Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, I wasn't there, I've moved to Texas recently, however, my father was working on his house in Florida today and found this little fellow up in the attic. He decided it was a Copperhead (sigh) and it is no longer living. My mother sent me the picture tonight and though it's not the best quality, I was looking at it and thought it could have been a juvie black racer? Let me know what you guys think. It make me sick that Dad killed it just like that, but I couldn't be there to prevent it. Besides its looks, I was thinking juvie black racer because of the fact it was found UP in an attic and I wasn't certain that Copperheads climb? There aren't any trees close to the house anymore (had a termite problem) so the little fellow had to be quite acrobatic to climb up there, in my opinion.

For a size comparison, he's inside one of those square cat litter buckets. My mother argued with me that the size of his head indicated that he was a Copperhead.
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Holly

1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Belle Gunness)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Vietnamese Golden Gecko (George Chapman)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Kids (Justice & Trevor)

That is too bad it was killed Holly, because that was a very harmless little Gray Ratsnake hatchling. The poor little guy was only up there for a good feed as is very evident from it's huge swollen belly.

BTW, copperheads are never found up in high places like that, but ratsnakes are some of the best climbers in the entire snake world.

Here is a young copperhead to show your parents.....

Note the very abstract "hour glass" banding that drapes across the entire body, and the light yellow caudal lure they use to attract their prey. It looks NOTHING like a Gray ratsnake.

BTW...don't be such a stranger to the forums..LOL!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks Doug! I had a feeling it was something like that. He had a hold of a lizard when Dad caught him. Like I said, it wouldn't have been killed if I had been there, but Dad swore that it tried to bite through his gloves and left teethmarks in the leather. *rolls eyes* He said it was *very* aggressive. I responded, "Well of course, he was JUST a hatchling!"

*sigh*

I love my parents, but sometimes...
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Holly

1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Belle Gunness)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Vietnamese Golden Gecko (George Chapman)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Kids (Justice & Trevor)

tell your dad that if it had been a copperhead the fangs would have went right through his gloves. Unless he is wearing welding gloves he should not feel comfortable letting what he thinks is a venomous snake bite him.

Nice little gray rat snake. From the looks of the meal in it's gullet they may have traded their "snake problem" for a mouse problem.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
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