What size was the snake?? The only thing that readily comes to mind that would hiss, is the eastern hognose. They are pretty variable in their coloration throughout their range. They can vary from tan background to the totally black melanistic phase.
The hognose readily hisses and bluff strikes when agitated, and will also play dead by rolling over on its back, opening its mouth and sticking out its tongue.

Do a search on the net for the Eastern hognose and look at some photos. Hope this helps
Brian


>>OK, the snake was a black or very dark brown, white belly, with circular (maybe ovalish) markings on its back. It was about three feet long and coiled up and hissed at me when I almost stepped on it.
>>
>>Found: My laundry room
>>Where: Charles County, Indian Head, MD
>>
>>I've tried various local resources and nothing seems to match the description of what I found in my laundry room. I found a listing for a black rat snake, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't one of those.
>>
>>Thanks for any help.
-----



RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath"(KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Great plains rat snake "Reign Fire" (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)

RACERS
1.0 Eastern Yellow Belly racer "Nightcrawler" (MO locale)

KINGS
1.1 California king snake "Bandit" & "Moonstar" (Coastal phase)
1.1 Prairie king snakes "Bishop" & "Askani" (KY locale)
0.1 Black king snake "Domino" (KY locale)
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "Psylocke"
0.1 Florida Kingsnake "Shard"
0.1 Speckled Kingsnake "Haven" (MO locale)
2.0 Eastern kings

MILKS
2.0 Eastern/red Milk intergrade "Cable" and "Omega Red" (KY locale)

BULLS/GOPHERS/PINES
0.1 Sonoran Gopher "Husk"
1.0 Kankakee bull (Phil Peak stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

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• ID Snake - victory1500, Fri May 5 16:27:05 2006
• RE: ID Snake - Hotshot, Fri May 5 18:17:57 2006
• RE: ID Snake - victory1500, Fri May 5 19:14:56 2006
• RE: ID Snake - stevep, Sat May 6 04:16:54 2006
• RE: Northern pinesnake ?.... - jodscovry, Sat May 6 19:16:33 2006
• RE: Northern pinesnake ?.... - victory1500, Sat May 6 20:10:30 2006