It's that time of year again. I don't know what kind of snake this is, but he left his jacket in my garden and I'm not happy about it. There was a small article in today's paper warning folks to be on the lookout for snakes on the move now that it has warmed up. DH found this shed yesterday afternoon....right where I had been poking around a few hours before...and didn't see it.

Judging from the relative uniformity of width along most of the length of the body.....I'd say a non-poisonous one of some sort. Too long for a copperhead or coral.....too narrow for a moccasin or rattler that long.........I wouldn't worry too much about it

I figured it was a small rat snake....we have them in the trees, and any wood piles neighbors have in the greenbelt...
Appreciate the reassurance that it's probably non-poisonous.

Agreed with Lee, I had the exact some thoughts. The head looks too small as well and doesn't have that marked triangle shape that the poisonous buggers have.

.......but it's still a ssssssnake.......

sssssssssertainly! Sssssstill ssssslithering about.....Sssssssandi!

My cat was playing with a baby snake the other day. I rescued it and let it go elsewhere...looked harmless.

Lee....that'sssss sssssssssnot funny!

Linda...where is "elsewhere" exactly? Can I GPS that location?

I just took it a bit away from my yard and told it not to come back!

Okay, but I know they don't have ears.....so they can't hear you....

There was an interesting snake exhibit at the S.A. event yesterday! I looked at all the snakes and talked to the snake guy. Learned a lot. Did you know that coral snake antivenon is not even being made in the U.S. any more? But the guy said that those snakes really aren't dangerous...that they really, really don't want to bite anyone and avoid contact with humans if possible...only biting if they think they are being attacked. Looked up the antivenon, too. I think the government should make sure antivenon is available. The drug company doesn't want to do it because they are losing money on it...only about 80 bites a year in this country. There's still an antivenon being made in Mexico that could probably be used...if the U.S. government would make that possible.

I was told that a coral snake's mouth is too small to really bite a human, except maybe in between thumb and finger, that narrow bit of skin. So when I see them I just let them mosey on...

I read about a boy that was bitten and the antivenin was flown in from another area. It was due to expire soon anyway...and no more is being manufactured in the U.S.

That's pretty shocking...no antivenom...... Wonder what the shelf life is for it?

Actually, the few antivenin doses left in the U.S. for coral snake bites were supposed to expire in 2008. They keep extending the expiration date, but can't keep doing that. The problem is that it would cost several million dollars to get the Mexican product approved by the FDA and nobody has offered to bankroll that...money and politics. Hmm. Well, anyway, since an actual bite is so unlikely (and usually due to really terminal stupidity on the part of the human), I do feel better about leaving the snake alone if I do see it. But everybody should be educated about the danger...eventually, they could just have to keep coral snake bite patients on life support for weeks without the antivenin...that's how serious those bites can be.

I have a couple of large piles of yard cuttings that I forgot to pick up last week for trash. Now, after reading thru the snake posts, I'm leary of moving 'em. I have to psyche myself up to get out there. Trash pic-up's today. It's cool this morning, yesterday it was cold. I just hope some slitherkadee isn't using my banana trimmings as a blanket.

Like that nickname....slitherkadee. I use a garden rake to spread such piles of cuttings before picking up....just in case!

Hetty commented that she'd heard that a coral snake's mouth is too small to get a good bite......but don't think that for a minute. Our skin is "elastic" enough that even a small coral can grab onto our hand or areas of loose skin.....the hand/finger probably the most common area of coral snake bites.. Unlike the pit vipers....the coral doesn't "strike" with fang-tips in the lead....but needs to bite/grab to get the venom into you. They are not as "aggressive" as most of the pit vipers....(and that is a relative comparison)....most snakes will avoid contact when possible. I've known herpetologists who were not afraid to handle corals....in a "non-threatening" manner....(so as not to make the coral think it was in danger). They are a beautiful snake and not surprisingly, are usually being handled by someone unaware of their danger....and probably too strongly to suit the snake....and the bite occurs.

If piles of yard waste were all it took for snakes, we'd have a few dens, but I haven't scared any out yet, thankfully.

I have to do most yardwork around the house. *grumble*

I put my garden boots on and stomped around on the trimmings..then I picked 'em up and stuffed what I could into garbage bags...and tied up the rest. Not one slitherkadee did I see. But getting the garden back into shape is really slow-go. I do a little each day, but I think I'm gonna need help...like the paid kind...not the husband kind.....I mean real help!!!!