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Old 09-13-2012, 06:27 PM
 
3 posts, read 4,468 times
Reputation: 10

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Who: me, not so brave, ignorant of snake varieties, new homeowner (been here 2 weeks), wondering if this is a "good" snake or not so good to have hanging around

What: snake (!) found sunning itself on my driveway

When: today

Where: Washington County, VA (lovely area!)

Why: I need to know whether to wig out or not. (I have a wee little dog I take outside at night. In the dark. The thought of threatening snakes laying wait on my walkway for me, or in the grass for him, not such a happy thought.)

Can you tell me what this is? Thanks ever so much!

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Old 09-13-2012, 07:06 PM
 
3 posts, read 4,468 times
Reputation: 10
I think I received good information that this is a black rat snake....harmless to humans.

(Relief!)
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Old 09-13-2012, 07:48 PM
 
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
14,129 posts, read 31,238,974 times
Reputation: 6920
Thin tail snakes are normally non-venomous.
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Old 09-13-2012, 10:01 PM
 
Location: Richmond
419 posts, read 901,913 times
Reputation: 342
Is there water near by? Coloration and shape looks like a water snake. Cannot really see head to gauge size and type of snake.
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Old 09-13-2012, 10:08 PM
 
Location: Richmond
419 posts, read 901,913 times
Reputation: 342
Kind of marked like a kingsnake but also much like the eastern ratsnake (black rat snake juvenile phase) hard to tell without seeing the head which would have an eye stripe. How big is it? Looks like 18 to 20 "
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Old 09-19-2012, 06:53 PM
 
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
5,404 posts, read 15,988,586 times
Reputation: 8095
That snake has a roundish head...non venomous. Almost ran over a green tree snake today....had to escort it off the driveway so it wouldn't get smushed! Non poisonous snakes are GOOD to have around!
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Old 09-21-2012, 01:56 PM
 
Location: In a happy, quieter home now! :)
16,904 posts, read 16,116,328 times
Reputation: 75586
It is a very well fed young black rat snake.....a very, very good snake to have around!
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Old 09-28-2012, 04:28 AM
 
3 posts, read 4,468 times
Reputation: 10
Thank you for the additional information. I have no intention of killing it since it won't harm me. I really don't have information about head shape or size or eyes beyond what has been deduced here. I haven't seen it again. If I see it again, I will examine it more closely (or at least use a zoom lens).

But now I am curious....since it has been so well fed, what is it eating?
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Old 09-28-2012, 07:14 AM
 
Location: Richmond
419 posts, read 901,913 times
Reputation: 342
[SIZE=3]Adults feed almost exclusively on warm-blooded prey such as mice, rats, shrews, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and birds. Juveniles, like the one shown, have been seen eating small amphibians and lizards as well. [/SIZE]
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Old 09-28-2012, 05:32 PM
 
2,776 posts, read 3,593,491 times
Reputation: 2312
I have a pet black rat snake, thats the juvenille. They will turn almost totally black later.

(the species is elaphe obsoleta obsoleta-a reference to their pattern vanishing).

They get quite large and are basically vaccum cleaners-if they can eat it, they will. You wont have vermin around with a snake like this. Theyre constrictor type snakes.

They can "rattle" their tail to try and trick predators into thinking theyre poisonous when threatened, but theyre not. They dont even have a true rattle, they just vibrate their tail against the ground to simulate the sound.
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