Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I just came home, its raining like crazy outside I took my dogs out and there was this snake on my lawn. I am freakin out because this is new york I moved here from florida to get away from snakes. I don't know if this guy is poisonous or what type of snake it is. I scooped him up with a shovel and put him in a jar. I didn't want to just walk away from it without knowing what was in my backyard. It looks like a baby. Its sandy colord with black markings/spots. I took some pics on my cell camera and posted it on craigslist. I put the links below. Any help would be appreciated. http://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/pet/322695476.html

Image

Is there any way you can take some shots that are better quality with a "real" camera?.....making an ID from those poor quality phone pics is VERY difficult!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Well I 'm guessing it's a brown snake. Depending on size it could be an adult.
Either that or an e. garter snake. I those cases it would be a non-venomous and otherwise harmless snake.
Better pics would certainly help.
As would more detailed locale info.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

They will vary quite a bit and some show much more of the checkered look between the scales when they are agitated....

:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

You moved from Florida to New York to get away from snakes! Man, that's...sad! But good job on jarring the animal you're fearful of. The picture isn't showing up but if you're in New York then the odds of the snake being venamous are very, very low. If it doesn't have a rattle and isn't a copperhead (copperheads are VERY obvious) then its not dangerous. Once again, good job not killing it.

I can't actually see the pics but based on the vague description and the fact that you found it in the rain I'm going to agree with a coupld other people here and say it's probably a Dekay's Brownsnake. Perfectly harmless, they don't even bite.

It's the only snake I ever find in the open when it's raning -- even at night! They feed primarily on small snails and slugs which also come out an play in the rain so it kind of makes sense...

You said it looks like a baby and brownsnakes are a pretty small species. Compared to some of the stuff you probably saw in Florida these guys could verywell be "baby" size