Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was out in my back yard this morning and this great looking black racer was on top of my old lawn mower. I caught and measured it. It was 1 ft,7 in. Also it had a nasty attitude. I released back. When I looked again a few minutes later, it was on the handles of the mower. My friend's mother was visting at the same time, she said I sould have cut its head off. I said to her "I Like having snakes back there." She said I was crazy. I said "I know, huh?"
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Murphy's Laws:
"Nothing is as easy as it looks."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

Where are the pics of it!?!

I don't have a digital camera. I sure wish I did though.

Thanks for reading.
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Murphy's Laws:
"Nothing is as easy as it looks."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

Aren't we so lucky in S. Florida that so many people who have moved here are so ready to protect us from our dangerous snakes!

I may barf.........

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

What does that mean? I have been living in so. fla. since I was born. Also, I have not seen a wild snake here since 1999 (a copper head). So, I just thought it was note worthy, but not so I see.

P.S.: It shaked it tail when I released it making a rattleing sound in the dry grass, Quite like a rattle snake. Is this typical? Thank you.
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Murphy's Laws:
"Nothing is as easy as it looks."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

Just ignore the caustic posts when they occur.
1) yes; many snakes (especially racers and the related whip snakes) nervously vibrate their tail. When in dry grasses or leaves it typically causes a whirring sound.

Copperheads occur only along the northern edges of 3 or 4 of our panhandle counties. What you saw in s-FL is a neonate or immature cottonmouth.
Rgds/Dick

It was a copperhead. I recognize Those wide banded markings any where. But it was a neonate. Most likely lost and "out of place."
Thanks for reading.
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Murphy's Laws:
"Nothing is as easy as it looks."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

I thought my statement was obvious. I was refering to the idiot woman that said to kill it.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Sorry.
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Murphy's Laws:
"Nothing is as easy as it looks."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

I have lived and hunted snakes in S.Fla for over thirty years. As Dick said, Copperheads do not occur in S. Florida. I agree that you probably saw a young Moccassin.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I know what I found. It was most likey lost or got here some way. Cheers.
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Murphy's Laws:
"Nothing is as easy as it looks."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."