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Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by Ravyn on April 12, 2006
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I was out in my yard (I live in North Carolina) and I saw a snake it was very small about 6inches and it was slender it was tan and it had 2 sets of diamonds going down its back. Please help me identify this snake! Also what is a good cheap way to ward off snakes? Thanks.
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by Cro on April 12, 2006
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Kim: Most likely the snake you saw was a harmless Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi. Take a look at this link and see if the photos match the snake you saw.
http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/N_Brown_Snake/index.htm&2
The main way to keep snakes away it to not let debris build up in your yard, like logs, trash, and brush. There are commercial products that have a strong smell that are said to repel snakes. The active ingredient in them is Nampha, as in moth balls. So you could try spreading some moth ball powder around the areas you want to keep snakes away from.
Hope this helps. JohnZ
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by LarryDFishel on April 12, 2006
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Yes, sounds like a Brown Snake. About as harmless as they come.
I know this isn't the sort of advice you were looking for, but as long as you're here and sounding like a reasonable person...another option besides driving them away would be to realize that MOST snakes do you far more good than harm by being in your yard. That brown snake eats the slugs thay munch on your garden. Larger snakes eat the mice and rats that will otherwise end up in your house, chewing on your phone cords and leaving surprises in your cereal...
The good news is that making the yard inhospitable will keep most of the other unwanted critters down also. Get rid of any debris, weed and keep the grass short. Get rid of or seal up any other hiding places you can think of and you'll have fewer snakes as well fewer of the truely dangerous things like rats, raccoons and stray cats...
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by Ravyn on April 13, 2006
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Yes that looks kind of like it but the diamonds were bigger in comparison with its body size. Thanks for the help.
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by Ravyn on April 13, 2006
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Well harmless or not I have a 2 year old and can afford to take no chances. My mother inlaw told me it sounded like a copperhead. So I got on the internet to start researching it and did not see any copperheads that looked like it. I have 4 cats and 2 kittens to take care of rats and mice. But if they eat slugs that is great cause slugs are klind of nasty. Can you assure me from my discription that there is no way it is a venomous snake. If so I will not try to kill it I will just try to ward them off farther from the house. Thanks for the advice.
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by Phobos on April 13, 2006
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Do you know more people are bitten by snakes when either trying to move or killing them. Just leave them alone and all will be well.
Al
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by bush_viper17 on April 13, 2006
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Yeah, just let them be and you and your family will be alright. My brothers and I live in an area were copperheads are almost a daily part of life and we have never accidently stepped on one or anything like that. Just learn what places they will stay and try to avoid those areas(rocky areas,abandoned barns etc.)
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by LarryDFishel on April 13, 2006
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In many parts of the country, you could say a snake was purple with green polka dots and someone would tell you it sounded like a copperhead. :)
The size of the diamonds on a brownsnake vary quite a bit depending on the area.
While your description sounds like a very accurate picture of a brown snake and doesn't match any of the venomous snakes in your area, experience has taught me that descriptions of snakes (especially from people who are afraid of them) can somethimes be so far off that it would be irresponsible of me to guarantee you it's not venomous.
The best thing would be if you have access to a digital camera to take a picture if you see it again and post it here (or email it to me).
My other advice would be to go here and learn to recognize the small handfull of snakes in NC that are actually dangerous:
http://www.naturalsciences.org/research/herpetology/Venomous_Snakes_of_NC.pdf
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RE: Please I need help identifying a snake?
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by LarryDFishel on April 13, 2006
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Oh yeah, and consider keeping your cats inside. They're killing far more than just mice and rats...
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