Snake people - what is this?

[dan brooks]

Just found a new friend in the driveway - anyone know what this is? It seems pretty tame and didn't try to strike or bite when I was getting him (her?) to pose for the camera.

 

[dan brooks]

Another view:

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Dan ... ... ... ... Ya still alive?

 

[illflem]

I'm no expert but it looks like what we called King snakes. Does it coil up and pretend to be a rattler by making a rattle like hiss while shaking it's tail rapidly? http://www.desertusa.com/magfeb98/feb_pap/du_kingsnake.html

 

[dan brooks]

Yep... . I may be crazy, but I ain't stupid. I used a fishin' pole to move him around - without knowing what I was dealing with there was no way I was gonna reach down and pick it up... .

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Good.



Kinda looks like a fox snake.

 

[dan brooks]

King snakes are pretty common around here and I figured that might be what it was, but there was no hissing or shaking it's tail - it just curled up in a ball when I started trying to move it. He isn't very big - maybe 18" long from head to tail, 3/4" in diameter at the most.

 

[dan brooks]

illflem - After reading the info on the link you provided, I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Probably a good thing I didn't pick it up with my hands..... don't need to get musked or cr@pped on tonight.

 

[illflem]

This looks more like what you have from it's pattern, colors vary according to the time of year http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/july/stories/gsnake.html

 

[dan brooks]

I dunno - the shape of the head is quite a bit different. I have a friend who is a herpetologist and he should be able to give a definitive answer. Other than curiosity it doesn't matter - I guess he didn't like my hospitality and decided to move on.

 

[Badunit]

How about this snake: Desert Kingsnake.



http://www.reptilesofaz.com/h-l-g-splendida.html





#ad

 

[dan brooks]

Kingsnake it is - my friend took one look and said it's a young Sonoran Kingsnake. They can come around all they want, but keep them rattling things away from me.

 

[klenger]

I was talking to the construction super where they are building our house (Civano in SE Tucson) and he said they have seen several rattle snakes already this year. I guess I'll have to start looking where I'm going. I'll probably die from a heart attack even if I ever see one, even if he doesn't strike at me.



"If it lives in the desert, it strikes, sticks, stings, or stinks"

 

[JHerrlich]

My Grandfather used to live in Vail (near Tucson) and he owned a . 22. He couldn't shoot that thing worth a d*mn, but when a snake came on his property, he could hit it in the head at just about any distance. I always thought it was pretty amusing.



Tucson is where my house is. I want to go home, but no work there.

 

[dan brooks]

Originally posted by klenger

... he said they have seen several rattle snakes already this year. I guess I'll have to start looking where I'm going.

They are definitely out there, and I was shocked to find out just how many. One of the places we did a lot of hunting in a few years ago was a rattlesnake "study site"... . never saw one there but I probably walked over a bunch. Probably a good thing I didn't find out it was a snake haven until after the trip.



JHerrlich - I'm in just the opposite situation... . I want to get out of Tucson but can't find a job where I want to go.

 

[Sled Puller]

Kill it.

 

[klenger]

Kill it.

According to the link above, they eat other snakes. Assuming that includes rattle snakes, I'd try to breed them.

 

[dan brooks]

Nah, he wasn't hurting anyone. Besides, even rattlesnakes serve a purpose (other than scaring the cr@p out of people). As long as they leave me alone I'll leave them alone.



Scorpions, on the other hand..... :--)

 

[Steve M]

I don't kill anything but cockroaches and skeeters.

A terrorist is a form of cockroach too.

 

[Doc Tinker]

My son has a snake that looks just like that one, except its white parts are a lot whiter. He says it's a California King snake. My son feeds it mice and an occassional garter snake.



Doc