While it is true that pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins) have triangular heads, wider than their necks, it is a very difficult way to identify a snake, and I wouldn't put much faith in it. Many harmless species can flatten their heads in a defensive posture and look VERY dangerous. Hognose snakes can even flatten their necks, similar to what a cobra does. We have only 3 basic types of venomous snakes native to Florida: rattlesnakes (including the eastern diamondback, the dusky pygmy rattler, and the timber or canebrake rattler), the cottonmouth or water moccasin, and the coral snake. If you learn to recognize those snakes (and it isn't difficult) you will know whether the snake you are seeing is harmless or not. I have done several in depth posts on how to identify the diamondback rattlesnake, the cottonmouth, and the coral snake. If you want help with those, let me know, and I can bring the posts forward. Marcia

You guys demonstrate my theory that cottonmouths are "passive-aggressive." Dangerous in that they don't move out of the path, often, and people who are not alert can step on them. Tales of them chasing people are usually highly exaggerated. This isn't to say it can't happen. Just that it's not a common behavior. My best cottonmouth story involved canoeing by myself on Rock Springs Run. I was in an area we call the Flats. Very shallow water, with a lot of grassy vegetation. Makes for slow canoeing as you try to glide through without digging up the bottom. I spotted a cottonmouth in the water, about 2 1/2 feet long, and close to the shore. It had a dead fish in its mouth. I don't think it killed the fish, but I can't be sure of that. But the fish looked REAL dead. It was a panfish of some type (bluegill, shellcracker, one of those) and quite wide, and this snake was trying its best to figure out how to swallow it. The snake worked its mouth slowly around the body of the fish, which was way, WAY too wide for it to swallow, and even tried to force it down sideways. The fish was probably ten inches long and no way was that snake going to get it down sideways. I let the canoe drift over fairly close, as I was enjoying the show. The snake finally began working its way towards the head of the fish, where it would have had the best chance to get it down, but suddenly noticed me or my canoe slowly nearing. If snakes could change expression, this one's eyes would have bugged out and his mouth would have dropped open. If they could talk, he would have been yelling "Holy Sheepdip! Where'd THAT come from??" He did a backflip away from the fish and took off for the weeds like a streak! It was so funny looking, I almost fell out of my canoe laughing at him. I always wondered if he came back later to finish working on the fish. But I didn't wonder about who was more scared by our encounter. He definitely was! Still...I am very careful on the river or in places where cottonmouths might lurk. They normally don't care if you approach them. I admire them, but I don't want to step on one or come face to face with one at any closer range than what I just described. I'm not NEARLY as brave as Wayne! Marcia

Marta8a that was a great link you posted. I took the link back to the main page and went throught all the snakes it listed. I bookmarked it for future use. It will come in handy the next time someone brings in a snake to be ID. I really enjoy reading everyone's comments about snakes. It is always amusing to hear what people think about snakes. Most people don't want to know they have snakes in their yards, but there are small snakes everywhere. Some of the smaller ones can pass for earth worms, if you don't pay close attention. I see a lot of snakes, people bring into my office to ask what they are. Almost all of them are harmless grass snakes and a lot are dead. It really excites people when I pick one up and look it over. I always take the live ones out back of my office and turn them loose in the flower beds. In the last 15 years, I have yet to see a poisonous snake brought into the office. Oh, and yes I take care of the beds so its not a problem that the snakes are there. I very rarely see one again.

Although it seems very skinny, the markings are perfect for a striped California king snake. Check the link below. Tucker Here is a link that might be useful: Striped California King Snake