Help identify this snake

7 years ago

This little guy slipped in the front screen door that wasn't latched. May have bitten my small dog who was very intrigued.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

User
7 years ago
That is a juvenile Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster). They are harmless rodent eaters.
kansasguy thanked User
kansasguy
Original Author
7 years ago
Excellent, thanks! I was thinking maybe a rat snake but it didn't have the line across the eyes.

Might he be a good inhabitant for my chicken coop, to keep rodents under control?
Related Discussions
I need help identifying this snake
Q
Comments (4)
It is a Black Rat Snake, a harmless eater of rats, mice, other pests, the occasional bird, and the occasional egg. They kill by constriction, and are completely harmless to humans. They are to be encouraged around the house as a natural pest control. As an adult (in your area) it will be coal black.
...See More
Help identifying a snake
Q
Comments (7)
I concur with fhfchrish....ditch the glue traps! Those things are extremely barbaric and result in very slow, drawn-out suffering of captured animals, especially reptiles, which take a long time to die, but which also have very advanced sensory nervous systems, meaning that they feel pain very acutely. If you wouldn't do this to a puppy or kitten, it's just as wrong to inflict this torture on a reptile. IF you accidentally capture a snake or lizard on a glue trap, you can spray PAM cooking spray on it or pour cooking oil on it to dissolve the glue and gradually let the animal work itself loose, but often by the time they are discovered they have seriously injured themselves trying to escape.
...See More
Need help identifying snake, please :)
Q
Comments (2)
That is a Texas Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus). They are one of the more commonly seen snakes in the eastern half of the state and into central Texas. They are harmless predators of rodents and birds.
...See More
Please help identify this snake
Q
Comments (3)
It's a baby "caramel-phase" Florida Banded Watersnake, Nerodia fasciata, a species that varies quite a bit in coloration and is found from Florida to the Carolinas. These lighter-colored specimens are called "caramel" because as adults they do have a coloration that resembles caramel, with darker bands. There is also a red-phase and a dark-colored phase, as well as albino and hypomelanistic specimens.
...See More
Sandplum1
7 years ago
http://www.slideshare.net/lawrenceks/know-your-kansas-snakes
Sharon McKenzie
7 years ago
He'd be an excellent inhabitant for a chicken coop, provided that the chickens don't eat HIM! Prairie Kings feed almost exclusively on rodents and smaller snakes, but don't have as much appetite for eggs as the Rat Snakes, but at this size, he's more of a meal for a chicken, anyway. To a chicken, small snake=worm.
kansasguy thanked Sharon McKenzie
kansasguy
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Sharon. I considered what you said and decided that IN the coop may not be the best home, but as our coop is about 6" above grade, up on cinder blocks, with the foundation surrounded by limestone rip rap, I'd let him go under the coop. It's a separate area from the outdoor chicken run as well. Hopefully he finds a nice home there. If he wanders into the run and turns to chicken food...well, circle of life I guess.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Could a Mission Statement Help Your House?

By Laura Gaskill

Identify your home’s purpose and style to make everything from choosing paint colors to buying a new home easier

Full Story

DENS AND LIBRARIES Room of the Day: Princess the Snake Reigns in a Luxe Library

By Becky Harris

Sure, there are books. But in this library the custom snake habitat may be most worth checking out

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: How to Identify Two Common Woodpeckers

By Habitat Network

Downy and hairy woodpeckers have similar coloration and behavior. But there are two big differences that separate them

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe

By Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Choose fire-resistant plants and materials and create defensible areas using these design strategies

Full Story

LIFE Oh Yeah, There’s a Snake in the House

By Becky Harris

A Houzz contributor lives through her worst nightmare and comes out the other side with lessons learned and new footwear

Full Story

207

MOVING Relocating Help: 8 Tips for a Happier Long-Distance Move

By Laura Gaskill

Trash bags, houseplants and a good cry all have their role when it comes to this major life change

Full Story

126

ORGANIZING Help for Whittling Down the Photo Pile

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Consider these 6 points your personal pare-down assistant, making organizing your photo collection easier

Full Story

DECORATING GUIDES Capture the Eye: How to Identify and Work With Focal Points

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Arm yourself with design tools to figure out and execute a fantastic focus in any room

Full Story

LIFE Consider Avoiding These Plants to Help Keep Your Garden Fire-Safe

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Plants that accumulate dead material, are high in oil or have low moisture content in leaves put some homes at risk

Full Story

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

Full Story

Help identify this snake

Comments (5)

User

kansasguy
Original Author

Related Discussions

Sandplum1

Sharon McKenzie

kansasguy
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Help identify this snake

Comments (5)

User

kansasguyOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Sandplum1

Sharon McKenzie

kansasguyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

kansasguy
Original Author

kansasguy
Original Author