Can anyone identify this snake ?

[HoosierPa]

This snake was in our CYV this morning. Can anyone who is very knowledgeable about snakes identify it ?

[billethkid]

Very difficult without being able to see the head.

Good rule of thumb; treat/respect all as if they were poisonous.

Google florida snakes and you will get a lot of pictures to try to match up.

[Bjeanj]

I've been told it is a black racer (because it can move pretty fast) and that it doesn't bite unless it is cornered. Beneficial as it eats mice, etc. Really sorry you found it in your lanai!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I've been told it is a black racer (because it can move pretty fast) and that it doesn't bite unless it is cornered. Beneficial as it eats mice, etc. Really sorry you found it in your lanai!

I'v never seen a black racer with bands like that. The ones I've seen are jet black with no bands. It looks more like some kind of rattle snake.

[Bjeanj]

Huh. You might be right. Never mind.

[billethkid]

I'v never seen a black racer with bands like that. The ones I've seen are jet black with no bands. It looks more like some kind of rattle snake.

I agree.

It is not a black racer.

[Bjeanj]

Is it one of these?

Snake Identification, Southern Water Snake :: Florida Museum of Natural History (https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/identification/snake-id-q27-southern-water/)

[HoosierPa]

Several people have told me it is a Cottonmouth

[Ragman]

It's body is rather thick and with the darker banding it looks a lot like a juvenile cottonmouth.

It could also be a common water snake which closely resemble moccasins.

Absent better info, I would avoid it.

[Lovey2]

I'v never seen a black racer with bands like that. The ones I've seen are jet black with no bands. It looks more like some kind of rattle snake.

The juvenile ones are more brownish with bands. Not a very good picture, but I'd say it's a black racer.

[t fields]

Several people have told me it is a Cottonmouth

Looks like a cotton mouth I caught at my house and killed

[bagboy]

It appears to be a water moccasin / cottonmouth, but can't be positive. Look up pics online, but do avoid it just in case.

[DonH57]

It could be a pigymy rattle snake. Looks like one I ran over on El Diablo golf course some time back.

[Topspinmo]

This snake was in our CYV this morning. Can anyone who is very knowledgeable about snakes identify it ?


Looks like Florida banded water snake. Cotton mouths are usually thicker, shorter, with huge heart shaped head. The head, eyes, and light color underbelly IMO looks like banded water snake. Either way I would keep my distance.

[Jima64]

Did you see the head . If so, was it arrowhead shaped or rounded. Arrow shaped stay away.

[ColdNoMore]

This snake was in our CYV this morning. Can anyone who is very knowledgeable about snakes identify it ?

Based on your photo, I'm guessing young cottonmouth/water moccasin....but it could be a water snake (hard to tell apart).

http://m4.i.pbase.com/o4/98/25598/1/149961214.DLRwwOPm.IMG_1405ps.jpg

If it's a cottonmouth/water moccasin, they are poisonous and in spite of what the 'experts' say I have found them to be aggressive (standing on shore and having them turn to swim back to me)...so be careful.

[billlaur]

couldn't you get a closer shot...:pray:

[rubicon]

couldn't you get a closer shot...:pray:

:1rotfl:

[Paporter]

It's either a diamond back rattler or water moccasin, hard to tell based on your photo. Both are deadly.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Water Moccasins and Florida Water Snakes that I have seen have orange and black colored bands. This snake appears to be grey and black.

[Retiring]

If one finds a snake at home and doesn’t want to deal with it, is there a service that comes out right away to take away the creature? Do the extermination companies offer this service?

As for the OP picture: Showed it to a colleague that’s a snake lover. He said, “picture is poor but it looks like a cottonmouth, stay away.”

[Jima64]

Water Moccasins and Florida Water Snakes that I have seen have orange and black colored bands. This snake appears to be grey and black.
moccasins can come in a variety of colors so I just worry aabout the shape of the head.

[ColdNoMore]

moccasins can come in a variety of colors so I just worry aabout the shape of the head.

