Its oh so quiet Shh Shh

[katach]

Thanks everyone! I'm so excited. I start monday. I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited!

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks everyone! I'm so excited. I start monday. I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited!

You will do a great job.

[jitami]

Hi guys! Long time no see! Anyone want to ID a snake for me?

haha I'm a poet. Anyway...

Here's the lovely creature in question. Not from my neck of the woods and possibly in danger of being chopped to bits if I can't convince her it's harmless... which I've already told her it is, but she really wants a positive ID and I've made some possible guesses, but can't pin it down. (Fox Snake? Milk Snake? Juvenile Black Rat (too big)? Prairie King?) Help! You're more than welcome to share the pics with other people, forums, whatever. Just let me know so I know to wait for a response before reporting back to the property owner. Thanks!

Here are the pics, including location:





Head seen here, under rock:


Location:

[guidofatherof5]

Did you happen to get a head photo?

[jitami]

Nope, what you see is what she got... I know a head pic would certainly help!

[jitami]

Did you see the bit of head in the one photo, though? Seems they all have light chins?

[guidofatherof5]

I see that now. My first impression was rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) but I'm not sure. A clear head shot would be great.
Venomous in that area also.

[jitami]

I see that now. My first impression was rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) but I'm not sure. A clear head shot would be great. Venomous in that area also.

Rat snake was another person's first impression, too, but that person later changed their mind because it certainly appears to be an adult snake and the Rat snakes only have patterning as juvies? I think the only venomous we need to worry about is a copperhead and I did express that concern to her at one point, but after looking at pics and reading other people's first impressions I think we're fairly safe in saying it's not a copperhead. Seems too shiny (not keeled or lightly keeled?) to be a rattle snake and just doesn't look like one to me, but I'm not familiar with copperheads at all. She has kids & puppies that play in that yard on occasion so I'm really hoping to get this figured out for her, just in case. I'd hate for such gorgeous, apparently healthy and well fed, non-venomous to be killed or even removed if it's not necessary... btw, I don't think removal is an option to her if it is venomous. She's not a close friend and that's just the way it is.

[katach]

Looks like a western fox snake. Fox Snake

[jitami]

Thanks Kat! That was one of my many guesses <gg>