snakes in fall?

coffeeman · Sep 20, 2011

I seem to remember snakes can be identified as poisonous by shape of head. Is there a rule of thumb way to identify poisonous from nonpoisonous? I'm in south western Pennsylvania.

Found a snake nesr house today. Real colorful and small. Almost looks like a baby snake. I would guess they are only small in spring. I have been a coun for 60+ years. I have never learned how to identify snakes. Only time I see them up close is if one near house. The one seen today is about a foot long and as round as a pencil. My wife caught it and in plastic clear box it went. Everyone always thinks poision snakes have a lot of color; the more color the more poison.

Reason I don't see snakes up close? When I see one I leave town faster than the snake.

Cheers....Coffeeman

lockhaven · Sep 20, 2011

You only have two poisonous snakes in your area. And that would be the timber rattler and the copper head. The timber rattler comes in two color phases yellow and black, same snake can be both colors in the same family. The color is determined by the color of the head regardless of the body color.
Both are timid and will avoid you more then you would avoid them. They are not at all aggressive unless teased. I do that just to get them mad. You should google both to see pictures. I am not telling you to do this but it is what I will do and have done one time before.If by some chance in a million bitten get to an electric fence and shock the bite or use a stun gun on the bite. It breaks down the toxins.

Western · Sep 20, 2011

Coffeeman, good to get educated on your areas snakes, most of them are actually good to have around. The triangular head is good , but at times it can be less obvious due to different sizes and other variables. Pits near the eyes and nose are other indicators, "pit viper" family, but if you can see them, then your probably to close anyway right.

All snakes can be colorful, especially after they have shed their skin, so don't buy into that theory.

Best advice I can give is give snakes as much leeway as you can, be alert to the types of places they like to "hang out" and just be alert as you move around your property.

There are some good books on snake identification and some very useful online resources also. Try this one

Snakes of Pennsylvania | PA HERP IDENTIFICATION

Beltzington · Sep 20, 2011

From safe distance you can usually see the eye pupil of the snake. In the US, except for the Coral Snake, if the pupil is round the snake is not poisonous.

greasemonkeyok · Sep 20, 2011

If you like rats and mice in everything, kill the snake. Otherwise, leave'm be. Had a friend that was an expert in snakes and he swore Physicians killed more people with the anti-venom serum than died from snake bites. Dr's killed him.

lockhaven · Sep 20, 2011

as I said before only 2 in PA are poisonous all the rest about eyes head shape is myth

dex3361 · Sep 20, 2011

As stated earlier the pupil of the eyes of a copperhead, rattlesnake and even a cotton mouth are slit or oblong instead of round, The markings of a copperhead are hourglass shaped draped across the back. Here is a look at the eye of a copperhead.http://www.paherps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/copperhead_Bob_Ferguson.JPG

beersngars · Sep 21, 2011

Sounds like a corn snake to me. Any pics?

Chef Pa · Sep 21, 2011

My rule is if I don't know the species for certain I stay away until I know otherwise. Probably not all that common an occurrence, but the reptile collector that forgot to put the lid on his cobra cage could really stir up the neighborhood...

coffeeman · Nov 2, 2011

Chef Pa said:
the reptile collector that forgot to put the lid on his cobra cage could really stir up the neighborhood...

To all out there, thanks for feed back. I wait long to answer as I have been on a long vacation housted by my UPMC medical center. Room, food, nurses around clock etc. Glad to be home though.

About cages, my sister-in-law captured the snake here and put it into a plastic jar with plastic snap on lid. The jar has been blown around yard a few times last few weeks. Jar was lost and searched for and found. Snake live and well. That Cobra guy should search around for some good food containers. Why buy a cobra cage when a 5 gal feed bucket might work better.

Cheers Coffeeman