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King Snake/Black Snakes

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by Zeratul, Aug 28, 2009.

  1. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    I do not have a picture yet but have you all noticed an increase in the snake activity this past year? I have a rather large black snake living in my mulch in the front of the house, and each week I can count on finding him "patrolling" my yard for a snack. He/she is about 4ft in length and about the thickness of a shovel handle.

    He has a light colored belly and a little bit of yellow speckles around the edges of the black. He does not seem overly aggressive, as I have been able to catch him a couple of times now and move him to the woods. But of course he is finding his way back.

    Does the nature center have any interest in a snake like this for captivity and aquarium use? The only concern I have is with the kids and the playful interest my son has shown in wanting to catch the snake too. My wife is freaking out about him getting in the house, so I may have to move him far away.

    I am in Southern Walk near Mill Run. And yes he has been found on the school property too.
     
  2. eam

    eam New Member

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    yuck
     
  3. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    I wonder if it could be a hog snake

    http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/reptiles/snakes/eastern-hog-nosed-snake/eastern_hognose_snake.htm

    When he is disturbed does he inflate his head/neck? That is one of the key ID factors of the hog snake. That and his cute turned up nose.

    Like most snakes in this part of Virginia, he is non-venomous. However, that does not mean that he is completely harmless. Many snakes harbor bacteria in their mouths that can cause a nasty infection.

    This is an excellent time to teach your son the necessity of leaving wild animals alone.

    If it is a Hog Snake, it is not aggressive and will try to escape if disturbed. According to the Herpetological society, the Hog Snake is not known to bite defensively, However, I think that any animal cornered or held improperly will bite.

    The Hog Snake likes to eat buried stuff. Especially toads. Yuck!

    Almost interesting trivia about the Hog Snake is that some toads will try to inflate themselves to make it more difficult for snakes to swallow them. Well the Hog Snake has special teeth that he uses to puncture and deflate the toad like a balloon.

    Hog Snakes prefer open drier areas so I don’t think he is especially interested in going into your house. Unless your hobby is collecting toads that is.

    If you do try to relocate him, put him at the edge of a treed area as opposed to the center of a treed area.
     
  4. JLC

    JLC Member

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    We saw this guy munching on a frog on our front sidewalk a week or so ago.
     

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  5. eam

    eam New Member

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    yuck yuck yuck
     
  6. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    That looks like an Eastern Garter Snake... can't really ID his lunch though. :)

    Beautiful picture of nature working as intended. :clap:
     
  7. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    We would not take in a wild snake. Our animals in the Nature Center are either domesticated or are not able to be released back to the wild because of injury or other problems.

    It sounds like a black snake, it is harmless and will eat undesirable rodents.
     

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  8. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    oh my god. i am petrified of snakes and this thread has me so freaked out because we live near Mill Run. and to think my neighbor had a snake in her garage last week too! oh yuck yuck yuck. quadruple yuck. gross. blech.
     
  9. ayayagirl

    ayayagirl New Member

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    This guy, although not as creepy as a snake, was on the side of my house. He had a blue tail. Is this a salamander?
     

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  10. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I've seen that thing on our house too...
     
  11. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Yea that is the same snake Maureen. So where was that picture taken?

    Yea so far I think he has been eating the numerous toads and Voles I had been seeing around my house. The black snakes have been very common around our neighborhood last year and this year so there must be a good food supply.
     
  12. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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  13. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    It is from a hepetological website - not sure which one... The land clearing sends both the snakes and their prey into smaller habitats...such is progress I suppose :(
     

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