So glad that Hissy has found a good temporary home. I've always loved snakes and have had them as pets since I was a child. Later, when I was in grad school and living in an apartment just off campus, my much younger brother brought a rat snake home from scout camp. Unfortunately, my father, who was terrified of snakes, announced that either the snake went or he would go, so naturally I took him off my brother's hands and installed him in a nice herpetarium in my apartment (at which point I discovered just who my friends were and weren't!) Kaa (as I named him, from Kipling of course) stayed with me until I had to move to another location, at which point I found a new home for him.I would love to have a snake pet again, but now I'm in a New York City apartment and haven't the room it would need. I'm hoping that Hissy will find a wonderful new home. Thanks to you for being so kind in rescuing him even though you weren't familiar with snakes!

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

The timing of this thread is uncanny. I checked out the new postings this A.M. (this forum is usually my first stop) and read this thread. Midday I was in the garage potting up new cuttings and saw what I thought was a large worm in the concrete expansion joint. Looked more closely and, remembering the pictures here, recognized my "worm" as a Florida brown snake. I urged it on its way out of the garage by gently touching the end of its tail with a pencil. It very slowly headed toward the open garage door. Then it decided it didn't care for the pencil and gathered up its little body as if to strike. I backed off but when it seemed reluctant to move out I switched to a broom (my hand proved too close to the pencil to suit me). Eventually the little guy made it to the grass (and I closed the garage door!). June

Not sure why the message did not post, but again... we are having serious storms here. I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU!!! You are so unbelievably helpful! EG