http://i47.photobucket.com/alb...d1acdb9064BA476A.jpg

All these pics were taken at the irrigation pump at my folks place. I dont like snakes at all, but all I can say is good snake.

way cool pictures!! thanks for sharing

Very nice, thanks a lot!

Will show them to my son who is fascinated by reptiles.

A question out of curiosity: Do you guys kill rattlers?

We have a black snake that took up residence in our club house about 5 years ago. He's about 7 feet long and as big around as my forearm.

We don't have mice or other snakes hanging around, but he sure has startled us a few times.

That looks like a blue indigo snake to me.

M16 you are right it is actually an indigo but most people dont know the difference. I didnt for a long time. The same principle applies to both varities though. You shouldnt kill either one as they are hell on other critters you dont want around be it rodents or other snakes. Somehow I think you already knew that since you knew what the indigo was.

Thanks for the post. I passed it on to my young nephews as a lesson. They live in rattlesnake and copperhead country.

That's exactly what it is, an indigo and oh how they get your attention. Don't kill them. They are good guys that are all over south Texas.

I believe Indigo's are the longest snake in NA... no such thing as a blacksnake in NA, is there??

Regards,
Craig Nolan

Does the Indigo rattle when it burps now???

AD

i live on a farm and see black snakes all the time. the only black snake i remember killing was the big boy that was attempting to eat the baby owls in our owl box up a large oak. i have since put a 3' ring of aluminum sheeting around the tree to prevent future attempts.

Craig you are technically correct. However there are several species of snakes referred to as black snakes. They include such species as the blue racer in the north and black rat snakes farther south. There are numerous others as well. Most of these snakes all share the trait of being hell on rodents and or other snakes. It is a generic term like using Kleenex to describe all tissue products. Most folks recognize the term black snake. If I used the correct names they would most likely not pay attention. I wanted to make the point that these snakes should not be killed. Let them figure out the particlar variety later.

Mike, I hear you, I've just always been fascinated by snakes and was wondering for my own sake...as a kid, used to regularly catch western yellow-bellied racers, California Kings, gopher and garter snakes... fun stuff

Regards,
Craig Nolan

At first I thought it was a "black racer" as they are called in Alabama where I grew up. But I didn't know black racers ate rattlesnakes. Then I thought it may be an indigo but I couldn't remember the differences.

So this snake is indeed an indigo? I'll google "black racer" and Indigo snake and check it out.

Here's a little lesson.

Black-Colored Snakes in the Southeast
Some snake species look quite similar and may be difficult for those inexperienced with snakes to confidently identify. Among these are several species of southeastern snakes commonly called “black snakes” because of their primarily black coloration. These include the Black Swamp Snake, Black Rat Snake, Ring-necked Snake, Eastern Mud Snake, Black Pine Snake, Eastern Indigo Snake and the Southern Black Racer. The latter two — Eastern Indigo and Black Racer—are the species most often referred to as “black snakes”.

In addition to those listed above, individuals of several species of water snakes, the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake and the venomous Cottonmouth Moccasin may be black colored to a great extent, depending on the age of the individual and the habitat in which it is found. The following is a list of black-colored snakes found in the southeastern U.S., the habitats they occur in and some identifying features. The Eastern Indigo Snake and Southern Black Racer are given special consideration.

Thanks Doc. Good informative site. It shows my point about several species of what are commonly called black snakes. There are a lot of snakes around the area at my folks place. I am startled by them often. I have always been afraid of snakes since I was a kid. At the same time I have been fascinated by them. I have tried to learn about and understand them. There are several indigos around the place. They may scare the crap out of me occassionaly but I am happy to have them around. the big ones are truly impressive.

what kind of snake is this?

Brown.....and also dead around my house.

Mike,
It must have been a lot warmer last weekend at your folks place than here in the tropical part of PA.
Truly great photos.

Doc, add one more we have a black phase of the timber rattler which can be almost as dark as the black rats. But bell fish are easier to separate from the other black snakes.
Blfy

Black racers are much smaller and more aggressive than black rat snakes. Both are smaller than the indigo. The black racer is not a constrictor.

I don't automatically kill poisonous snakes on my ranch. If they're in the yard close to the house or close to where kids play, well, they've made a permanent bad decision, but, in general, snakes do a helluva lot more good than harm and I figure live and let live. The timber rattlers kind of keep you alert in early squirrel season. They hunt squirrels too.

quote:

Originally posted by ravenr:

what kind of snake is this?

One that's about to suffer some serious pain soon, were that my back yard and cat...

Good grief!

As an avowed cat disliker, I don't mind that snake a bit!

Speaking of cats (pun intended), I'm with Gatogordo on this - I just don't see any reason to kill any snake unless it's a poisonous one near the house. Otherwise they get a pass from me, often to the chagrin of my hunting companions, many of whom are shoot on sight fellas.

don't much care for cats, but I'd likely feel differently if that one was my daughter's what kind of snake is that and where was this pic taken?? cool photo...

Regards,
Craig Nolan

quote:

Originally posted by ravenr:

what kind of snake is this?

I good snake!

It looks like that cat is knocking the piss out of that snake with its neck, but I do have a question, what is the pen supposed to keep in or out?

I wonder if that lucky snake lateron succeeded in swallowing it's prey.

Any information on that heroic species?