Identify This Snake

[Seon]

Years ago when I worked in No. VA, my coworker told me that a father and 5 yr old son neighbor were to go fishing. So the father told the son to dig up some worms. On the way to the lake, the son told his father that the worms that were in his pocket were hurting him. Found out the worms were baby copperhead. Boy died.

 

[LMTC]

Years ago when I worked in No. VA, my coworker told me that a father and 5 yr old son neighbor were to go fishing. So the father told the son to dig up some worms. On the way to the lake, the son told his father that the worms that were in his pocket were hurting him. Found out the worms were baby copperhead. Boy died.

I don't doubt that your coworker told you that, but I'd have to see a link to the story to even think about believing it. The little copperheads can usually inject about enough venom to make one mildly ill. HERE is a link to a story I found that has similarities to what you were told, but it is only a year old. And ANOTHER link that addresses the issue of baby copperhead bites. I was bitten by one about 12-14" long when I was about 16. Got a couple of shots (antibiotic and who knows what else...but not antivenin, I am sure of that), had a mild fever for about 24 hours, and that was that.

I understand people killing venomous snakes around dwellings...I will too, as they just aren't compatible with my life style. I have never understood wholesale killing of every snake, at least other than understanding most folks have no idea what snakes actually do or which snake is which. If I had a doubt and was around the house or barn, I'd dispatch it. I have killed a few northern water snakes solely because they are so darn aggressive. And they will bite, repeatedly, if they catch you. I have seen black snakes ( the true black snake, i.e. the racer) act aggressively and seem to pursue, but I have only seen one ever literally attack me (and that was a very funny event, as I circled this 6' snake that was semi-coiling, rearing up a good 20" above the ground---the situation ended when my brother's spaniel attacked the snake and it fled). The other black snake (black rat snake) tends very much to flee. Rat snakes are very very good for rodent control...but I don't want them in my house either. I usually relocate them in a garbage can (a 5 gallon bucket is too short IMO).

Spiders, on the other hand, are killed mercilessly when sighted. Perhaps I should take some time and read up on spiders, as I suspect they help control some insect nuisance. Actually since we started spraying the outside of the house (foundation, eaves, etc) twice yearly with Bifen, we don't see spiders inside (that's right, the Bifen makes them invisible)

 

[Bird]

Seon, like LMTC, I don't doubt that your coworker told you that, but I do know that various versions of that story have been around for at least 50 years, although it's usually baby rattlers instead of copperheads.

The snake I showed in this thread is actually the 3rd snake I've killed in the last 13 years, and no, I would not have killed it if I'd been able to identify it as not harmful first. It was down in the grass, so I couldn't visually find its head until after I nearly cut it in two in the middle. We have a chihuahua so I don't want any poisonous snakes in the yard. She's very curious and she loves everyone and all other animals, so I'm afraid she'd even try to get a snake to play.

 

[BamaRob]

Bird,

Your last post makes it easier to understand why you killed the snake. No one wants their pets (or children or other loved ones) bitten by a poisonous snake. The markings on a corn snake would certainly have one thinking "copperhead" if it were partially hidden in the grass. Since you've only killed 3 snakes in 13 years, I commend you. I've probably killed a couple more than that, and I'm a staunch defender of snakes that tends to browbeat people that indiscriminately kill snakes (as evidenced by my posts above ).

And...

LMTC,

I know my spiders about as well as I know my snakes. I don't kill any spiders that aren't inside my home, except black widows and brown recluses (the only two in my area that pose a real health threat). All spiders inside the house get dispatched quickly (unless the wife is not home and I can catch it in a jar and relocate it outside). Most spiders are beneficial (as you alluded to), but them being in the same space as my wife just doesn't work. And, y'all know the saying, "If Mama's not happy, ain't nobody happy!"

Later,

BR

 

[jdbower]

I made sure to introduce my wife to some of the garter snakes around so she knows what they look like and that they're mostly harmless. All I have to do to convince her a species is her friend is to say it eats bugs. I didn't include a little tidbit I picked up that garter snakes have a large chunk of their diet made of those earthworms her gardens love...

The "they eat bugs" argument is also why we'll be getting a bat house soon...

 

[milkman]

He was going down to the spring to get a jug of milk that was there being "refrigerated" by the cool spring water. BR

We kept our milk in the same kind of referigerator when I was a kid, and we were always barefooted in the summer most of that time spent in the woods. One of my encounters with a copperhead was in the blacksmith shop dad had out back, I don't remember why I went in there, but as I walked past a pile of junk iron, I saw something shoot out of the pile of junk right past my leg. I did quite a dance and let out a squall and mom came running to see what the commotion was about, meanwhile the snake crawled across where I had just passed and disappeared under the anvil block. I told mom what had happened and she went and got a hoe, when she got back, I shoved the anvil over and mom made two pieces out of the copperhead. Took a while for the adrenalin to subside that day.

 

[mboulais]

I have killed a few northern water snakes solely because they are so darn aggressive.

I recently found a couple of little snakes in the ditch after I completed the ditch to drain my yard and treeline area better. I think they are northern water snakes. The one in the picture stopped moving, but the other is still out there. both about a foot long. how long do they get?

 

[BamaRob]

Yep. That looks like a northern water snake. Resources I've read say they get 30" - 40" long. I've never seen one that long, personally. Most of the ones I've seen have been around 18" - 24".

BR

 

[Redbug]

Sorry Bird...You killed a corn snake, (a type of rat snake). The individuals can vary a good bit on coloration. They are good guys.

Corn Snake Page

If you look at the Okeetee coloration pics, it is closer to yours...

 

[Dusty]

A few days ago, while moving a piece of equipment up to the house with my wife helping, I came across a 4 or 5 foot long black snake in the grass. I was on the tractor and my wife was on foot. I instructed her to move to the other side of the tractor, and got that look of "why are you telling me what to do.". She did comply, but reluctantly until I told her why. I didn't want to upset her and have her start running. I have never seen it, but I have been told that the black snakes will sometimes chase a fast moving person. When I next saw it, it was coiled up alongside of the tree and in striking pose. I just kept going on my way, and left it to go its own way. When you live in the woods, you develop a live and let live attitude toward the wild life. Unless the animal, snake, etc. is threatening to humans or the dogs, I let it have its freedom and life. The only thing around here that doesn't get that treatment is the porcupines. When I see them, they are instantly food for the turkey vultures. It is too difficult to cure a dog of a face full of quills...