My sister-in-law almost stepped on a snake in our front yard and freaked out and killed it. I'm wondering if anyone knows the name of the snake and if it is poisonous. We live in Tucson, AZ. Here are links to the pictures, copy and paste:
http://photo.ringo.com/236/236183965O825914541.jpg
http://photo.ringo.com/236/236183955O955426538.jpg
Its head is chopped off.
Thank you for any helpful answers before hand :)
2007-10-04 14:17:11 · 13 answers · asked by dulcenena488 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
oh and by the way it didn't have a rattle...
2007-10-04 14:24:23 · update #1
Another thing i didn't kill it i was at school, my sister-in-law did. I just took the picture and decided to find out what kind it was for future reference.
2007-10-04 14:43:31 · update #2
Its a gopher snake without a doubt. (non venomous) Sometimes called bull snakes. In the east they have a close relative called the pine snake.
The second pic on this page has pretty much the same pattern and coloration.
http://www.reptilesofaz.com/Snakes-Subpages/h-p-catenifer.html
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=ush-ans&va=bullsnake&sz=all
Here's an excellent reference page for snakes of Arizona, it shows the patterns and markings of all the non-venomous snakes as well as the patterns and markings of the thirteen species of rattlesnakes and the Sonoran coral snake (no rattle, but venomous). Just click the pattern and you will see a pic of that snake. It also provides regional maps for the different species. This will help you narrow down what species live in and around Tucson. Either way, it's best just to keep your distance. This way not only do the snakes remain safe from someone who gets freaked out and panics, but it also keeps the person safe. Generally, if one is close enough to kill a snake, one is close enough to get bitten. No preaching, just some educational reference and constructive advice that maybe you can pass on to your sister-in-law for possible/probable future encounters. Everyone should know who their "neighbors" are.
I just at looked the pics again and I noticed that the snake had just eaten (within 24 hrs). There is a noticeable bulge where you can see the underskin between the scales. The snake just ate and was probably looking for a good place to coil up and digest for a week or two.
BTW. I personally respect you for you intent to educate yourself about snakes.
2007-10-04 14:33:31 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
There are no venomous snakes in AZ that don't have a rattle. If it doesn't have one...it's non-venomous. Leave the snakes alone! That could have potentially been a lot of mice that wouldn't be running around if your sister-in-law had not been so quick to kill things she didn't understand.
2007-10-04 22:33:39 · answer #2 · answered by gallianomom2001 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It looks remarkably like a pine or gopher snake. a harmless colubrid snake. if it is, it's one of the many snakes here inthe states that's considered a 'farmer's friend'. they eat mice and rats. frogs bugs, etc.
hope it helps
you could try getting in touch with a local college or your county home extension agency. they will probly happily send you information about the wildlife in your area. and if you are willing and able? see about volenteering some of the groups there abouts. I know of one that enlists volenteers to help collect venomous animals for the use of antivenom research.
cheers!
2007-10-04 14:26:36 · answer #3 · answered by siara_sambora 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can help you here.This a gopher sanke non-venomous.It has a close relative known as the pine sanke.It is also called a bull snake.Nothing to be alramed about it is just a average ordinary everyday snake.
2007-10-07 04:57:48 · answer #4 · answered by Pennsylvania Outdoorsman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that you did not kill it so this is not directied at you. but that is an absolutly horrible thing to do! tell your sister in law to invest in a field guide if she is that scared of snakes.
2007-10-05 01:36:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Poor thing.You need to invest in a book about snakes to prevent any more harmless ones a needless and cruel death.Bullsnakes are completley harmless and eat rodents.That one has had it's last rat. Even rattlesnakes won't strike unless they are pushed.Snakes are beneficial,I don't know why so many people freak out when they see one.
2007-10-04 14:44:04 · answer #6 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It's a Gopher Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus)
also called Bull Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus)
2007-10-04 15:18:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Two pit vipers, no doubt. Different pattern shown might tell more about the different environment they have grown up into. Lara.
2016-05-21 02:34:28 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How cruel! It's a bullsnake, it's entirely harmless and it WOULD have kept small pesky rodents away from your home! People keep these as pets because they're so sweet and friendly. Please don't kill snakes for no good reason!!
2007-10-04 14:40:16 · answer #9 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Non-venomous gophersnake. They eat rodents.
Be sure to congratulate your sister in law.
I see we have a long ways to go in educating the ignorant.
2007-10-04 15:38:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