Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This afternoon I brought a laundry bag (from the laundry room) into the living room. My little girl who just turned 14 months thought she was helping and picked up one of her shirts from the bag. Imagine my horror when I saw a snake hanging from the shirt. She then took off and I went after her. She then dropped the snake and the shirt. She then dropped to the floor to protest (she was only a couple of inches from the snake!) so I grabbed her leg and yanked her away quickly. I can't imagine how this snake got in the house (any suggestions?) as we never leave the door open. We live in a very wooded area in Montgomery County in Texas. We would really like to know what this snake is and would truly appreciate any input anyone may have.

It's an absolutely HARMLESS young Diamonbacked Water Snake(Neroidia r. rhombifer) not to be confused with a Diamondback Rattlesnake!

No harm would have came from it whatsoever, and I hope it wasn't killed in the process. Now that it's starting to warm up in a good portion of the country, snakes are starting to be a little more active. Obviously it got in through a small opening somewhere in the house, or door, etc...

In all actuality, it only "looked" like it was chasing after the child, it was actually trying to run as fast as it could for the nearest cover.

Again, a young totally harmless water snake!

best regards, ~Doug

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

hate those typo's!

Here's a pic of another one for you.

~Doug

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

As Doug said, just a young Diamondbacked Watersnake. Nothing to worry about. They are pretty common in your area (I used to live in College Station).

I can't imagine how it got in your laundry though. Good thing no one was traumatized too badly.

A few years back I started to put together a website of snakes that live in your area (well as far east as Grimes county anyway). It has photos of all the snakes known from Montgomery county as well. I posted the link below in case you want to peruse the photos.
Snakes of the Brazos Valley

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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Most people who encounter snakes & are not familiar with them understandably freak out. What they do not take into account is that the vast majority of snakes in this country are harmless, hence most encounters are with harmless snakes.

~~Greg~~

harmless diamondbacked water snake
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Todd Hughes

Yeah I agree with diamond back WATER snake as well. Very common water snake.

However, while they are "harmless", when molested they will take a nasty crap all over the place. Its almost as bad as a skunk spraying.