Ok, I have tentatively ID'ed him as a Banded Water snake. Harmless, yes, but I do hope he moves on!

nova

YIKES!He dont git that big being harmless!

Where is the scale reference device so we can tell his true size?

Tony, While emptying, er, I mean preparing, an appropriate number of scale reference devices he left for wherever big harmless snakes go! But if I was to guess, I would say he was at least 4 scale reference devices long and about half as big around. Of course, he may get bigger as I continue to prepare scale reference devices!

nova

Eek, that's a scarey looking snake! Not cute like the black racers and ringnecked snakes I find in my yard.

My first instinct told me "water moccasin", but it doesn't look like it has the telltale eyestripe of the water moccasin (winks to MaNature).

Here is the picture I found of the Florida Banded Water snake that led me to the ID -

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As you can see it is almost identical to the snake I found in my back yard.

nova

It does look identical. I've never seen one of these and know I would have been a bit freaked out by him. The triangular shaped head is a little scary. Glad it wasn't anything venomous.
Kate

Kate - Yes, I was somewhat freaked out by him especially when Rosie, the wonder dog, spotted him and started barking at him. The mower is stored under the iguana cage and that is where the dogs like to sleep when in the yard! Also, in the Vet clinic where I work, we have had two dogs come in with snake bites recently!

The really funny part is, not too long after I had ID'ed him I was back in the yard when I came across a Black Racer! Granted non-venomous too but enough to make me give up on yard work for today!

nova, still preparing scale reference devices!

Sorry I wasn't around earlier to help calm you down, Nova. Been up to see Felix today (had a MAHVELOUS time!) and missed your post until a few minutes ago when I got home. But look how well you have done without me. It is definitely a Florida banded water snake, completely harmless, no matter what Tony thinks about him being so big! ;o) He's a fine snake to have around.

No CHEEK STRIPE, as babalu noticed, so not a cottomouth. Not a rattlesnake and not a coral snake, so you were home free at that point.

So glad you didn't post a picture of him with his snakie little head bashed in, Nova. You are to be congratulated on your restraint. (I know it can be hard when you are instinctively afraid of them).

Way to go!
Marcia

Thanks Marcia! I have a very strict "No Kill" attitude when it comes to snakes since there are more good ones than bad ones. My "gut" was telling me he probably wasn't venomous but still he was scary especially since he was hanging out where the dogs do. He was still pretty sluggish when we found him so I put a large aquarium over him while I did a quick web search for a ID. When I figured out what he was I removed the aquarium and let him go on his way! Hopefully, I have scared him enough he goes back to the lake and avoids us in the future!

nova

I didnt mean he harmful to people, yet to get that large he has to be harming something on a regular basis is all I meant.

Glad to know he is nothing to worry about. Actually, now that you know he is around and harmless,I bet you will be lookin for him and seeing what he may be up to.

Awww, Tony, I was just funnin' ya back. And you had a good point. There are critters out there that consider this guy their worst nightmare, for sure!

Nova, you are doing everything right, girl! Making sure you know what you are dealing with, especially when it is in close proximity to your animals or family.

Marcia

I'm figuring he's thinking, "Yum! Iguana snack!"

He's beautiful! I love seeing snakes in the yard. Haven't seen a poisonous one here in 10 years but I know what they are and how to avoid them if I do. I think the only ones I'd kill are the rattlers and the cottonmouths, the little coral snakes are very docile.