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Identify this Snake

11 years ago

I just got done mowing my lawn and ran into 2 of these small snakes. Unfortunately my weedwacker met them before I even saw them. I have seen the same snake species in my yard before. Generally they are around dirt/soil. The color of them is really similar to earthworms.

I live in central Texas area if that helps. I also put a quarter next to these 2 I accidentally hit with my weedwacker today to show their size. They are not very big at all. Anyway, now that I keep seeing these, should I worry about it? I know they are harmless but I have now seen 5 in the past 4 weeks.

Thanks,

Mike

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Comment (1)

S.A.McKenzie
11 years ago
These unfortunate little snakes are Rough Earth Snakes(Virginia striatula), and are indeed harmless as you've already guessed. I'm not sure, though, why you'd wonder if they'd be something to "worry" about, if you knew they were harmless already. All snakes are beneficial to us to at least some degree, even the venomous species, as they, too, eat rodent pests. There are no snakes which are a real threat to agricultural or other human endeavors native to the US, as in none that eat our crops or plants or livestock, aside from the occasional chicken egg devoured by a Rat Snake. These little snakes feed primarily on earthworms and slugs, and in eating the latter, do gardeners a big favor!
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This is a harmless eastern gartersnake, incapable of hurting you, your pets or children (unless you tried to swallow it and choked on it I guess?). I wouldn't worry about it or its potential predator. How long have you lived there and how often has this happened? It isn't likely to happen again any more often and it doesn't represent any threat even if it was happening daily. If you are afraid of snakes, then cleaning up under bushes, etc. is a good idea. It is also good not to feed birds or your pets outside as that attracts rodents, which attract snakes.
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