Help Identify Oklahoma Snake,

[OKnewguy]

Hey gang, what kind of snake is this? I currently have him cought in a bucket, if he is not poisonious (sp?) I will release him on my property, but if he is he is going to take a long ride.
Thanks, Dave

 

[OKnewguy]

I think it might be this one.
OKSnakes.org Photo Gallery
Dave

 

[jinman]

I think it might be this one.
OKSnakes.org Photo Gallery
Dave

I think you are probably right. A lot of diamond backed water snakes have been killed because people think they are water moccasins. They are not as dark, but they are short and fat. That snake is not a pit viper and is non-poisonous.

...but it sure is fat.

 

[midcarolina]

Yep, It's a harmless water snake.

 

[wushaw]

Yup that is a Diamond back water snake....harmless/non-poisonous
They are plentiful in the south and they are the most misidentified snake in the water snake world as a water moccasin/cottonmouth and they all swear that's what it was.

Oh just to let ya know he/she has a foul musk smell when handled and will probably not want you handling him/her, they do have a bad temper.

 

[OKnewguy]

You are not kidding on the musk, I never touched her directly but I stunk after getting her into the bucket and taking her down to the creek. I am glad that she was not venomus. I have always left snakes alone, but I have always been able to easily identify them, I grew up on 10 acres, in the country and all we ever had was rat, black and garter snakes. I am glad that I did not kill her, think she was a water mocasin.
Take it easy guys.
Dave

 

[tydp]

I am sure that is a "cotton backed diamond adder."

 

[Redbug]

Yup, that is a common diamond back water snake. They have a nasty disposition, but are harmless. He is a good guy.

One thing I hear all the time down here is stories of moccasins dropping into boats from a limb above. That is most likely just a harmless water snake, since they routinely climb up onto limbs, and drop when disturbed. Moccasins rarely will climb up into a tree. They stay low. Most people don't know their snake species and any brown snake near water just HAS to be a moccasin.

 

[N80]

They have a nasty disposition, but are harmless. He is a good guy.

I think that is the other reason they get misidentified. They are very aggressive and will coil up and strike rather than try to get away. Much like a water moccasin.

I used to catch them in the creeks as a kid and I slightly disagree with the designation of harmless. They have razor sharp teeth and will bite the dickens out of you. No poison, but still a nasty little bite.

 

[wushaw]

I think that is the other reason they get misidentified. They are very aggressive and will coil up and strike rather than try to get away. Much like a water moccasin.

I used to catch them in the creeks as a kid and I slightly disagree with the designation of harmless. They have razor sharp teeth and will bite the dickens out of you. No poison, but still a nasty little bite.

The two cottonmouths I have ever encountered ran like crazy.

Most diamondback water snakes will too but some are curious, I have had many come up to me when I was fishing in a belly boat...very distracting when he/she comes up and just lays right behind you on the tube... then you notice you have a stowaway on your tube...another good reason to be able to quickly make an identification between poisonous and non-poisonous.