Snake ID

[Arctic Fox]

Mrs Fox opened our outside lanai door today, our having been away for three months, and a small snake landed on her head.

We have been on the Florida Uni snake identification web site but came up blank, maybe because it was a young snake and didn't have adult markings?

Anyway, it was around 10" long, 0.25" across and had brown and white bands. It was quite slow moving once we finally got it out of the lanai, but was a feisty chappie in the process, rearing up and striking.

Any ideas?

[sukismom]

Could have been a small rat snake what was the shape of the head?

[Arctic Fox]

Could have been a small rat snake what was the shape of the head?

I should say diamond-shaped, but he was only small so difficult to say. However, we do have rats in the neighborhood so if that attracts them...

[Bjeanj]

I can’t help you with snake identification, but I hope Mrs. Fox didn’t have a heart attack. I know at a minimum I would have done the “freaked out”dance. Probably would’ve had to change my pants too. I’m so sorry that happened to her.

[Fredman]

Could have been a king snake if the whiter stripe went around the body. If so it is not poisonous

[ColdNoMore]

:D....

[socrafty]

Mrs Fox opened our outside lanai door today, our having been away for three months, and a small snake landed on her head.

We have been on the Florida Uni snake identification web site but came up blank, maybe because it was a young snake and didn't have adult markings?

Anyway, it was around 10" long, 0.25" across and had brown and white bands. It was quite slow moving once we finally got it out of the lanai, but was a feisty chappie in the process, rearing up and striking.

Any ideas?

We just had a baby corn snake in our garage the other day that looked like this:

[gap2415]

The majority of snakes here are non venomous if that is a relief and you got him out. I see lots of garage doors up all day and wonder about critters and crawlers getting inside. I always look for a rounded head and tell myself that he is one of the good guys. In Port Charlotte, we had a very large, very fat rat snake fall on a guest's head when they opened the side garage door adjacent to a grapefruit tree. Now that was excitement and my introduction to the new area at the time. Rat snakes are harmless except for the instant terror of the uninitiated. I tell myself they are justtrying to get through life like the rest of us. Glad for you your visitor is gone. Even wee garter snakes will fight back if their life is seemingly in danger and once they feel the attack is over, they often stay still for a bit before moving on.

[rubicon]

snow is starting to look good just about now

[graciegirl]

on her head????????????????

[dewilson58]

on her head????????????????

I'm not telling my Bride............I hope this thread goes away.

WOW!!

[leftyf]

Last night when we came out of the restaurant, my wife went to open her car door and a tree frog jumped up and hit her on the throat and stuck there. I saw her jumping and screaming but didn't know what was the matter. Frogs are her biggest fear. She came home and used alcohol on her neck to disinfect it. I just can't help it, that was funny. The frog was not injured.

[autumnspring]

This past saturday 11/11/17 the rangers had an exhibit at the Bromwell farmers market. They were very pleasant perhaps, they will be their next week-I don't know.

Far as I know-I'M NO EXPERT. There are only two poisonous snakes in this area. Cotton mouth is around water. It gets its name because when it opens it's mouth it is white inside.
We also have a small rattler variety-easy to ID it has a rattle at the end of it's tail. You can also tell by the shape of the head-broader where the neck isn't.

Snakes are interesting-WHEN THEY ARE IN YOUR YARD-NOT MINE.

[chuckinca]

My wife freaks when she sees a bug - if a snake dropped on her head she and her cat would be on the next plane to San Francisco!

.

[Arctic Fox]

Mrs Fox thanks you for your good wishes. She is recovering nicely, and reckons that another glass or two of red wine should do it.

And I thank you for the help with ID. It wasn't white inside the mouth, and didn't have a rattle, so we're happy that it was non-venomous.

It was definitely banded, not blotchy, and the brown and white colors were in rings right around the body, not just across the top half.

I have built a small pile of rotting wood in the back garden to attract insects, and it appears to have found a new home in that, which is fine.

No need to get a pet mongoose after all.

