i found a baby snake he looks like a rattlesnake or a gopher what are some of the characteristics?

Question

on 3-20-07 i found a baby snake i did a little bit of research on snakes and it looks like a rattlesnake but it also has some characteristics of a gopher how do i no if it is one of them because i know that baby rattlers have no rattle on them yet until they shed. what should i do with it and should i handle it or not does it need water or can it go without for a day is it ok if it sleeps in a garage for one night or not.. just tell me some simple suggestions that have to do with snake handling and care.as you can probably tell this is my first snake and im kind of anxious.

Answer 1

I work at an Aquarium where we have rattle snakes. DONT HANDAL IT. The babbies are the most venomus of all. I think you should take it to mabye a vet or a zoo or a pet shop where they sell reptiles and ask an expert. But whatever you do NOT handal it.

PS Rattlesnakes have a dimond shaped hear and like litttle eyes with what looks to be a hor ontop of each eye. It makes them look pointed.

Bye

Answer 2

If it is a rattlesnake even a baby will have a button a very little knot on the end of its tail after shedding it's first skin. It's probably a gopher but I wouldn't take any chances. A rattler even a baby rattler can kill you a gopher snake is harmless. Whichever you should take it to the woods or prairie and release it. It wont need water. Snakes can go for long periods without food or water. Baby snakes eat insects. They are wild animals and should not be kept as pets.

Answer 3

First of all you need to be very careful, Baby rattlers can be just as dangerous. Rattlesnakes are "pit vipers" and one sure characturistic is the eyes. gopher snakes have a rounded pupil while the rattler is slanted like a "cats" eye. Also you will find a small opening just below and forward of the eye. This is the "pit" opening that they detect heat with. fangs will be small and even baby rattlesnakes know how to coil and strike. depending on the age and size, fangs may not me fully developed, but they can still bite so be careful. the shape of the head is also a tell tale sign. It will be more heart shaped while the gogher is egg shaped. use caution.

Answer 4

Ratlers have diamond shaped head and can be very aggressive toward unfamiliar things even at a youg age. Your best bet would be to call a wildlife preserve in your area. I would suggest not handling the snake just leave where it is as long as it can be located by the animal preserve. Don't worry about the water it can survive just make sure to keep others away because if it is a rattler it will be poisonous and that is extremely dangerous.

Answer 5

The snake should be fine in a garage overnight; be sure that it is covered so that it cannot escape. Placing it in a cool area will help slow it down; do not attempt to feed it or give it water.

As far as identification goes, the most important thing to look for is the presence of two "pits" at the tip of the nose between the eyes and the nostrils; the rattlesnake is a form of pit viper, so-called after these two pits that are heat-sensing organs. If in doubt, do not handle the snake; take it to a herpetologist for identification. Remember that young snakes have not yet learned to conserve venom; if they bite, they will unload ALL their venom into whatever they strike, and are thus considerably more dangerous than their adult counterparts. Mature snakes generally expend only enough to discourage potential attackers, or may not envenomate at all when striking in self-defense.

Answer 6

Snake is a reptile, but Gopher is a rodent ( ground squirrel ). Gopher has fur all over body, and it is not poisonous. Then what you have caught, must be a snake. Distinguishing rattle sanke is very easy. Observe its tail, if the end of tail region is very hard, strong, and scaly, it is a rattle snake. When scared, that portion of tail with get erected and vibrates furiously, making a peculiar noise. Whether it is a baby or adult, they are poisonous by birth. You can put it in a well ventilated cage and keep it as a pet. But if it escapes ? So, first learn to identify snakes, majority of them are non poisonous, learn how to handle them, its feeding habits. Then think about keeping snakes as pets. With out having complete knowledge, do not get in to risk.

Answer 7

There'll still be a button on the end of the tail if it's a rattler. I have a baby rattler, hasn't shed yet, but does have the button.

How ELSE do you tell if it's a rattler? Hey, try to pet him. If he's got fangs you'll have 2 little holes in your hand and it'll hurt.........sigh

A lot of rat snakes try to make you think they're rattlers by attempting to shake their tails.

Depending on what state you're in, it's sometimes illegal to keep certain kinds of rattlers (other than prairie rattlers, etc.)

Answer 8

Take no chances with that creature....get an expert to have a look at it. In the UK we have only two kinds of snake..the european viper and the grass snake. The viper's colour is usualy brownish with a black zig zag markings down it's back or they can just have a plain black colour. Both types are venomous. The grass snake is usualy olive green in colour with orange collar each side of the neck but they can also be a completely black colour....both types are no venomous. I can pick up a green grass snake but i'll think twice about picking a black one up.

Answer 9

Rattlesnake? !! Color? Markings? Fangs? Do not handle a rattle snake! Google snake pictures and see if you can identify what you have.

Answer 10

aaaa.... a rattle snake has a thing called a rattle on the end of it when its shaken it makes noises like a rattle. hence the name RATTLESNAKE