He was sitting in my Sago palm. Sorta greyish with orange behind his head and those bold black spots. About 14" long. DH hit him with a shovel...I wanted to find out if he was a friend or a foe, but DH is of the "all snakes are to be killed" mentality.....
I'll check my field guide when I get home but I gotta tell ya, this makes me very sad. What a beautiful snake.
Nature provides a balance, mice and rats are the other side of having this snake around.
It's a Hognose snake. They are harmless.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/junior_naturalists/hognose.phtml
Yes they are harmless. I have them here to keep mice and rats out of my henhouse..they got a nose like a hog's nose..LOL
Yep. It was an Eastern Hognose Snake. Totally harmless. I'm so sorry I couldn't keep the DH from killing it...next time, I won't mention it...
http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/images/Eastern%20Hognose%20202.jpg
Better yet, tell him how beneficial it was. And the next time, don't let him know there's a snake around. And hide the shovel.. ;-)
Beneficial does not mean a thing to the DH. Actually, he couldn't find the shovel at first, and I knew where it was, but I was hoping he'd give up looking and I could scare the snake away. But, he found it. Next time, I won't even mention it.
I hate to admit it because I will be soundly chastised, but I am scared of any snake. I know, I know, they are beneficial and the poisonous snakes are rarely around us. Still...just can't help it. My heart stops and my mouth screams whenever I come across a snake. I try, I really do.
LouC
I think that trait is bred into us! It's what you do next that counts.
After the ol' heart stops pumping so hard, and the adrenalin stops shooting through my veins, I can even go look for it to see what kind. I just don't like to be surprised. ;-)
I am with you on being nervous about snakes. I actually really like them but they are just so quick and silent that they seem to appear out of thin air. Gets me every time. Once I know they are there though I am fine.
I found a snake today when I was re-doing a garden bed and moved a large rock. It was underneath the rock, not a real big snake, just medium size. I just put the rock back carefully. All the ones I've actually seen on the property are non-poisonous. I don't hurt them myself. Another thing I found today...a free-range hen has a nest on the edge of the property and is sitting on some eggs. It must be really dangerous for those chickens...I never could figure out how they survive like that, with dogs and wild animals around.
LouC,
No one here will chastise you. Your fears are real to you, and I respect that...
Thx. I don't kill a snake because I'm too far away from it by the time I quit yelling. I don't think they can hear, but if they did I would kill it by high decibels.
hahahaha
LouC
LMBO!
I won't chastise you, Lou, as I am absolutely petrified of spiders. All spiders (well, except Daddy Longlegs). If they're in my house, they will be killed. If they're outside, however, I have learned to appreciate and tolerate them. I have always been petrified of spiders, even as a small child. No other insect or snake bothers me. But show me a spider and I'm a puddle of jelly.
Carla
I'm not fond of spiders but they don't give me the heebie-jeebies like a snake does, even a baby the size of a worm.
Beinging that I am moving to the Houston area and that Texas has more types of snakes than any other state(103 types) it will be a good idea for me to get a book on Texas snakes. I don't want to kill them but I do want to know what kind thay are. That alone will make me feel better about them.
fancy, don't worry. They are not that prolific. Especially if you are in an urban development. If it is a brand new area, might be a problem early on because their habitat has been invaded. Lived here all of my life and have only seen 2 poisonous snakes. I just don't like any of them. Even the poor little green or brown garden snakes that don't get very big. I'm just a ninny.
LouC
Always been told that if the head is in the shape of an arrow, poison.
Actually, hognose snakes do mimic some poisonous snakes a bit. The body shape and markings are similar to some. However, the upturn of the nose gives it it's name. It is known to strike and hit with that nose to mimic rattlesnake strikes. One of the labs when I was in college used to keep these. We would go over to play with them, but I can see being scared when running up on them in the wild.
Still laughing at the running and screaming thing, though:->> Maybe a new repellent in the making!
STILL LMBO!
Hi Gymgirl,
How ya been? Long time no talk/see.
Don't worry at all about it. At one time or the other, we have all, more than likely, killed a non-poisonous critter by accident. In fact this particular one didn't make it out of our yard either, and oh, my gosh, when we identified it, I felt so badly. I do remind myself though that when they are marked with bands of red & yellow together, these are poisonous (red & yellow kill a fellow).
Carol
LouC, I just purhased a 5 acre lot in the country and will have a small home built on it. I'm sure to come across some snakes there, something I never considered when I bought the property. A few nights ago I had dreams, or should I say nightmares, about snakes being all over my land. I have come to terms with it now just as long as I can identify them, I'll be fine.
Oh, fancy, sure didn't intend to conjure up nightmares for anyone. I've been told that if you have cats they will take care of the mice, rats AND snakes. Maybe someone else knows more about it. Doubt if you will have an overabundance anyway.
