What kind of snake is this (not a pet)?

Question

I'm in Georgia. A 3 foot snake slithered up on me heading towards my house.

It is almost all black, but it has some hard to see brownish diamond shapes on its back. It is not a rattle snake.

I killed it, but I want to know what it is, in case I come across another one. I will know if I should kill it. There are horses on the property.

also, how long before this thing stops moving. Its freaking me out. I chopped its head off with an axe 10 mins ago, and the body is still moving, lol.

I appreciate everyone's respons, christina's link let me identify it as a hog snake.

I am not one that likes to kill things, but there was not much choice. It was very close to the house/ barn, and it ignored me trying to change its direction. An axe was handy, so I used it. I don't feel good about killing it, but I would do it again if I didn't know what it was. I'm not willing to let a horse go for a snake.

Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

here check out this web site on snakes


http://www.southalley.com/snakes.html

Answer 2

You shouldn't really kill any snake. I can see if your life was in immediate danger. You killed it just because you didn't know what it was. That's ignorant in my opinion. If you're unsure of a type of snake call the local animal control. They will come out and see what it is and remove it accordingly. I don't know what kind of snake it was from your desciption, but most likely it was harmless. Even if it wasn't there are a lot better ways of dealing with it than killing it. By getting close enough to it to chop it with an ax you put yourself in striking distance. If it was venomous you put yourself in more danger doing that than if you just left it alone. I'm not trying to come down on you. A lot of people would have done the same thing. Just please next time before you run for the ax think about it. I hate to see any animal die through no fault of it's own. Venomous or not.

Answer 3

Sorry I can't say with certainty what kind of snake you have, but find a site like the one already listed or a local book with the various snakes that are found in your area. If you still don't find a match then expand your search. Unless a snake is threatening a person or pet and is venomous, I let them live. They do eat rats and insects. And the reason your snake keeps moving without it's head is because it has three hearts located throughout its body. Bury the head deep (in-case it is venomous) but pour some alcohol over it to dry up the venom. Lay a large rock over the site to keep animals from digging there for a while as well. Crush the snakes body and bury it, it will stay put then. If you don't bury it it will stink, especially if it is venomous.

Here is a good idea for everyone especially with kids. Take photos of snakes you find that you know are posionous, also non-posionous ones. Make a booklet out of it and keep it handy so you can i-d your snake. If you locate a new looking snake get a picture of it. Be sure to take pics of the under side as well. Some snakes have identifying marks on their belly as well as on their backs. But ususally the dangerous ones heads are shaped like a triangle and they have pits near the end of their nose. Also snake proof your children: make them aware that if it wiggles it may be dangerous and to yell for parents if they find one. If it is close to the child, in striking distance they should stay still and scream for help. Noise does not effect snakes as much as sense of smell, motion and vibrations. Their tongues have sensors that work like our noses do.So when you see a snakes tongue, they are "tasting the air" for scent. If a child is not to close to the snake they should back away slowly till they are not in striking range. Then go find the nearst adult and have them dispose or catch the snake and have it identified. Warn your child NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING that wiggles like worms. It worked on mine and my neighbors children as well.

Answer 4

Yeah, you didn't want to kill it. Riiiiiiiight. How hard would it have been to take a rake and move the thing? or go in the house? Do you really think any snake is going to kill a horse? And the horse wouldn't notice it? How old are you, 7? You're "lol" tells me you are amused. I believe this is how Dhamer started, isn't it?

Wow, shocking that a snake was near your house. How horrible for you. Quite the outdoorsman, eh? Do everyone a favor, plant yourself in front of a TV and stay away from the outdoors, next thing you know, you'll be killing your neighbors German shepard because you "weren't sure" what it was.

Answer 5

First of all, only 10% of snake species are venomous, so by that fact alone you most likely killed a non-venomous snake. Second, there are only a few easily-identified venomous snake species in the United States. They are: Rattlesnakes, Coral Snakes, Copperheads, and Cottonmouths (Water Moccasins). There are others that are mildly venomous and pose no threat to people such as the Hog-nose and Lyre snakes. Those snakes are rear-fanged and need to actually chew on your skin in order to envenomate you with a mild venom.

So there you go, it sounds like you just killed an innocent snake. From your description, it might have been a Water snake. You can identify it by using this page: http://www.southalley.com/snakes.html

Answer 6

Absolutely NONE of the venomous snakes in your area even resemble that snake,except for maybe the cotton mouth and that would be a stretch.Cottonmouths almost always open their mouths when threatened and show you why they are called cottonmouths.It was most likely a color morph of a eastern HOGNOSED snake.People who live in areas that have venomous snakes should educate themselves and not be just another ignorant snake chopper.They serve a purpose. For future reference go to Kingsnake.com and click on the gallery.It has a plethera of pics of snakes with I.D.s.
The reason the snake keeps moving is because a snake uses the sun for its heat.As long as the heat is there....the snake keeps moving.Once the heart and other organs cool off the snake quits moving and goes into rigormortise.More people are biten by venomous snakes each year from people "trying to kill it" or messing with a "dead" snake.most venomous snakes will haull **** when they feel vibrations of horse hooves.Horses are rarely envenomated by snakes.I say by snakes as they are envenomated by humans to make antivenom.Again knowledge is bliss...ignorance is dumb!!!!

Answer 7

It's probably a young "Black Rat" snake. They can grow up to 8 feet long. As they get older, the "diamonds" disappear and they turn all black. They can climb very well, even straight up a wall. They won't hurt you, but they can scare the crap out of you! They do like to eat mice and rats, so if you can stop yourself, try not to kill the next one you see. (I know, easier said than done!) As for the twitching, it should stop as soon as the temperature drops. I don't know why that is, but I've seen it happen.

Answer 8

You could of encountered a harmless rat snake. I'm not positive though. The best way to go about identifying the snake, is to show it (or a picture) to a local zoo or wildlife rehabilitation center. Maybe even a veterinarian who specializes in snakes.

Answer 9

usually you can tell if it's poisonous by the shape of it's head. Does it have a triangle?


I prefer just to stay away from snakes in general. Maybe you should search for "common snakes in" insert city you live in. Then do an image search to match up your snake.

Answer 10

That sounds like a (water snake?)atleast thats what we call them here in Northern Ontario,as far as I know they are not venomous but they do bite & if cornered they will act like a cobra & raise themselves up with their heads high above their bodies.I killed 1 also & it took what seemed for ever to stop moving.I find them mostly around lakes & rivers with lots of rocks for them to hide in.(I hate snakes)lol.

Answer 11

I dont know what kind of snake you have there, but they can wiggle around for like 1/2 hour after having their heads chopped off.