What kind of snake is this?

Question

I live in the south and at work the other day right next to the entrance (a fw inches away) was a snake. t was 3-5 feet depending on who you talked to but one thing was sure, it was orange and had black rings around it. It had a small triangular shaped head. Some people native tothe area said it was a highly contagious coral snake, others said it was posionous because it was so bightly colored (black snakes aren't poisnous they said) anyway by the time maintance got there with a shovel to kill it it had turned and gone back under the pine straw and bushes. What tyoe of snake is this and is it poisonious.

Answer 1

This could have been a number of different snakes depending on where in the south you live. Some possibilities would be a milk snake (3-4', red-orange bands bordered by black rather than yellow as in a coral snake): http://www.visualsunlimited.com/images/watermarked/308/308556.jpg , a Texas long-nosed snake (3'): http://www.intrepidtraveler.net/snakes/rlecontei1.jpg , banded water snake (3-3.5'): http://www.giffbeaton.com/Snakes/Banded%20Watersnake_2005-10-09-0095.jpg , or corn snake (3-5'): http://www.southalley.com/dsnakes/corn3.JPG . All of the ones I've listed are harmless, although the first resembles the venomous coral snake, but the color pattern is different. If your snake has any friends that show up remember the rhyme "red touches yellow, that's a deadly fellow" to identify if it is a coral snake or just a look-alike!

Answer 2

There are 3 snakes found in the south that it could be. 1 - Eastern Coral Snake, it has a small black head followed by a yellow ring then a black ring and the same pattern follows to the tail which is completely black. 2 - Scarlet King Snake, which has a small black head followed by black ring then a yellow ring and the tail is also completely black. 3 - Milk snake which has a small black head, orange / red body color with black cross bands outlined with white pinstripes.
the Eastern Coral Snake is very dangerous and has a sub-species the Texas Coral Snake which is marked the same.
REMEMBER: RED MEETS YELLOW KILLS A FELLOW;
RED MEETS BLACK VENOM LACKS.
The other 2 snakes the Scarlett King Snake and the Milk Snake are non - venomous. Hope this help you if possible try to get a picture for correct identification.

Answer 3

There are lots of great answers already: a field guide would tell you if you are familiar with snakes and the book; and no matter what, just stay two feet away from it and you're fine (the best strikers can only strike up to 1/2 their body length). And please don't kill the snakes: they eat rats who cary far worse diseases and cause many more problems than snakes ever could.

But one thing no one else has brought up: You could have seen 1) an escaped "pet" which would explain the weird coloration; or 2) there are genetic mutations leading to partial-albinos, or snakes lacking one type of pigment, making a non-venomous snake a bright orange.

Answer 4

Sigh...not all brightly colored snakes are venomous. It's difficult to say what kind of snake it was. It would help if we knew what state you live in and what part. Your state's Conservation Department may have a website where you might be able to find pictures of native snakes.

Milksnakes highly resemble coral snakes but they are harmless. Milksnakes and coral snakes have red/orange, black, and yellow/white bands. The difference is that in milksnakes, the white/yellow bands do not touch the red/orange bands. In coral snakes, they do touch. There's an old saying, "Red on black, you're OK, Jack. Red on white, beware of its bite."

Answer 5

Sounds like a corn snake they have a somewhat triangular shaped head and can get that big. Coral snakes have a roundish head and don't usually get that big. Next time get a pic with your cell phone. There is only one colorful venomous snake the rest are harmless.

Answer 6

Sounds to me like a corn snake...Coral snakes don't grow that long...And unlike one of your previous answers not all poisonous snakes have triangular heads..The coral snake does'nt...But in the south it's a good rule of thumb...But still with the vage details it's hard to tell...

Answer 7

Coral snakes are red, black and yellow banded. Sounds like a rat or milk snake which are not poisonous.

But don't ever pick one up. Just give it is space. To my knowledge, their aren't any snakes that colour in the U.S. that are poisonous. Most U.S. poisonous snakes are brownish or greyish. The triangle head doesn't mean it's poisonous. Boas and pythons (which it certainly wasn't) have triangular heads and they are poisonous-I know, I own one.

And please don't kill them. Just give them their space and the will go away.

Answer 8

let's see...it sounds a lot like a coral snake. but no matter the snake species, always look at the head. if a snake's head is roundish, then it's not poisonous. if it's triangular-ish, then it is. triangular shaped head holds the fang and the venom deposit sacks in the back where the triangular shape are. so yes, it is poisonous. best to leave them alone and give them tons of space if you don't want to get bitten

Answer 9

Hello...as the rhyme goes for coral snakes ...Red on black you're OK Jack, red on yellow...KILL A FELLOW !!! Take Care

Answer 10

"Highly contagious coral snake"?
If it was orange, it may have been a harmless corn snake.
But instead of giving minimal details here and expecting an accurate answer from whoever happens to be on their computer tonight, why don't you try looking in a field guide?