What Kind of Snake is This?

It could be a water snake, which isn't poisonous. It would be helpful to know where you are located.

That looks like a copperhead snake & they are dangerous venomous.

I do not feel this is a venomous snake but I'm not sure anyone has correctly identified your snake.

• Garter snake? Probably not as garter snakes have long stripes down their body and your snake has bands around the body.
• Gopher snake? Probably not as the markings on a gopher snake are very "busy" (lots of markings).
• Rat snake? Possibly but I could not find a similar rat snake photo.
• Since snakes change within hours after death it is possible this is not the best photo to review but from the photo, it looks similar to the CA king snake. King snakes are found all over CA and they are harmless and nonvenomous. There are many colors/types of CA king snake but they are banded.

Here are some photos of black king snakes - please wait a few moments for an individual photo to appear. www.google.com/search?q=black+snakes+of+Escondido...:

www.google.com/search?q=Escondido,+California+banded...:

If you still feel you would like more information you can contact your local county extension office and they should be able to help you. Here is a link to help you find your county office.

Snakes enter an attic for warmth and food. Your friend probably has mice or rats in the attic. He may not see them because the snake is doing a good job of eating them.

Try your state extension office, you may be able to email the picture to the agricultural agent for identification:

www.uaex.edu/.../county_offices.htm

The banding on that snake is very interesting. I was taught the way to identify a poisonous snake was two-fold: triangular head and colours:

"Red touches yellow- kill the fellow! Red touches black - happy Jack"

Meaning if the red banding bordered yellow banding the snake was poisonous and the advice was to kill him before he bit and killed you.

(Not saying I agree with this, btw, because snakes are beneficial-they eat rodents before the rodents can eat your electrical wiring or other important things; if at all possible it's best to let snakes live since they are helping keep your property pest population down)

If the red banding touched the black banding, Jack (you or whomever was deciding if the snake is dangerous) could be happy and let the snake go on it's way.

But that is one unusual looking and coloured snake! It even looks as though it has a rattle at the end, but it sure doesn't look like any of the rattlers I grew up seeing in the American desert southwest.

I'd check with the agricultural agent to be sure, and to get some good free advice on figuring out what attracted that snake to your property.

Deleted for duplication. Sigh:)

I think it resembles the worm snake. I used to play with them all the time when I was a child.

Here is a video link that will work to show you what a worm snake looks like:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyLd4kTye1g

Blessings,
Robyn

The "snake" in the photo is actually a lizard. It is a Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus sp.).

It may be a eastern king snake, non-poisonous.

Frank

I do remember he is a good guy. Goes after rattlers. Was it a king? Don't quote me. Main thing, do not hurt him.

www.blurtit.com/q865770.html This should help you out. He is harmless and just likes to be left alone. King Snake..great to have around if you don't want rattlers, same with Bull Snakes.

Kingsnake or Garter/Ribbon Snake, depending on whether the stripes run across the body(king) or down the body(garter).

Water Moccasin?

it's hard to say, looks like a ground rattler maybe. Careful though it appears to have a diamond shaped head which is a good indicator of poison

It helps to identify the region where the snake was found. The photo was too low resolution to make a positive i.d., but I think one of these may be your snake --- good news, if so, because they are both non-poisonous. My bet is on the "rat snake" Your snake clearly lacks rattles, so is not a rattler.

www.kentuckysnakes.org/snake_details.cfm?snake_number=36...
www.kentuckysnakes.org/snake_details.cfm?snake_number=33...

This looks like a Water Moccasin or Cottonmouth, but it is actually a non-venomous species known as the Diamondback Water snake. They have evolved to resemble poisonous snakes so other, bigger predators will leave them alone. However, they are still very nasty, and when provoked, will take a hunk of flesh.

Notice how he arches his neck when provoked, and how the head itself is "diamond" shaped, closely resembling that of a viper. This is a much calmer Ribbon Snake. This one has green stripes, but they come in many different colors.
Debbie
Columbia, SC

From the picture, I can not make a definate determination. Here are a couple of links to snake pictures. Since you or your father-in-law saw it close enough to take the picture, you would be the only ones that could definately determine.

www.snakesandfrogs.com/.../scsnake.htm

www.uga.edu/.../index.htm

I keep the second one handy as we live in the NE GA area and are surrounded by water and forest.

I hope this helps you. Sorry I couldn't help more.

Looks like the very rare but much feared rattleheaded copper moccasin to me.

I agree with the post about the head shape. I was always taught that the diamond shaped head of a snake means that it is poisonous. How worrisome!

It is a type of rat snake. Google images Texas rat snake and you will probably see it.
Lar