Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2003 23:13:07 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Rich Dolesh Subject: Re: snake id help? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Three quick and easy tests to determine if any snake you pick up is, or is not, a copperhead: 1) slit eyes--copperheads are pit vipers and have narrow, flat eyes. All other copperhead wannabees have round eyes 2) blunt tail--copperheads have a blunt tail. Others, like the beautiful and beneficial corn snake, have a long tail 3) triangular head--very distinctive; you can't miss it. You can pick up all of these field marks in a less than a few seconds. Hold that hoe! You don't have to beat any snake to death; even copperheads have a place and a purpose. Do take care if you really do find a copperhead, however, especially small ones, there may be more around. Snakes, like bats, are our friends. Really. Rich Dolesh Aquasco, Md. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Hanfman" To: Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 12:55 PM Subject: [MDOSPREY] snake id help? > I caught a snake in my basement and have had some trouble identifying the snake. I will release it unharmed away from my house. > > It is a patterned snake with dark brown blotches down its back and on its sides that give a general appearance of being stripped across its back. The color between the dark brown blotches is beige to light yellow. It has a dark band from its eye to about 1/2 inch back. The snake is about 12 inches long. It is quite aggressive. > I wondered if it could be an Eastern Fox Snake. The dark line behind the eye and the dark blotches on the side make me think it is not a Copperhead. > I have taken a digital picture of it and could email it to anyone who would be interested and who could help with the id. > > Thanks, > Joe Hanfman > Columbia, MD > auk1844@comcast.net > > > ======================================================================= > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= > ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================