dd4edfc9328b32%26fr2=%26spell_query=yellow%2brat%2 bsnake%26no=18%26tt=552%26sigr=11tkfj25f%26sigi=11 tt7ltfr%26sigb=12s6cd3kh)
Could this be him? Yellow Rat Snake seems to fit the description, could be in that area, and would likely hang at shelters managing the rodent population.
Probably the Yellow Rat snake as above.
or it could be one of those Rattlelybackcoppermoccasins!
also good for shelter rats.
That was the indigenious and endangered Plum Orchard Shelter greenish yellowish shiny new penny snake. Quite rare!
That was the indigenious and endangered Plum Orchard Shelter greenish yellowish shiny new penny snake. Quite rare!
Incorrect. That was the indigenious and endangered Plum Orchard Shelter greenish yellowish disgusting shiny new penny snake.
Daydream Believer
09-01-2010, 15:23
Actually back in May there was a Copperhead in residence at Plumorchard shelter as well as the feral cat. One of the folks who stayed there that night saw him. The Copperhead was in the log book for the shelter also and a number had seen him.
Be careful with that log book...
Rain Man
09-01-2010, 20:38
Was probably 4 ft long and 2-3 inch diameter at widest.
That would be just about a record length for a copperhead, not to mention it would likely be much fatter than that, if that long. Copperheads are short and fat. Kinda like me!
:D
Rain:sunMan
.
Sierra Echo
09-01-2010, 20:41
I can't wait to see my first copperhead in the wild. They are beautiful reptiles!
I can't wait to see my first copperhead in the wild. They are beautiful reptiles!
Yeah, but the key is to see them first...
And they are the yellow jackets of the snake kingdom..they will chase you. :eek:
Fortunately, the bite is bad, but not fatal without other factors, even for cats and dogs.
One of only a few snakes that will not necessarily move, and is just as likely to fight.
Be careful, many bites occur when fools handle them, or try.
Wise Old Owl
09-01-2010, 22:11
Saw a snake last fall at plumorchard shelter. Was a pretty big snake. Was probably 4 ft long and 2-3 inch diameter at widest. Snake was greenish, yellowish, and most of it was the color of a shiny new penny. Didn't get close enough to see head well. He was in a coil and my dog was barking at him. I'm thinking copperhead because he was a definite copper color but I don't think copperheads are this brilliant of a color. What I've seen they are more dusky. Any ideas as far as ID? I thought my dog was barking at a toad and went to check out and it wasn't a toad. thanks;)
Digital cameras are ligther and work on AA batteries, take a picture show your freinds say "NOW that's a snake.....!":D
Sierra Echo
09-02-2010, 06:36
Yeah, but the key is to see them first...
And they are the yellow jackets of the snake kingdom..they will chase you. :eek:
Fortunately, the bite is bad, but not fatal without other factors, even for cats and dogs.
One of only a few snakes that will not necessarily move, and is just as likely to fight.
Be careful, many bites occur when fools handle them, or try.
Now I have always heard that it was the cotton mouth that would chase you.
The Cottonmouths I've come across simply hissed a warning and remained lazily coiled.
I was jogging down a back country road in Virginia and saw a Copperhead on the other side. As I went by it started across the road. I kept my eye on it, and sure enough it began to come down the road after me. It was quite fast, but I managed to get faster! I was 16 and remember asking my dad why it did that. He told me Copperheads were notoriously aggressive. I continued to jog with emphasis on speed work so as not to never be out done by snake, or what ever else decided to chase me. :-)
I was hiking near Pearisburg and moving along the trail at a good clip. I rounded a corner and planted my boot down within a inch or 2 of a copperhead stretched out on the trail. I immediately stopped and the snake coiled up and started doing this hissing thing - all within 3-4" of my bare calf.
I eased my leg back and when the further my leg got away from the snake the more it relaxed and when I was a good 2' away it totally stretched out and slithered off into the woods.
It all happened so fast I didn't have time to get scared. I guess it decided I was too big to eat and saved its venom for something a little smaller.
Sierra Echo
09-02-2010, 07:04
Ok I just looked at a few websites about copperheads. All of them said that if you get too close it will deliver a minor bite. But they all said that if you don't get too close and give them a moment to leave, they will do this.
Joe maybe that was just the direction the snake wanted to go?
I have heard of cottonmouths chasing people. I will go see what I can find out on the subject.
Doc Mike
09-02-2010, 07:19
I found a 3ft (very large) copperhead under my tomato plants 2 weeks ago while picking tomatoes. When I picked him up by his tail to remove him he was very aggressive and actually was striking at the shovel prior to it severing his head. With most other snakes i have a live and let live policy but I have 2 small children who usually pick the tomatoes. I've seen copperheads my entire life and have never had a snake of any kind chase me, maybe they can tell from a distance that I won't taste good.
Daydream Believer
09-02-2010, 13:50
I have been chased by a Cottonmouth. They are very territorial and mean. I've never heard of a Copperhead doing that.
I have heard that snakes do not chase people - they run away.
If they're coming towards you they're not chasing you, they're just running away in your direction - seriously.
Water Moccasin's are widely regarded as the most docile of the venomous reptiles at most zoos and aquariums. I have it on good authority that Knoxville has a truly hateful copperhead on display that is far worse than their cobras. There is more individuality to reptiles than you would think.
I had to make multiple efforts to move this years first 2-3 copperheads off the trail. Cold and sluggish.
No snake is going to chase you. They don't chase lunch for goodness sake!
beakerman
11-08-2010, 00:54
Back when I was a kid I never used to wear shoes...my buddies and I were headed to the local swimmng hole and I was last in line...had to make a pit stop....I stepped down on to a copperhead. landed just behind the head where he couldn't get me and I was kinda stuck. My arms grew three feet that day so I could reach a stick to hold him down with while I got off his neck. Thought I would never get away with that but I did.
That is an absolutely true story