Which should have been very, very flat...immediately after taking that photo. :D

[REDCART]

If one finds a snake at home and doesn’t want to deal with it, is there a service that comes out right away to take away the creature? Do the extermination companies offer this service...

The young lady from Deans says they have and they will remove a black racer or other non-venomous snake from the house or garage but they don't include this in their service contract which allows them to decline if the snake appears too aggressive or too dangerous. So you might say,"it depends".

[graciegirl]

moccasins can come in a variety of colors so I just worry aabout the shape of the head.

different colors of moccosins - Bing images (https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=different+colors+of+moccosins&FORM=HDRSC2)

[VApeople]

We were looking at new homes and my wife has decided she hates the pine straw mulch. At one home we saw a nice looking snake on the walkway and watched it slither into the pine straw and quickly disappear.

Now she REALLY hates the pine straw.

[billethkid]

We were looking at new homes and my wife has decided she hates the pine straw mulch. At one home we saw a nice looking snake on the walkway and watched it slither into the pine straw and quickly disappear.

Now she REALLY hates the pine straw.

And pampas grass and other ornamental grasses.

[GolfGirl122]

I have to admit, when I first saw this topic, I actually thought it was going to be a political thread - lol, but no, it's about Snakes, REAL snakes. With pictures of SNAKES. I'll never feel alone in my house again!

[HoosierPa]

I have several photos of this snake and have shown them to many Florida natives who all say it is a Water Moccasin (cottonmouth). Bought the CYV with extra lawn space on a corner lot specifically so our 2 dogs could go in and out of the dog door and have more freedom. No way I feel comfortable letting them do that ever again. We could have saved a good bit of money if we knew we would be walking them several times per day. In any event, I have dusted off my shotgun in case he comes back.
I would think the Neighbors would rather hear a loud bang than know there is a Water Mocassin roaming the neighborhood.

[Fraugoofy]

I have several photos of this snake and have shown them to many Florida natives who all say it is a Water Moccasin (cottonmouth). Bought the CYV with extra lawn space on a corner lot specifically so our 2 dogs could go in and out of the dog door and have more freedom. No way I feel comfortable letting them do that ever again. We could have saved a good bit of money if we knew we would be walking them several times per day. In any event, I have dusted off my shotgun in case he comes back.
I would think the Neighbors would rather hear a loud bang than know there is a Water Mocassin roaming the neighborhood.
I hate snakes and that is an understatement. I mean I really hate them. We bought a patio villa on purpose so I would have to 1. Walk our dog every day and 2. Pay close attention to our very small Lanai in regards to creepy crawlies... I hope you don't have any more of these in your backyard!

Sent from my SM-N910R4 using Tapatalk

[rubicon]

Cotton mouths were commonly found at outside water spouts in Memphis. The first night in our new home we heard a dog barking incessantly . The following night complete quiet. We inquired and found the dog was bitten by a cooperhead. The following month the local newspaper wrote an article about a housing development next to ours wherein a girl age 12 was bitten and killed by cooperheads. Both of these housing developments were constructed on once thriving cotton fields. Snakes like squirrels are territorial and we moved in on their turf

[Retiring]

Has anyone used this service, or a similar service? Curious about your experience with a removal service.

The Villages Snake Removal (http://www.snake-removal.com/The-Villages-FL.html)

[HoosierPa]

Has anyone used this service, or a similar service? Curious about your experience with a removal service.

The Villages Snake Removal (http://www.snake-removal.com/The-Villages-FL.html)

They were the first call I made Friday and they told me they were closed until Monday. I yelled out at the snake and told him not to move until Monday but when we took a shot at him with a 22, he disobeyed orders and took off.

You can rest assured I have upgraded my tool chest if he returns. In the meantime, he is roaming the neighborhood armed and dangerous ! Keep a look out.

[Retiring]

They were the first call I made Friday and they told me they were closed until Monday. I yelled out at the snake and told him not to move until Monday but when we took a shot at him with a 22, he disobeyed orders and took off.

