Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I was backpacking and this snake struck at me from brush on the side of the trail. I was making sure my dog didnt go near it before I was worried about a photograph so all I got was the back end of it...It's head was wider than the rest of it's body which I am assuming means it is poisonous. It had no rattler or at least was not using it. And the marking don't resemble what I thought a copperhead was supposed to look like. Any ideas? Oh this was in southeast ohio.

From what I can see, it is a garter snake. There are no striped snakes in North America that are dangerously venomous. (Stripes run the length of the snake, bands run across.)

Garter snakes are often feisty, & will defend themselves from threats, real or perceived.

~~Greg~~

that is what I thought too, but my dad as well thought its head resembled that of a rattlesnake or a copperhead. I dunno wierd.

Garters and some other nonvenomous snakes will flatten their heads and bodies and spread out the corners of their jaws when threatened; this makes them look a little bigger and a lot more like a pitviper.

Here's a (nonvenomous) diamond-backed watersnake doing it:

Yeah, the age old advice that any snake with a triangular head or a head significantly bigger than its body in venomous, is almost entirely useless. Not only do many, if not most, non-venomous snakes do what the water snake above does, but anyone who is scared of snakes seems to have a very tough time judging such things.

If you want to be able to recognize venomous snakes, you should look up ad memorize the ones in your area. In Ohio, that should be easy. You only have 3 and two are quite rare.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Definately a Garter Snake...I think going by the size of the head can fool people...Almost all snakes have heads that are wider than the neck...it's really the shape of the head that matters somewhat...The best thing to do is just remember the venomous snakes that are in your area...There is only a few of them so it shouldnt be too hard.