[Henryk]

Mrs Fox thanks you for your good wishes. She is recovering nicely, and reckons that another glass or two of red wine should do it.

And I thank you for the help with ID. It wasn't white inside the mouth, and didn't have a rattle, so we're happy that it was non-venomous.

It was definitely banded, not blotchy, and the brown and white colors were in rings right around the body, not just across the top half.

I have built a small pile of rotting wood in the back garden to attract insects, and it appears to have found a new home in that, which is fine.

No need to get a pet mongoose after all.

May I ask why you built a wood pile to ATTRACT insects? And what kind of insect, excepting perhaps termites, are you trying to attract?

[Sandtrap328]

Mrs Fox thanks you for your good wishes. She is recovering nicely, and reckons that another glass or two of red wine should do it.

And I thank you for the help with ID. It wasn't white inside the mouth, and didn't have a rattle, so we're happy that it was non-venomous.

It was definitely banded, not blotchy, and the brown and white colors were in rings right around the body, not just across the top half.

I have built a small pile of rotting wood in the back garden to attract insects, and it appears to have found a new home in that, which is fine.

No need to get a pet mongoose after all.


Definitely sounds like a corn snake.

[Arctic Fox]

May I ask why you built a wood pile to ATTRACT insects? And what kind of insect, excepting perhaps termites, are you trying to attract?

Insects are of great benefit to the garden so building an "Insect Hotel" is a good idea if you don't mind having them around.

Since we never sit outside in the unscreened wilderness we are happy to encourage their presence.

And if any misbehave, we'll send the snake after them.


How to build an insect home- Eden Project, Cornwall (https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/how-to-build-an-insect-home)

[Topspinmo]

Google ring neck snake? They are brownish cole and have ring around the neck. If so, about the most harmless snake you could come across. Usually they are small worm looking snakes. I don't know how big they get. Sometime when I out under the bushes trimming and getting the dead leave I pull one out the the leaves

[Arctic Fox]

Google ring neck snake? They are brownish cole and have ring around the neck.

Thanks, Topspinmo, but this chappie was alternating brown and white rings (about 0.25" wide) the whole length of his body.

Wish I'd taken a photo, but sedating Mrs Fox took precedence. Next time, however...

[mtdjed]

I have seen three kinds of poisonous snakes in the area. As previously stated the Cottonmouth, Pygmy rattle snake and Coral Snake.

[Nucky]

Thanks, Topspinmo, but this chappie was alternating brown and white rings (about 0.25" wide) the whole length of his body.

Wish I'd taken a photo, but sedating Mrs Fox took precedence. Next time, however...

So we found Mrs Nucky's sister, your wife. Just the talk of the snakes and the anxiety level in a non anxious house goes from zero to sixty in a heartbeat. :1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Arctic Fox]

on her head????????????????

It was hiding in the top of the door-frame and dropped down when she opened the door :-)

[Henryk]

Insects are of great benefit to the garden so building an "Insect Hotel" is a good idea if you don't mind having them around.

Since we never sit outside in the unscreened wilderness we are happy to encourage their presence.

And if any misbehave, we'll send the snake after them.


How to build an insect home- Eden Project, Cornwall (https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/how-to-build-an-insect-home)

Thank you for the link. But I have to say, I think there are already plenty of places in my garden for the insects. :22yikes::22yikes:

[graciegirl]

It was hiding in the top of the door-frame and dropped down when she opened the door :-)

Holy Bowlegged Sarah.

Damn hateful of that snake if you ask me.

I can see why a snake got the villain role in the creation story.

[Arctic Fox]

Could have been a small rat snake what was the shape of the head?

Mrs Fox's or the rats?

[TimeForChange]

Mrs Fox opened our outside lanai door today, our having been away for three months, and a small snake landed on her head.

We have been on the Florida Uni snake identification web site but came up blank, maybe because it was a young snake and didn't have adult markings?

Anyway, it was around 10" long, 0.25" across and had brown and white bands. It was quite slow moving once we finally got it out of the lanai, but was a feisty chappie in the process, rearing up and striking.

Any ideas?