LouC
Oh don't worry LouC, it wasn't you that conjured up my snake nightmares. Snakes were not even in my mind until I read this thread. I'm glad I did though so I'll be better prepared now. I do have one cat and always wanted one more so maybe that's what I'll do. No problems here... only solutions!!
I remember reading about hognose snakes that they will roll over and play dead when threatened. I have never seen one in the wild and did not know about the rattlesnake thing. I know that rat snakes around here will shake their tail like a rattler and if they are in leaves, they will even sound like they have a rattler. The most common poisonous snakes that I know of in different parts of Texas that I am familiar with are the water moccason, copper head, rattle snake, and coral snake (red on yellow). When you move to Texas, you can check with the County about what poisonous snakes are indigionous to the area and get familiar with what they look like.
What a good idea ecxel, I'll definately do that.
Actually,...the Hognose is one of the most amusing,...to me. For being such a docile species...yet provide such a "threatening" display....they
sometimes rear up and spread like a cobra...and a rather slow speed in their "stiking" at you,....hissing is often used as well....but when all that fails to dissuade you from bothering them,...they resort to feigning dying/death...sometimes writhing around as though its head was chopped off....mouth slightly open and tongue limply hanging out...and belly up...........yet unaware of one small flaw in its performance,...when you turn it over,...it will invariably return to belly up as though its sure that "belly up" is definitely a sure sign of being dead. I've handle many of them thru the years and never have witnessed or experienced one of them trying to bite.( Herpetology was a favorite "study" of mine as I was growing up.).
Hi everyone, saw the snake thread and had to take a peak. I'm north of houston and we see plenty of snakes. Water Mocs are bad near the lake and can be pretty aggressive in the water, I've actually seen them chase swimmers (or maybe they were just going the same way LOL)
We have lots of copperheads too. I read somewhere that some university (probably A&M) is doing a study and found that copperheads are slowly losing the strength of their venom. Not sure if I want to find that out myself, but both my dogs got bit last April and were just fine. They swelled up but a little Benedryl and Penicillin and they recovered without a trace.
I haven't seen any rattlers around here, but I'm sure they are still around.
As far as coral snakes go, they are poisonous, but they aren't vipers, they don't have any fangs to inject venom, so they have to hang on and chew for a while. I think their numbers are getting pretty small due to competition and habitat loss, they are real secretive. I have never seen one in the wild, but have always been haunted by images of this tiny little snake hanging on like a bulldog trying to kill me LOL!
Jojo - actually I think you may have meant to say that coral snakes don't have the relatively large " curved hypodermic' looking fangs like the pit vipers....but, in fact,..... they do have fangs in the upper jaw ....but because their fangs are so small and they don't have the same "mechanism" for venom delivery,...they do, indeed,....need to "chew" or hang on longer to deliver their venom...which is a neurotoxin,...unlike the hemotoxin of most pit vipers (actually,..some pit vipers have both!)....and it can easily kill a man....usually due to respiratory or cardiac failure/paralysis.
Usually,...it takes prolonged or rough handling to cause to coral to react in a defensive way and bite. This relative docile characteristic makes them especially dangerous to children that find the beautiful coral fascinating and want to play with it.
The coral can get as long as 20-24" and about as big around as a man's finger...their body shape is more "round" along the length...compared to the ovoid or slightly flattened body of the copperhead, rattler or moccasin. They are more of a recluse (as you indicated).....compared to the vipers and aren't usually as easily found...but they're there in your area ....and goes without saying,....better left alone.
I've seen them react ,...when they feel threatened,...by sort of "wagging" the front half of their body in quick, herky-jerky side to side motions...sort of a warning to stay away.( in each case,...this occurred after having been exposed when I lifted or rolled away a rotting log/tree debis while searching for such critters...(years ago)
I've been in rural Willis area over 9 yrs and have found only one during that time....actually crawing through the San Augustine grass
of our backyard. I relocated it to a wild area near Caney Creek (just down the road)
fflea, in your area, you are most likely to see copperheads than anything else unless you are around the lake and see water moccasins. Remember that baby copperheads are just as venomous as the adults, possibly more since they will tend to inject all their venom at once.
We had a student from our school bitten in the early fall by one and she had quite a bit of trouble. Hospitalized for a while and very slow recovery including coming back to school in a wheelchair.
The copperhead is the most commonly seen primarily because they depend on their camo. They blend in with the soil color or the pine straw and leaves very well. As a result, they also are the one that bites folks most frequently. The amount of poison you will receive depends on a number of factors. Perhaps they have just used it to eat and reduced the amount of venom to harvest their food. It can then be a "dry" bite. I also hesitate to say they have thought processes but they sometimes realize that you are too large to eat so will not release as much venom. I know quite a few folks that have been bit by copperheads. Some received no venom, others said it was just a sting. Others were a bit sicker. It is rare to hear of a death by snake bite.