You can rest assured I have upgraded my tool chest if he returns. In the meantime, he is roaming the neighborhood armed and dangerous ! Keep a look out.

If I were in the same situation but lived on acreage I too would take the shot. But in TV the houses are almost on top of each other, any concern the round may ricochet off a rock and cause a problem with the neighbor?

It’s a tough spot. You don’t want to end up in handcuffs if shooting in close proximity of a road or home is illegal and you don’t want to injure a neighbor. On the other hand you don’t want a deadly snake on your property.

Out of the 8 million clubs in TV there must be a handful of snake clubs. Would be great to have one of them post a note in this thread. I don’t live in TV (yet). I have plenty of firepower but I’m not comfortable shooting in such close proximity to others. I’m inclined to use a machete, anyone know where you can buy a 20 ft. machete.

[HoosierPa]

If I were in the same situation but lived on acreage I too would take the shot. But in TV the houses are almost on top of each other, any concern the round may ricochet off a rock and cause a problem with the neighbor?

It’s a tough spot. You don’t want to end up in handcuffs if shooting in close proximity of a road or home is illegal and you don’t want to injure a neighbor. On the other hand you don’t want a deadly snake on your property.

Out of the 8 million clubs in TV there must be a handful of snake clubs. Would be great to have one of them post a note in this thread. I don’t live in TV (yet). I have plenty of firepower but I’m not comfortable shooting in such close proximity to others. I’m inclined to use a machete, anyone know where you can buy a 20 ft. machete.

If he is laying on the grass and I can take a shot DOWN within 5 yards with my 38 shotshell, I am going to take it. By the way, I have already spoke with the Sargeant of our local Police Dept. and he said he would do the same thing. If you want to bring your Machete over here and go through the bushes looking for him, be my guest.

[ColdNoMore]

If I were in the same situation but lived on acreage I too would take the shot. But in TV the houses are almost on top of each other, any concern the round may ricochet off a rock and cause a problem with the neighbor?

It’s a tough spot. You don’t want to end up in handcuffs if shooting in close proximity of a road or home is illegal and you don’t want to injure a neighbor. On the other hand you don’t want a deadly snake on your property.

Out of the 8 million clubs in TV there must be a handful of snake clubs. Would be great to have one of them post a note in this thread. I don’t live in TV (yet). I have plenty of firepower but I’m not comfortable shooting in such close proximity to others.

Excellent points. :thumbup:

Except to protect a life, I can't think of a good reason to discharge one of my firearms (regardless of caliber) in TV.




I’m inclined to use a machete, anyone know where you can buy a 20 ft. machete.

That's not long enough.

I would want one 40'.... minimum. :D

[Sandtrap328]

Tthe photo taken by the OP really is not good enough to identify the snake with certainty but it could very well be either a water mocassin or brown water snake. Both are nasty snakes in temperament. The mocassin is venomous.

Chase it away with a long handled hoe or something like that. You could even use the hoe to kill it - and still keep a safe distance.

As for shooting the snake, you would be breaking the county law by firing your weapon. I know if I heard a shot or two coming from my neighbor's house, I would call 911 immediately. I would not go over and ask if there was a problem.

[Jima64]

Tthe photo taken by the OP really is not good enough to identify the snake with certainty but it could very well be either a water mocassin or brown water snake. Both are nasty snakes in temperament. The mocassin is venomous.

Chase it away with a long handled hoe or something like that. You could even use the hoe to kill it - and still keep a safe distance.

As for shooting the snake, you would be breaking the county law by firing your weapon. I know if I heard a shot or two coming from my neighbor's house, I would call 911 immediately. I would not go over and ask if there was a problem.i agree a shovel or hoe if you can't be certain it will leave the lanai. My choice would be kill it so my neighbor did not have to worry with they or the pet being bitten.

[HoosierPa]

Check Florida Statute 790.15 and you will have your answer to what is being debated.
Keep in mind a venomous snake can kill me or my dogs (which are my property)