I have been doing some extra reading on the crowned snakes, and now think I may have been too quick in saying it was the "southeastern" crowned snake. There are three species of crowned snakes found in Florida and 3 subspecies of one of them. The differences are tiny and, to me, a bit confusing. So I'm waiting for an expert to show up here and let us know which one they think this is (or if they think it is something else altogether, by any chance). I found enough photos to make me feel that it IS a crowned snake, but it could be a Florida crowned snake, or one of the other very, very similar species. The more you learn, the more you see you just CAN'T learn it all! Drat!! And I so wanted to know EVERYTHING. Every. Single. Thing. *sigh* Marcia

Poor little snake!!! I just found what I believe is the same little ringneck snake (had to search for this thread to make sure that's what it's called) swimming valiantly against the current of my pool water intake. I dropped the scooper and ran to the opening just as he was going in. I took out the filter basket and ran out of the screened in cage with him. I have no idea how long his struggle had been but he tried to get out through one of the opening but couldn't get much past his neck ? (a bit past his head but not that far down, without shoulders it's hard to describe) so he just gave up & stuck his head back in through another opening and just kinda gave up :(. I ran in the house & grabbed some gloves & I managed to delicately pull his head part out and thread him back through and then deposit him in amongst the weeds - um I mean my beautiful garden *cough*. I am so sad. My question is will he live? I feel terrible for him. He's so little and I have no idea how long his horrible struggle had gone on. Off to do my own research but I'm hoping someone on here will have good news for me - as in the fact that my pool is in desperate need of a shocking... and I ran out of chlorine atleast a week ago so it's starting to get dirty looking might mean he hasn't been too harmed by pool chemicals :(, Ugh, I'm grasping at straws to alleviate my guilt, Nat

I agree, it would definitely be a ringneck snake, and it is probably full grown. They are very small snakes. As Lisa said, they are harmless and very beautiful. Marcia

Nice Pictures! I can answer your question. That black snake is a black rat snake. Was that midland water snake (subspecies of the northern water snake) found at LaRue Road. I have never found a midland water there before. In fact I don't think I know anyone who has seen one there either. I'm sure they have a good population there, but it surprises me that you saw one. They generally inhabit lakes, creeks and rivers. One doesn't usually see a midland or northern water snake in cypress swamp. I have seen them up north in oxbow lakes. I did see a midland water snake at Mingo swamp in a ditch, but that is far as my northern water snake experience goes. Nice find. Ryan