CLOSED: Snake ID needed please

Well tonight as I slide the pocket door open for some reason I turned the hall light on, something I never do.

This was waiting for me. My DH helped it meet God!

Does anyone know what kind it is?

thanks
Jan

You killed a harmless snake in the family Colubridae. See http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/onlineguide.htm for information on Florida snakes.

I looked and looked on that sight last night trying to find out what type of snake and didn't see any pictures that even came close to this one. So I'm still searching for the id on it.

harmless or not, it was in my house and I have pets that I don't want or them to be bitten.

Jan

It most likely is a juvenile rat snake.

It isn't kinked like a rat snake. Are young rat snakes not kinked?

Rat snakes, whether young or old, are only "kinked" when they want to be. It is a posture that usually results after being disturbed or threatened. The photo looks to me to be of a young rat snake, which did not need to be killed to protect humans or pets.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/braindamaged217/3502897778/

Just another reason people need to educate themselves. There are no excuses to justify this. If you are that afraid of snakes, then educate yourself on them. There are plenty of resources to do so. What is the point of identifying a dead snake? Its dead regardless so it is no longer a "harm". And just because you see one doesnt mean there are more. Snakes do not travel in packs like wolves, they are mostly solitary creatures. Im sorry for ranting, I just hate when people kill such benificial animals.

OK
I am going to step into the "waters" respectfully.with the snake issue on this thread. For some of us, snakes can be terrifying -----truly truly terrifying. I am not speaking for Meadow -- but for myself. In this scenario, the type of snake was unknown. How to handle it was unknown. It's presence was at the very least unanticipated and startling. Handling an unknown and potentially dangerous snake for those who are fearful - and not in the "know" regarding snake removal, is a daunting if not impossible task. It is a frantic time that does not lend itself to observation, educational opportunity, and/or reflection when the perceived danger is at hand. Those responding to posts like this have a wonderful opportunity to educate in a positive manner - and should not use a good teaching opportunity to vent anger and frustration. Perhaps the photo was posted in an effort to learn the breed and habits of the breed. Maybe it does travel in "packs" maybe ts presence indoors signified a nest of some sort, maybe its presence inside meant it was sick and more likely to strike, maybe the type of snake it was would determine it's significance about coming indoors ( to give birth??) or not -- maybe it held no significance --- who knows??? That is why those folks who want to know and want to be educated --ask questions. We come to learn and at other times we come to share what we know. Just reading the one or two postings I've learned a bunch already. I have had rat snakes lounging on the screens of my outdoor porch -- basking in the sun -- and kinked more than my hair on a rainy Fla day. Can't imagine that those snakes felt threatened in any way .. no movement to escape either. Maybe they wanted to stick around and see the old lady finish her heart attack.

Thank you missingrosie, you said that beautifully.

brandonsivek - Yes I posted a dead one as I would rather lean after the fact that it is one that isn't harmful, then not kill and have myself, DH or my collies bitten and die! Your remarks do nothing to encourage me to take a different approach with snakes.

Now having a somewhat better idea about this one, should, (and I pray to God that I don't see more, but seeing as where I live, I'm sure I will see more) I, then I will be better able to deal with it, and not be so quick to end its life.

I was always taught to save human life before a snake!

Jan

although i hate seeing a harmless snake killed, this case was justified since you didn't know what it was and let's face it, snakes in the house are no fun.
it took me more than a few hours to id this same juvenile snake when i first moved to central florida and because it looks nothing like the adult, it was tricky.
we normally have quite of few of these through the summer but i've yet to see one this year....and just a side note, these snakes in the juvenile stage can be more than a little aggressive, striking and trying to bite. i have a brick house and they climb up the brick and always seem to be eye level when i walk out the door. it is unnerving to say the least.

Oh my goodness, trackinsand, what kind is it? Eye level, I think I would have to move for sure. As it is now, I can't hardly walk through the house until all the lights are on and I've looked up, down, and sideways.

This has really spooked me.

Where about are you in Fl, I'm on the west coast, are you anywhere near?

Jan

Just learn to recognize the few species of venomous snakes in Florida - http://venomoussnakesfl.com/

i didn't mean to scare you. the ones i'm talking about are these juvenile rat snakes, excellent climbers. they are harmless and a good snake to have around outside. they just take you by surprise once in a while. lol
i'm in central florida, right in the middle of the state.
as flap said, learn to recognize the venomous snakes. we don't have many. i have only seen one Coral Snake in 9 yrs.

Not to make light of it ----but moving out to rural NC, I knew I had to make things simple when it came to identifying snakes ...

I figured I'd check out the eyes --- pupil shaped this way this way - OK
Pupil shaped that way that way - not OK
Head shaped this way ---OK and so forth.

Early on saw my first snake.... and tried to put my little quick and dirty identification algorithm to the test ....

Didn't work! How can you look into the eyes of a snake when your butt if facing the snake and you are heading in the opposite direction at 50 MPH?