Another snake identification

[atsah]

My sister insists it’s a timber rattler. I don’t think so but need some proof to convince her otherwise. Maybe a hognose? I’ve looked up ratsnakes and others and can’t find a good photo that looks the same. The way she described it as “super aggressive” fits a hognose.

That is NOT a rattle snake.. It's not a pit viper period. Snakes have all kinds of color variations, any snake can be aggressive, Cane break or Timber Rattler's are normally non aggressive..

 

[Beltzington]

My sister insists it痴 a timber rattler. I don稚 think so but need some proof to convince her otherwise. Maybe a hognose? I致e looked up ratsnakes and others and can稚 find a good photo that looks the same. The way she described it as 都uper aggressive fits a hognose.

Frightened animals often behave strangely, the snake acted super aggressive because it assumed correctly something was trying to kill it and your sister acted super aggressive because she assumed incorrectly the snake was a danger. Here is a picture of a water moccasin and a timber rattler located about 120 miles from you, notice the tell, tell rattles. Vipers, even young ones have an unmistakable thick body. If she is really interested the local animal control should be able to identify the species.

 

[LouNY]

(Seeing how it's dead: )

It's a Good Snake

:thumbsup:

 

[HCJtractor]

Thanks guys. Yes, I agree it’s not poisonous, therefore no need to fear it. But convincing her of this may be impossible. Every snake she sees is a rattlesnake. She’s notoriously paranoid. Her house in in upstate SC, at the foothills of the mountains. And of course, timber rattlers and copperheads live there, but this snake is neither. Thats one reason I wanted to prove to her that she is wrong. Im just having a hard time identifying it based on these limited pictures. She killed it with her walking cane on her front steps. Of course, it frightened her as she walked out her front door.

 

[Beltzington]

Don't understand why so many folks in North America are afraid of snakes, if we lived in South America or Africa than it might be a more rational fear, but based on the number of deaths caused by snakes, mostly provoked, your time would be better spent being frightened about crossing the street.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Don't understand why so many folks in North America are afraid of snakes, if we lived in South America or Africa than it might be a more rational fear, but based on the number of deaths caused by snakes, mostly provoked, your time would be better spent being frightened about crossing the street.

I have heard the theory that the fear of snakes is an inborn trait; that primates in general all have a fear of snakes.

Study: Fear of snakes may be genetic | MNN - Mother Nature Network

 

[kinglake]

Its a juvenile in the racer family. Close cousins to Rat Snakes. Depending on where we are talking, it could be one of many types of racers, but juveniles of all types look almost identical.

 

[newbury]

Thanks guys. Yes, I agree it痴 not poisonous, therefore no need to fear it. But convincing her of this may be impossible. Every snake she sees is a rattlesnake. She痴 notoriously paranoid. Her house in in upstate SC, at the foothills of the mountains. And of course, timber rattlers and copperheads live there, but this snake is neither. Thats one reason I wanted to prove to her that she is wrong. Im just having a hard time identifying it based on these limited pictures. She killed it with her walking cane on her front steps. Of course, it frightened her as she walked out her front door.

Look at the belly near the tail, non-venomous snakes have 2 rows of scales
pic here

 

[MossRoad]

Its a juvenile in the racer family. Close cousins to Rat Snakes. Depending on where we are talking, it could be one of many types of racers, but juveniles of all types look almost identical.

I don't think its a racer. The only one listed for south carolina is the black racer. That snake in the picture has a pattern. Black racers don't.

 

[atsah]

I agree, not a racer.. The color variations of all kinds of snakes vary greatly, could be water, rat, corn, IDK..