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Snake on patio~ HELP identify it please??
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Posted by rdubow (My Page) on Sat, Dec 6, 08 at 15:32
a href="http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p297/rdubow/?action=view¤t=December2008005.jpg" target="_blank">
Can anyone help id this snake? Myhusband took a shovel to it before I could get the photo! We live on Lake Houston, in Kingwood/Humble Texas and this was on my back patio by my pool! It was only like 8" long, a baby?
Need to know if it is poisonous or not? How do I keep snakes out of my backyard/?? We have a fence line to the golf course behind us, is there anything to put there? Moth balls I was told??? I am just fearful for my pug dog and 17 month old son!
Thanks for all your help!
Becca |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Snake on patio~ HELP identify it please??
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| It was a harmless nonvenomous Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer). Diamondback Water Snakes are one of many nonvenomous water snake species and are not at all related to the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (which is venomous) or the Western Cottonmouth (the venomous snake commonly referred to as a "water moccasin."). There isn't much you can do to deter snakes other than remove their habitat (which usually isn't practical or desirable). There are lots of urban legends about the deterrent value of mothballs, lime, sulfur, etc. but none of these products deter snakes. Neither does a product called Snake-A-Way which should really be called Dollar-A-Way because it separates people from their money rather than from snakes. The good news is that the snake species is nonvenomous and poses no danger to pets and small children. |
RE: Snake on patio~ HELP identify it please??
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| Well geez....I feel bad we clobbered it then! I may need to ask for forgiveness for destroying a reptile simply out of fear! Thanks for the response, and hope all that looked at my photo forgive us for our ignorance!@!! |
RE: Snake on patio~ HELP identify it please??
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| You're welcome for the id! Its easy to make a mistake out of fear. The fact that folks are still debating what it was on the Texas Gardening forum shows how difficult identifying similar looking snake species can be for most folks. |
RE: Snake on patio~ HELP identify it please??
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| It's just sad that people 1st intict is too kill. |
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