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Spotted in my backyard
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Author:  N2Organics [ Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Spotted in my backyard

Any idea what this big guy might be?
He was over 6 feet long!
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I just took photos and left him alone:

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He had a white underbelly and was mostly black:

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Pretty cool looking snake! I hope he visits again!
~N2O~

Author:  snakeman [ Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Spotted in my backyard

That's a Texas Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri. Big and scary, he'll hiss, strike, even rattle his tail. No rattle of course, but in leaves or twigs it'll sound like the real thing. He's harmless, and will readily bite but has fairly low jaw pressure. A constrictor, he'll squeeze the breath out of his meal before he swallows it. That also makes him an excellent climber.

Author:  N2Organics [ Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Spotted in my backyard

snakeman wrote:
That's a Texas Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri. Big and scary, he'll hiss, strike, even rattle his tail. No rattle of course, but in leaves or twigs it'll sound like the real thing. He's harmless, and will readily bite but has fairly low jaw pressure. A constrictor, he'll squeeze the breath out of his meal before he swallows it. That also makes him an excellent climber.


A constrictor? That is WAY too cool! That might explain the field mouse population reduction around here. {chuckle} I have spotted the big guy about 4 times in the last 2 years in my backyard and in the wooded area next to my house. I figured that he was harmless because he had a smooth transition from the head to the body and lacked the "ace of spades" head shape that rattlers and pit vipers have.

Thanks for the positive ID on my big boy! I have also seen a few smaller snakes on the patio, but never seem to have my camera handy..

I just LOVE the interaction with wild critters that we have at this new home at the country's edge. Here's a sample video that I posted earlier in the "meet and greet" forum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spGqbdb3Ouo (Dirt Doctor "Critter flick"..)
~N2O~

Author:  NickTarabay [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Spotted in my backyard

Love'd the video!

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