what kind of snake did we find in the yard?

Question

It was very glossy black, could barely see the scales. Slightly lighter underneath. Very faint yellowish green scales in a pattern on back, but not in rings or patches of color. Just light dots on solid black. It didnt have a rattle but somehow was making a rattling sound, that sounded like dry leaves being crumbled. It was about a yard long and very agressive. I looked on the web at pictures of snakes and it looked somewhat like the rat snakes, but they didnt show the pattern on back, and the head shape was wrong, needed to be more triangular. My mom had heard that some snakes had been stolen from the zoo and was concerned it was poisonous. Possible?

Looked at the sites given, but doesnt look like those. Live in west Texas, which is hot and dry, although there's an occasional creek behind house if rains, til it dries up. Body about 2" across.

Answer 1

Here is a good site to check on Texas snakes:
http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/

I would bet it is some type of rat snake.

Answer 2

Garter snake then, if the head shape was off from a rat snake. Depending on where you live, if it's in Texas...garters can get quite large, but if you live on the east coast or the midwest, Garters are colored like you have stated, no worries about being venemous. The rattling you heard is a defense mechanism collubrids (rat snakes, corn snakes, garters, etc.) use to scare off predators since they aren't large constrictors and only have rear fang vemon to aid in digestion. My everglades rat snake does it sometimes when he's "hunting" his dead food...it's cute really.

Answer 3

No way in hell this is a garter, They don't come in shiny black. Depending on where you live, it could be an indigo snake (mostly in Fla.), a black rat snake, a black racer, or just a plain black snake, which can be aggressive if cornered, Not to worry, none of these snakes are dangerous & if it is an indigo, it's protected under law as an endangered species. Don't hurt it, call Fish & Game to remove it if you don't want it on your property.

Answer 4

look into king snakes (genus lampropeltis), sounds like that's what you've got. There are a LOT of king snake varieties, can't tell you for sure which one it would be... possibly the speckled king snake. It's quite common for them (and most snakes) to rattle their tails in dry leaves to scare predators. Definitely doesn't sound venomous, still, best to err on the side of caution.

Answer 5

I'd need to know what area in the country you're in. It could be a few things. Maybe a speckled king snake or something similar. Depends on where you lived. Most snakes will shake their tail when frightened.

http://www.intrepidtraveler.net/snakes/lgetula.html

Answer 6

gartner snakes do not get 3 feet long it is more than likely a rat or a black snake same thing but i dont know where your from so it could be something else too.

Answer 7

a black racer, if not a rat snake. many snakes vibrate tail as a defense measure.

Answer 8

its a garter snake...not poisonous at all, it only eats small things...it helps clear your yard of pesky bugs and animals like mice.

Answer 9

sounds like a rat snake or king snake to me. where do you live?

black rat

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/images/blackratinvines1a.jpg

king

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/images/kingsnake%20201r.jpg

Answer 10

I don't know, but if you don't find out, stay away from it at all costs!!!