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Reptiles & Amphibians

Snake ID - no pic, sorry

15 years ago

I know it would help if i had a picture, but I don't.

I live in northern Alabama with no water nearby (well, there's a drainage ditch but it's been empty all spring)

I was coming into my house from my garage and opened the house door and this snake fell down to the ground. It was about 1.5' long, slithered "straight" (not sideways), wasn't too skinny (maybe 3/4" wide), was light brown and seemed to have darker brown diamonds on the top of it... not all the way around it. I didn't notice the tail.

I went back out to chase it out of the garage but couldn't find it again.

Any ideas?

I've looked on some websites and can't seem to find it.

I know it's a long shot without a picture, sorry!

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Comments (7)

Day_By_Day
15 years ago
Start here and click each of the pics to find one that's the closest. "Light brown" can be 12 different snakes and "darker brown diamonds" can be 20 more. Once you pick the closest one, I'm sure the others here can post a variety of pics of that kind for a more accurate answer.

Here is a link that might be useful: alabama snakes
hsvcara
Original Author
15 years ago
I guess it looks most like a prairie kingsnake or a mole kingsnake... assuming that they don't all look exactly like the ones on the website day_by_day posted.
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Day_By_Day
15 years ago
Next step. Go through these for confirmation since only you saw it or we could end up with a thousand guesses from our regulars.

Here is a link that might be useful: prairie king pics
hsvcara
Original Author
15 years ago
Yeah it still looks like a prairie kingsnake to me.

I don't know anything about snakes, so I was wondering if it's common for a snake to be "climbing" a door? I just wonder what it was doing in my garage. I have a bag of dog food in my garage, could it be going after that??
Day_By_Day
15 years ago
Good going on the research. Haven't heard of any dog food eatin' snakes. Perhaps the mice that are attracted to the smell. Snakes are amazing acrobats and climb whatever is in their way.
animalgal
15 years ago
My uncle owns many snakes from around your area. when i first read about this snake i got a little concerned.
If you haven't done so already have someone come in, find, and capture the snake.

Off your description and where my uncle found his it could be the Eastern dimmondback rattlesnke. The snake is extreamly venomus. If you have a pet like a bunny or small dog keep a good watch on it. If you've killed the snake don't touch it. Snakes are still venomouse four hours after death.

If your bitten call 911. you will need a shot of Anti-venom.

Don't get worked up though this is just a chance but still have a profesional look after the snake and when there dealing withthe snake stand far back.
mikeygraz
15 years ago
lol ... wow...

Bottom line - if you aren't certain as to its identity (and out of the masses, few are..), leave it alone, give it space. Don't let yourself be run by the hysteria and the old wives tales...

~Mike

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