Identify This Snake

[Bird]

We finally got a day without rain, so I've been mowing. Both daughter's places first, then mine. As I was going around the shop building with the string trimmer, I saw a snake go behind the concrete steps. Then when I was mowing with the lawnmower, I found the snake in the pictures at the end of those steps, right where I first saw the snake earlier. Now it may have been the same snake both times, but I really thought the one I saw first was bigger than this one. Anyway, I killed this one and it appears to me to be a copperhead. Am I right?

 

[BillyP]

http://www.wf.net/~snake/copperhe.htm

 

[CharlieTR]

I do believe it is a copperhead.

 

[randy41]

could be a corn snake if you got them around there

 

[BillyP]

I don't know what it is but I don't believe it's a Copperhead. It's too brightly colored and the head isn't shaped right.

I'm differently no snake expert

 

[Bird]

Randy, I've never heard of any corn snakes in this part of the country, so I'd have some doubts, but don't really know.

Billy, another guy and I both thought copperhead at first, but I'm inclined to think you're right; the head is just not shaped right for a copperhead.

So if I assume it's not a copperhead or a corn snake, I have no idea what it might be.

 

[jinman]

Bird, I believe a copperhead would not have that long skinny tail. It's just too thin for a pit viper. I don't have my snake ID book with me right now, but I'll look at it tonight. The hourglass shape of the copperhead is really more pronounced than the pattern on your snake too. I believe it was a case of mistaken identity, but it's close enough to make me soil my skivvies if I almost stepped on it.

 

[nolefan]

Looks like a Red Rat snake (corn snake). They are good snakes to have around if you have mice.

 

[Jaybr]

One sure way to tell, put a stick in it's mouth and look for fangs.

The coloring looks close to the copperheads around here, but pattern and head shape don't match real well.

Here's one I killed a couple years ago, cost me the ACL in my left knee but that's long story.

 

[cp1969]

Does it have round pupils in the eyes? If so, it is non-poisonous. If it has a slit like a cat, it is poisonous.