Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My brother found this snake at the pool that he works at today. It was in the pool and when he removed it, it struck and bit him. Now we are in a rush trying to ID it.
Pics of the Snake

I forgot to mention that the pool where it was found is in the Charlotte, NC area.

Without doubt a harmless water snake (Nerodia). Most likely a Northern Watersnake.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Thanks....he had me a bit worried.

That's a juvenile Watersnake. Harmless although nippy.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I agree. The only dangerous water snake in North America is the cottonmouth. Had the snake been that, the bite would have been excruciatingly painful, & in time, there would have been swelling & discoloration beginning at the site of the bite, & progressing up the limb. The bite of a non-venomous snakes causes only the pain one might expect from tiny punctures, and no serious swelling or edema. The attached website covers all the dangerous snakes in your area.
Venomous Snakes of Florida

...tell him to be more careful when removing unidentified snakes. Pick up an Audubon Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America and learn to identify the venomous snakes in your area.

If bitten by a non-venomous snake, use anti-bacterial soap and warm water on the bite. Then dry it and show off the bite to your friends.

A venomous snake bite will have 2 fang marks and will hurt like all hell as the venom attacks the living tissue.

A non-venomous bite will look like scratches and will itch.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
1.0.0 Ghost Sonoran Gohper
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets
0.1.0 Girlfriend, WC, Adventure Chick Phase

"A non-venomous bite will look like scratches and will itch."

right on the button advice!

It's funny how itchy they can be sometimes..LOL!

~Doug


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

nice pic, Doug.
But when they say "feed him pinkies", they're not talking about fingers.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
1.0.0 Ghost Sonoran Gohper
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets
0.1.0 Girlfriend, WC, Adventure Chick Phase

Geeeesh!, so THAT'S what the guy meant!

NOW I understand!..hahaha!!

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

Wow, I hope the mouse is alright... It's great to see that people are still willing to get out there and save mice from certain death at the hands, well mouth, of a snake. Thanks for taking one for the team!

I think Doug's mouse is fine. It looks that way at least. Close call though.

Mine weren't so lucky. My girlfriend found them in the kitchen the other day. They were in a styrofoam cup of hot water.

Tasha: Oh my God. Your mice are drowning!
Troll: What?
Tasha: They're not moving. I think they're all dead.
Troll: Oh no!
Tasha: Yeah, they're all dead.
Troll: I guess we'll have to feed them to the snakes.
Tasha: Poor mice.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
1.0.0 Ghost Sonoran Gohper
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets
0.1.0 Girlfriend, WC, Adventure Chick Phase

I'm afraid the young rat in that pic has LONG since expired. The pic was taken several years ago, and the rat was "pre-whacked" by yours truly just before things went south there..LOL!

After finally getting the snake un-attached from my finger, it then consumed said "lucky mouse" in very short order.

But it did appear that BOTH had gotten their revenge that fateful day..LOL!

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

"What are those mice doing in the cup of water" "The backstroke."

Tasha's not a blonde by any chance? ~~Greg~~