Identifying a snake..?

[jnick]

Hey guys and gals!

I recently found this guy in my yard and was just curious if anyone would be able to tell me the type of species the snake is? We don't get many snakes where I am (actually, this is the second in 19 years!). I was mainly curious as if it were a garter snake or another type of snake.

I do believe it is living under my Central Air condenser and actually, I think there may be more than one. I'm mainly concerned if the snake is poisonous or if it's safe, as my niece and nephew are often playing out in our yard.



Any help is appreciated!

[Stefan-A]

Knowing the location would help narrowing it down a bit, but I'm pretty sure it's not a garter. Nerodia, maybe?

[ssssnakeluvr]

It's definitely a water snake, can be feisty. he loks like he's seen better days....

[Stefan-A]

he loks like he's seen better days....

He looks like he has already seen all the days he is ever going to see. (Road kill)

edit: Oops, apparently it was still alive. But you are definitely right, it looks like it's seen better days.

[chloe]

looks like a florida banded water snake to me nerodia f. But cotton mouths look very similar and they are venomous.

[CrazyHedgehog]

Training a bit boring this morning then????

[adamanteus]

I think it's Nerodia fasciata, but then I haven't got my glasses on so I'm squinting a bit! It's a harmless species, but as Don already said, it can be a bity feisty.

[abcat1993]

I agree, probably not a cottonmouth, judging by how it doesn't have a triangular head.

[adamanteus]

Absolutely certainly not a Cottonmouth! Definitely a Nerodia. The only question is whether or not it's fasciata.

[adamanteus]

This is a Cottonmouth.