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I found this little guy tonight while walking in the woods please help me with what he is. His head to me makes me thing Venomous but not sure. It was with a little ringneck also pictured. Here are 2 pics. The second is alittle blurry as it kinda got up as if to strike and then took off.

http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4152y.jpg

Here is it by itself. Not the best pic as it was trying to take off by then. Please help I would love to know what it was.

http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4154j.jpg

>>Here is it by itself. Not the best pic as it was trying to take off by then. Please help I would love to know what it was.
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>>http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4154j.jpg

Actually, looking at the second pic, it might be a Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata). Hard for me to tell from your photo.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I wish I could of got a better pic of it. It does look likr the Red-bellied snake but the head was more triangled shaped that is was has me confused the most.

I'm going to say it's a Northern Redbelly snake. If you look at the link below, with a page of pictures on the Kentucky Herpetological Society taken by Phil Peak, you'll see the first two pics are redbelly snakes. The first pic is a typical of the species, and the second pic is of a different color phase. That second pic looks very close to yours.
Link

in both pictures.

>>I found this little guy tonight while walking in the woods please help me with what he is. His head to me makes me thing Venomous but not sure. It was with a little ringneck also pictured. Here are 2 pics. The second is alittle blurry as it kinda got up as if to strike and then took off.
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>>http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4152y.jpg

Northern Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi).
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I thought that also but the head is totally different and the markings also different.

Most snakes (even harmless ones like Storeria) will flatten their heads and bodies when they feel threatened so they will appear more intimidating. This often confuses people who have been taught to look for the "triangular head" when trying to determine if a snake is venomous or not. Your best bet is just to get a good field guide to help you identify snakes in your area.

Here's a shot of a garter doing the same thing: [link]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3492665348_b1a81e939d.jpg[/link]

Hope that helps.
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

found in NW PA as well, this is a n. brown snake.

I can't find my red bellied snake pix.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Any venomous snake you would find in that area would be considerably heavier in proportion to its length than that one.

A neonate Crotalus would be considerably thicker than Storeria of any length. The same is true for the copperhead.

~~Greg~~

Jesse, definately a red-bellied snake. Although, it is uncommon behavior, they will rarely rear and make half-hearted strikes. A northern brownsnake, (dekayi), would have two rows of spots along the dorsal surface, and at least a remnant of a 'collar' on the neck. When all else fails, flip these guys over! Hope this helps.
Peace, Love, and Herps,
Mike Collalto

Definately redbelly. Here are a few I saw yesterday in MA.
They are very variable, and completely harmless.

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Joe

Great shots Joe! These are so common in proper habitat in W N.Y., but I never tire of flipping shale rock and seeing sometimes 5 at once.
Peace, Love, and Herps,
Mike C

Yeah I guess in the heat of the moment it's head looked to be more of a diamond shape but after looking at all the pics. I know what it was now. Thanks again.