snake id (copper head?)

I agree that if he is not able to ID it properly,then he should not be handling it.



http://blogs.lifeandscience.org/greg...vs-copperhead/

Originally Posted by El Jefe

Assuming it is a native Alabama species, that would rule out night snakes that have vertical pupils and are relatively (to humans) harmless. All other U.S. snakes (and those in Alabama) with vertical pupils are pit vipers: rattlers, copperheads and cottonmouths.

Based on the last third of the body, however, the distinctive blotches look more like what you would see on water snakes (Nerodia sp.) or ratsnakes (Pantherophis sp.) than a copperhead or cottonmouth (Agkistrodon). I suspect it is a water snake or rat snake but the bad picture and blurred head not help identification.

Nevertheless, I would not free handle a snake that I found and could not properly ID. I would suggest the same for the person who caught this one.

Lyre snakes also have slitted pupils. Are they considered a pitviper? or are they a type of night snake? I don't think that they are native to Alabama...

Yes Chip, I believe they found a native as well. I was just playing at Devil's Advocate...

It is always better to air on the side of caution. So think of it as venomous until proven otherwise.

Maybe a small water snake...

Originally Posted by cornbreadandmilk

he has been holding it all day and wont listen to me not sure what do to

Have him put the snake in a secure container. Then take him & the snake to the nearest hospital. If it should happen to bite him ( because he's not likely to leave it in the container...) , you'll be at or near a place where he can get medical attention.... And-in most cases.... A proper ID of the snake in question.

That is all.....

Edit: most likely a water snake.... Seeing that your friend isn't reeling in pain from being bitten. Copperheads, while its not likely to kill you, will leave you with a very nice souvenir.

In my experience with both, I'd say water snakes are bitier on average than copperheads. Though I've never tried to handle a copperhead more than I had to, when collecting and moving them, some copperheads are quite chill. I don't seem to run across those watersnakes, though I've seen photos of wild ones being barehanded here.

When I was stationed in Florida I caught what we called Brown Water snakes, and most of them were docile, as was the banded water snake we caught.... From what I can remember as a child, the copperheads that I would catch (being extremely unsafe, it's a wonder I am as healthy as I am today) were pretty docile as well... Though, knowing what I do now, I would not free handle any venomous anymore...

Originally Posted by rich333

Have him put the snake in a secure container. Then take him & the snake to the nearest hospital. If it should happen to bite him ( because he's not likely to leave it in the container...) , you'll be at or near a place where he can get medical attention.... And-in most cases.... A proper ID of the snake in question.

That is all.....

Edit: most likely a water snake.... Seeing that your friend isn't reeling in pain from being bitten. Copperheads, while its not likely to kill you, will leave you with a very nice souvenir.

Not necessarily- out of the 7,000 or so venomous snake bites in the U.S. last year, one of the handful of fatalities that occurred was a copperhead bite and the victim died on the way to the hospital, from anaphylactic shock.

Originally Posted by Oscarsdad

Not necessarily- out of the 7,000 or so venomous snake bites in the U.S. last year, one of the handful of fatalities that occurred was a copperhead bite and the victim died on the way to the hospital, from anaphylactic shock.

Hence the "while not likely".

I'd agree that one out of all the thousands of bites each year falls under "not likely" as well.

My herp buddy who passed away last year was an ER nurse and just our little Asheville Regional/Mission Hospital sees bites each year. The amount of tissue damage can be still be horrendous (and scarring permanent). It is ill-advised to handle any snake you aren't sure what is. I really hope we get some better photos of this one.

Originally Posted by Chip

I'd agree that one out of all the thousands of bites each year falls under "not likely" as well.

My herp buddy who passed away last year was an ER nurse and just our little Asheville Regional/Mission Hospital sees bites each year. The amount of tissue damage can be still be horrendous (and scarring permanent). It is ill-advised to handle any snake you aren't sure what is. I really hope we get some better photos of this one.

i cant seem to squeeze the pics from him.i would really like to know ar this point if not for the slit eyes i would agree on banded water snake