Reptile & Amphibian Forums

See photo links below.

I could use a bit of help here, and you guys look something like the authority. I found this snake about 1.5 hours ago crawling out of my bathroom around the door jamb.

I live in the foothills outside of Denver at about 6700'.
My house was built in 1925, and is subfloor on dirt, so it is easy for him to get in.

The snake is about 15" long and 3/8" in diameter. He looks pretty close to a lot of your snake types, but not quite the same as any of them. I did not read anything abouo them being in Colorado. Notice that his stripes do not go all the way around in some places they are spots (kinda like one of those spotted cows).

Anyway, I don't know what I have or what to do with it yet. I think identification would be the first step in case he is poisonous. I'm sure that sounds silly, but growing up playing with gardener and bull snakes, and seeing something this colorful in contrast has me nervous.

Also, if anyone can identify this guy, how many brothers and sisters should I expect to be around?

My intensions at this point are to gather a little information, then let him go (maybe by my neighbors house .

I do need to identify him so I understand my environment. So if I end up having to hold him for a couple days, does he need to eat? And should he be in the dark? Water, etc?

Thanks for any help.

Chris

I sure wish I had milk snakes crawling around my house here in new york. Wait....I do have a milk snake somewhere around here.
Thats a cool milk snake.

-----
..Doug
~ aka dougsnake

NON venomous!

You may want to post on the Milksnake forum to be sure.

-Rusty

http://www.kingsnake.com/king/triangulum/gentilis.html

Thanks to all for the input. I am reposting in the Milksnake forum to verify.. and I need to go get some mice.

Chris

>>See photo links below.
>>
>>I could use a bit of help here, and you guys look something like the authority. I found this snake about 1.5 hours ago crawling out of my bathroom around the door jamb.
>>
>>I live in the foothills outside of Denver at about 6700'.
>>My house was built in 1925, and is subfloor on dirt, so it is easy for him to get in.
>>
>>The snake is about 15" long and 3/8" in diameter. He looks pretty close to a lot of your snake types, but not quite the same as any of them. I did not read anything abouo them being in Colorado. Notice that his stripes do not go all the way around in some places they are spots (kinda like one of those spotted cows).
>>
>>Anyway, I don't know what I have or what to do with it yet. I think identification would be the first step in case he is poisonous. I'm sure that sounds silly, but growing up playing with gardener and bull snakes, and seeing something this colorful in contrast has me nervous.
>>
>>Also, if anyone can identify this guy, how many brothers and sisters should I expect to be around?
>>
>>My intensions at this point are to gather a little information, then let him go (maybe by my neighbors house .
>>
>>I do need to identify him so I understand my environment. So if I end up having to hold him for a couple days, does he need to eat? And should he be in the dark? Water, etc?
>>
>>Thanks for any help.
>>
>>Chris

There is no venomous coral snake in the state of Colorado; coral snakes are the only venomous snakes that may be confused with what you have. Coral snakes have red color in contact with white or yellow rings, but the harmless milk and mountain king snakes have red color in contact with the black rings. Quite often these snakes are killed by ignorant people who cannot tell a king or milk snake from a coral snake.

http://www.fieldherpforum.com/

consider posting those photos and locality info. on the above (see link)site. The field herpers will love the challenge and probably tell you more than you would ever want to know about that milk snake. It is a beauty, I am so glad you sought out information and did not just kill it. It probably has "cousins" around, but they are secretive and only occassionally seen. It will eat nestling mice and rodents and lizards and maybe that is why it entered your basement area. If you still have it, be sure to not overheat it, and Yes, it would benefit from a shallow water bowl. Give it a place to hide, piece of bark or small card board box or plastic pipe, they are very shy and secretive. Turn it loose soon, so it does not lose weight, and the closer to where you found it the better. Thanks for inquiring. Vic H.