I.D. This very cold snake

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Jan 27, 2007
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I was out burning downed limbs and found this critter is has been warm lately but today is in the low 50's . So it wasn't moving very fast It does look like it has ate recently
Roy
P2030004.jpg
 
That is what I was thinking, I found what it ate. There is an empty rabbits nest 15 foot from where I found him
 
I would have loved to see the "after" pic. Please tell me there is an "after" pic. Never could and never will be able to handle myself like any sort of a man around either.
 
Black rat Snake, heavily fed. You can see the stretch marks between the scales. The ohio and northern ones sometimes have a little yellowish rat pattern, and its a taxonomic nightmare right now. Most settle on Elaphe obsoleta
 
Black rat Snake, heavily fed. You can see the stretch marks between the scales. The ohio and northern ones sometimes have a little yellowish rat pattern, and its a taxonomic nightmare right now. Most settle on Elaphe obsoleta

Joe

does the northern versions of this black rat snake not get as black as they do down here or is it ready for shedding? i was gathering some camping firewood the other day in my wood pile and found a very pretty black rat snake sitting on top up under the plastic cover. she was black as the ace of spades. very pretty
 
contrary to the wife's wishes he was released unharmed after the picture (out of the yard)
 
contrary to the wife's wishes he was released unharmed after the picture (out of the yard)

very glad to hear that. i breaks my heart to hear of people killing snakes because they are afraid of them or just dislike them.... as a guy who has a pet python and has been a reptile lover for my whole life, I will never knowingly harm a snake.
 
I might make an exception for a poisonous snake that slips up on me uninvited, but I agree they deserve better press.

resurrection

wickedly wickedly
slithering sideways
down the slope
the ragged old rattlesnake
shedding its skin
snakes live forever
didn't you know
when they get old and slow
tired and blind
they burst out in colors renewed
and leave the old life behind
 
Only time I go out of my way to kill poisonous snakes is when they live in an area with small children . I let the biggest cotton mouth I ever saw slide off . If found feral non-native pythons won't get a pass, as with any non-native critter
Roy
 
I might make an exception for a poisonous snake that slips up on me uninvited, but I agree they deserve better press.

resurrection

wickedly wickedly
slithering sideways
down the slope
the ragged old rattlesnake
shedding its skin
snakes live forever
didn't you know
when they get old and slow
tired and blind
they burst out in colors renewed
and leave the old life behind

Awesome poem.
 
They vary demographically, all the way to bright orange. More North though, they tend to get darker, black mostly, but can have lighter lines on them. Also, when they are young, they are patterned and when phasing into black can be different colors.
 
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