OT - Help ID this snake...

xaman, that's a nice skin you got there.

If in doubt (venomous or non-venomous) and if it's near your pet in your back yard, better safe than sorry.

As for reptile ID, there are herp boards where you can get an answer PDQ. I had a strange looking lizard on the back of my house once. I took a pic and tried to find it online. No luck. Ran across a herpatology forum, posted the pic, and within a few minutes, some guy had ID'ed it for me. Those people know their scaly critters. (FYI, my lizard was some sort of "skink.")
 
ikkyo said:
P_man,

I hope I understood well your words, and those were talken to Lycosa.
as I'm quite new on the forum, and don't have too many posts...but I think I'm far from "trolling"...
I understand your points, and have a respect to it.
My reaction was like that, because I try to respect every living form in it's element, and I had a long "relationship" with reptiles. ( I have learned to become a herpetologist)
actually one of my friends died from a bite of a cottonmouth.
respect, and clear head.:thumbup:

and while it's a knife related forum, I really would love to see those scales on a nice sheath.;)
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Nope, buddy. You understood me quite well. I disagreed with nothing you said. :thumbup: I strongly disagreed with the tone of Lycosa's post.

Now, 'bout that sheath! :D
 
On second thought, scratch the herp board idea. Those people would flip their tops if you posted this pic. :D

I had the other pics in mind for some reason, but those aren't of your snake.


xaman said:
Snake2005.jpg
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Lycosa said:
Why did you kill it?
Lycosa
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Genesis Chapter 3

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent: 'Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise their heel.'

Or as xaman said, "My bulldog found it in the back yard this morning (thankfully she didn't get bit this time)"

While you are perfectly free to toss off brief questions with no clear reason behind them, to do so is discourteous. It may even be taken as deliberately disruptive. It will certainly win you no friends.

And this is a forum notable for its camaraderie. Play nice.
 
should make a nice sheath, be sure to post pics when its done.


fwiw, i like snakes, but i would have killed that bastid too, especially given the circumstances.
 
I love snakes. I have a tattoo that says "Snake Man" on my arm, because that's what I was known as for years. As a younger man I raised thousands of snakes and worked through several vet clinics and 2 local zoos, with snakes, raptors and many other animals. I've worked with small snakes on up to a 27' Reticulate Python.

That said, if I perceive anything as a threat to the welfare of my family (or would look good on my Busse;)), It's rights to exist in my domain are forfeit. I hunt and fish with respect for wildlife. But that respect does not override our need for safety, food and a very nice sheath.:D

Good on you Xaman.
 
The skin looks like it could inlay a few colored GW sheaths, or I just had a flash of a SJT LE sitting in that skin.

I enjoyed the story and pics, thanks.

Helle
 
Thanks guys.

Paddling Man and mymindisamob nailed it on the head --- this one was too close to the family. I would have let it be if I had known it was not venamous, but it sure looked like the real deal in the heat of the moment. My dog has been bit twice in the last year, and we've had a few VERY close calls with our 8 and 11 year old daughters. I'll get a pic up of the little copperhead that struck at (within inches) of my 8 year old.

I do LOVE and respect the outdoors. I want to treat it in a way that it will be here for my grandchildren to enjoy as well :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
I have been living around these parts almost my whole life, so i know the snakes that hang out. I get the snakes out of harms way for the neighbors and such. It is a shame a non-ven snake was killed, but so what? it's your yard and you did what was right. Now, next time you will know it is harmless and let it be. The "why did you kill it" comment was ignorant...so be it. That skin, however, will make an awsome sheath.....absolutly awsome. John
 
For those interested --- Here's the tomahawk sheath for my daughter (it's by no means "professional" quality, but don't tell her. She's 8 years old and VERY proud of it :D)

tomahawk002.jpg
 
Since we're on the subject of snakes and the identification of venemous ones, is it true that if a snake has vertical pupils (like a cat's pupil) it is venemous? I've been told this by people, but have not found any official documentation. I have noticed in zoos and museums that venomous snakes like copper heads and rattle snakes do have vertical pupils, but I'm wondering if that is a sure-fire way to know.
 
The only way to know for sure is to let one bite you and if you get sick or die, it was venomous. :eek: Here's a few hints: VenomousReptiles.org : Experts : Identification of venemous snakes, for example,

while the eliptical pupil method can be quite accurate, as can the facial pit markings, they are both very small and require you to be entirely too close to an unidentified snake to see them.
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I would not recommend going by the shape of the pupils to identify venomous from nonvenomous. For the most part, all the shape of the pupil means is either nocturnal or diurnal. Most nocturnal snakes will have vertical pupils, whereas, most diurnal snakes will have round pupils.
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