You said brown and white bands....there are a lot of ribbon snakes or garner snakes in TV. I have seen several. You need a photo to identify. A copperhead or water moc are easy to identify.

[Henryk]

Here's an authoritative link with some very good photos.

List of Venomous Florida Snakes :: Florida Museum of Natural History (https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/venomous-snakes/)

My view? If it has very distinctive markings, run like hell. If it doesn't, run like hell!

[CFrance]

Last night when we came out of the restaurant, my wife went to open her car door and a tree frog jumped up and hit her on the throat and stuck there. I saw her jumping and screaming but didn't know what was the matter. Frogs are her biggest fear. She came home and used alcohol on her neck to disinfect it. I just can't help it, that was funny. The frog was not injured.
Ha ha! Somebody left a stainless coffee or water mug on the cooler at Hibiscus pickleball courts last winter. We were the only four there, and for some stupid reason, I unscrewed the top to look inside. The tiniest frog ever jumped right out at me. I screamed, OH, THERE'S A FROG IN THERE!" The husband of the other couple spit his drink of water halfway across the court. I thought I was gonna wet my pants.

Had it been a tiny snake, I'd still be screaming.

[Arctic Fox]

...The tiniest frog ever jumped right out at me...

Never a dull moment in The Villages :-)

[justjim]

I would get rid of the wood pile. Certainly a good place for a snake to take up residence and then belly up to the lanai. ������ Several moons ago we had a wood burning fireplace and a couple of times I had a battle with a snake at the wood pile which was at the back of our lot. At my wife's suggestion, we put gas logs in the fireplace.

[Butterfly201]

This year my cat has brought me two snakes since the summer- in the house. The first one was a small 12-15 inches and was striped white, orange, black-- Luckily I had a shoe nearby and killed it only to find out that it was a baby black snake--change color later. I thought it was a rattler. A couple of weeks ago same cat brought a black snake in, little larger, and I had to call in reinforcements for that one-- luckily my neighbors came prepared with a shovel, golf club and broom. It makes you crazy as snakes can climb walls until I trapped it under a box.
I found a youtube video of a black snake being born and they hatch from egg?!! and they come out fighting....and they are striped--
Takes a while to recover from episodes like that..

[Arctic Fox]

I would get rid of the wood pile. Certainly a good place for a snake to take up residence and then belly up to the lanai...

I've told it that, if it wants to stay in the wood pile, it has to keep the rodent population in check. And no coming inside!

[gap2415]

Only the water moc will chase you and I haven't heard of any here. If possible, just leave them alone and they will disappear quickly.....unless you make a woodpile home for them.

[Arctic Fox]

Only the water moc will chase you and I haven't heard of any here. If possible, just leave them alone and they will disappear quickly.....unless you make a woodpile home for them.

Don't worry - I built it closer to my neighbor's home than to mine

[joldnol]

Only the water moc will chase you and I haven't heard of any here. If possible, just leave them alone and they will disappear quickly.....unless you make a woodpile home for them.

They had water mocs (cotton mouths) in the pond at Volusia

[Sandtrap328]

This year my cat has brought me two snakes since the summer- in the house. The first one was a small 12-15 inches and was striped white, orange, black-- Luckily I had a shoe nearby and killed it only to find out that it was a baby black snake--change color later. I thought it was a rattler. A couple of weeks ago same cat brought a black snake in, little larger, and I had to call in reinforcements for that one-- luckily my neighbors came prepared with a shovel, golf club and broom. It makes you crazy as snakes can climb walls until I trapped it under a box.
I found a youtube video of a black snake being born and they hatch from egg?!! and they come out fighting....and they are striped--
Takes a while to recover from episodes like that..

Why in the world do you let your cat outside the house to roam around? If you care about your cat - KEEP IT INSIDE!!!

[bilcon]

There are plenty of water moc's around. Hope you never meet them. I have seen them on one of the Cane Garden courses and behind my house near the pond with rocks . Very aggressive.

[rubicon]

I'm afraid of snakes but only four kinds big, little alive, dead