Was this snake dangerous?

[frank29]

I was walking to my barn and almost stepped on a snake. All I know about snakes is that old adage that if it is black it is probably safe. Well this old boy was not black and the pattern looked ominous.

Please look at the attached image. That snake is no longer with us. Was it a dangerous snake?

In one way, I hope it was of a dangerous species since I dispatched it. In another way, I hope it was benign since it was only a couple of hundred feet from my home.

 

[Richard]

I'm snake ignorant but I'd wonder if it's a copperhead?

Looks like something I'd prefer to stay away from

 

[JESSE1]

Without looking at the head, by the body markings it looks like a Copperhead. Definitely poisonous.

 

[frank29]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Without looking at the head................ )</font>

Well, I can't help with the head (the bird shot removed it); but, here is a picture of the entire body.

 

[BlueToy1]

I agree, looks like a copperhead to me. Glad its gone.

 

[mathey]

well, here's a pic of a copperhead...you be the judge

 

[frank29]

Something else that was a bit unsettling, not being sure the snake was "gone", I used a stick to pull it to an open area. When I saw the head was gone, I knew he/she was in snake heaven.

I took the pictures. Put up the camera and dispatch tool (PITA safe?), posted the picture on this site and went back to take care of the snake's body. Probably 30 minutes transpired. I picked up the snake by it's tail and the critter was still moving?!?! The upper section was steadily moving toward my hand. I knew it didn't have a head; yet, I still dropped it. It was kind of unsettling. I dropped it and used two sticks for the transporting.

 

[JD3520]

All snakes are dangerous! They all cannot give you a venomous bite but they all can make you hurt yourself in your retreat from them.

 

[BillyP]

It's certainly colored up like a Copperhead. If the head "was" noticably wider than the neck, it was a Copperhead.

My way of thinking is the Copperhead is the most dangerous snake in the US. They don't seem to be afraid of a human or just too dumb to move. They'll lay there hidden until you step on it.

 

[Pilot]

Copperheads are pit vipers. Pit vipers are wider at the back of the head, sort of a triagular or diamond shaped head. All pit vipers are poisonous. If I remember correctly, there is only one poisonous snake in the US that is not a pit viper. Anyway, if it is obviously wide at the back of the head, generally twice as wide at the back of the jaw than at the neck, it is poisonous.