The primary concern with most snake bites would be infection. I have had both dogs and cats get bit over the course of 35 years and never had one die so don't worry overly much. For yourself, when outdoors never put your hands and feet where you can't see... you will be fine.
A good Texas poisonous snake ID book is a great idea. Snakes are beneficial by controling rodents, bugs and some (like king snakes) will even enjoy dining on other snakes. Imagine the possibilities! 8 ))))
Thanks for the corrrection. I'm pretty familiar with most of our natives, but corals are the ones that I know the least about. I spent most of my snake hunting youth in northern Louisiana and I don't think they are common at all there. The rattlesnakes are super abundant and I don't think the coral snakes compete as well. I don't know if I knew they actually had injection fangs or if I just forgot LOL as thats becoming a common occurance in my life. : )
The copperheads should be coming out soon, and as my backyard backs up to scrubby forest, I have to be on the lookout! Especially since my little one is getting big enough to help me garden. Going to be extra viligent on keeping the *$^&!#% youpon cut back this year!
Joey
I mentioned in passing in an earlier post that cats are supposed to be good deterents. Since you both have experience, is that just an old wive's tale?
Christi
EWWWWW.... Usually I just lurk and dont' comment, but FYI.
Rattlers are already back up & slithering in my area. Co-worker told me he found a rattlesnake curled up against his back door over the weekend.
EWWW - Copperheads & rattlers are common in my little podunk country area. I've seen others, including one like that hognose at the top and a plain black snake.
Christi,
I've always heard that about cats too. I don't know if it's true or not. The lady down the road from me has a cat "farm" so there are always plenty around the neighborhood, not so much in my yard because of my bulldog girls, and we still have our fair share of snakes. It would make sense though as cats are definately little predators.
Hey Angel
I'm just guessing, but your black snake was most likely a rat snake. Was it very big? There are some water snakes that are black and my neighbor proudly brought over a 4 foot black "copperhead" that he killed that turned out to be an oddly marked king snake. We have seen a few rat snakes, in fact I think one lives under our storage barn. I had noticed a while back we had signs of mice in some of our papers, but they suddenly quit with no intervention on my part, other than blocking my dogs from digging under the flooring of the barn. He's welcome to stay as long as he wants!
Does anyone know how far a water moccasin travels from the water? What kind of water do you find them in? Creeks, rivers? I'm near a creek and about 1/3 mile from the Colorado River....
Thankfully, the only snakes that I have seen in my yard are the small brown garden snakes. Not sure what variety they are, but only about as big around as a finger and pretty eager to get away from you. My dad told me that they don't really get any bigger, so now I let them exist in the yard. When I thought that they got bigger and those were just the babies, I admit that I did kill a couple. I don't have a pic, but if someone can tell me what variety they might be, I would be interested.
Actually, my reason for not sticking my hand places that I can't see has far more to do with fire ants than snakes. HATE THEM!! If anyone has any magic cure for those, I would certainly be interested.
It breaks my heart to see that picture. I have lived in Houston for 20 years and never seen a hognose in the wild ...they will hiss and carry on but they are not a threat. I am odd I guess, I love reptiles and would have been thrilled to find him/her in my yard! It's tough because we have kids and dogs and cats that we want to protect from venomous snakes but here in Houston there are so many non-venomous snakes that share our yards. Sorry if I am a downer, I just hate seeing such a beautiful animal killed.
I'm sorry but there are an awful lot of us who are scared to death of any snake.
Intellect does not calm fears.
Flea - the water moccasin rarely strays very far away from water - I'd say a third of a mile is more than an adequate distance away from the river but the creek may be a different story......ponds, drainage or irrigatrion ditches or low lying areas that hold standing water are all typical areas that can host a "cottonmouth" (often called this because of its tendency to open its mouth in a threat display - the lining of the mouth is white) I can't ever recall seeing a WM more than a hundred yards or so from a known water location - they're semi-aquatic, so to speak,....but will venture into swampy bogs or along water boudaries in search of food. They tend to be aggressive/defensive and CAN have an immediate ugly disposition when disturbed....have been known to approach a careless "intruder"....as though defending its territory.....(rather than flee like most snakes)
Someone mentioned earlier that some snakes will vibrate the tip of its tail against leaves and create a buzzing sound similar to a rattler - I've seen moccasins do this....copperheads as well. (Even some non-poisonous snakes will do it)...but when this fails to make the intruder move away,...it will escalate the aggression and do the open mouth display.
If you're near a creek,....the possibility of encountering one is real.
the best favor you can do yourself is familiarize yourself with their
identification (different appearances through their growth cycle) and try to be aware of your surroundings when near the water locations.
I wouldn't be overly concerned about being attacked or infested with
WM....they generally like to be left alone and will USUALLY avoid populated areas....dogs investigating mysterious odors are usually the most frequent victims of WM bites....(which is bit more serious than a Copperhead bite)
Common sense & carefulness will prevail 99.9% of the time
