OT- ID This Serpant

[goose70]

I took the kids on a hike today at Calvert Cliffs and we saw plenty of these...
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...Northern Water Snakes...most in piles, mating (yuck).

We also saw one larger, thicker snake away from the orgy that looked different than the Northerns. Here it is:
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Is it a Brown? It looked to be about 5ft long and was very ill tempered when any Northern got close to it.

Thanks.

[blue lou]

At first I thought Eastern Rat Snke, but I'm thinking more Eastern Water Snake. Got fairly good after more than a few close encounters while shore fishing in Md, NJ and NoVa in the Spring.

[ashtonmj]

Looks like another northern water snake to me. Common brown snakes rarely get more than 12" long. No eastern rat snake in MD, only black rat snake. Maryland's Wildlife Species - All About Snakes in Maryland - Natural Heritage Program - Wildlife and Heritage Service (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/snakeinfo.asp) See link for list of species found in the state.

[joemassi]

Looks like a northern water snake. Very aggressive if provoked. Not poisonous. They like to hang out in the rip rap. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. I ran across one today and all last week in Lake Mercer, NJ. As long as we left the snake alone, we did not have any problems. When some kid started to poke it with a stick, we had to pull him out of the way quickly.

[joe117]

A couple of years ago I was in that very same place doing the walk down to the beach and back.

My 11 year old nephew and I both saw a copperhead as we stepped right over it.

After we jumped about 10 feet:)) we took a closer look. It was a copperhead all right and the reason it didn't bite was that it had a half swallowed mole in its mouth.

I agree that the snake in your pictures is a watersnake.

I hate snakes….all of them.:))

[swartj]

I hate snakes….all of them.:))
I am with you. It is irrational but I don't like them.

[capt.george]

--Goose , Finally Got ya --Need spell check Brandon"""

[27 sailfish]

Ain't yucky if you are a snake :D.

That is cool to see - great pictures.

[goose70]

--Goose , Finally Got ya --Need spell check Brandon"""

:D

[goose70]

I was thinking Brown Water Snake, but I agree that it does look like some of the other Northerns, especially after I continued to look through my pics and found this:
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You'll notice that about a quarter of the sticks in the beaver dam aren't actually sticks.:eek:


Joe, funny you mentioned Copperheads. They had a venomous snake warning for the park and two guys with expensive camera equipment who lead us to the water snakes said that they had just photographed a good size Copperhead down the trail.

We also saw plenty of these guys:
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This was a baby, but some looked to be about a foot. Impressive lizard.

[HVF21221]

Broadhead skink, looks like a male do to the coloration on the cheeks.
And yes common water snake in MD. Very aggressive but not venomous.....but, their saliva has an anti-coagulant (sp.) in it. Since their primary food is fish it helps them be successful hunting since fish clot fast. If bitten and it breaks the skin you may notice you bleed a bit more.

[stingray]

I remember seeing a bunch of them living in the rip rap at PLO yrs ago. Thanks, now I know what they were.

[cgaviator]

King Cobra Python Rattler! Thats what every snake is as far as Im concenrend!

[fishingfrank]

Thanks for the info about where these snakes are located. I'll add it to my "where NOT to go list" I agree with Joe 117- I hate all snakes

[hackeyfly]

Thanks for the info about where these snakes are located. I'll add it to my "where NOT to go list" I agree with Joe 117- I hate all snakes
For a nominal fee, I will conduct desensitization training for anyone who wants to overcome the irrational fear of snakes. I've got plenty to share. And if that don't work, we'll just lock you in a small box for a few hours with several large and small snakes. You won't be harmed physically, so ya can't call it torture:clapping2:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/fanmini/6-01-08007-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/fanmini/5-23-09021.jpg
Pat in Joppa

[JoshKaptur]

Pat :thumbup:

I happen to think they're fascinating too... had a few over the years, but found that having a snake does not help in getting womenz to pay attention to THE snake.

I'll always chase one down when I stumble upon them.

[ratherfish]

natrix sipidon (sp?) Banded water snake.

[Harlan seller]

I would have volunteered Alice to join someone in the box if she was still alive but she died of cancer about 4 yrs ago . Had her for 11 years.
She was around 16' ft long and 140 lbs when she died.
Here's a pic from about 6 yrs ago of her and me.

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/merlin593/alice2.jpg?t=1243884735

The snake that was in the post was just another color variant of the northern water snake.

If you don't like them, just leave them alone. They won't harm you if you do that.

Remember we're supposed to be the smarter creature - prove it! ;-)

Best,
Jim

[moondoondude]

Went fishing for pickerel and fallfish on the Patuxent two days ago after I had a couple buddies bail on me to head to the Bay. Brought the lady friend along and my dog. Had my dog (black lab) sit on the bank and watch us fish so he wouldn't scare the fish away. A black snake fell down in the water in between me and the lady, when we were both wading in the water. She took off and fell in, screaming and crying. Ike (the dog) seized the opportunity and launched from the bank after the snake. He got bit on the nose and the thing wouldn't let go. He was bleeding like crazy. Thank God I was wading in the river because I pissed my pants at the whole experience. Obviously, the lady insisted that we leave immediately.

[hackeyfly]

Here's another quick vid I shot of a northern I had to move from a job site. Sad, but it seems that most folks that are afraid of snakes had that fear beat into them by family when they were growing up, generally a dad that immediately killed any snake encountered. Caution is innate, fear is learned.
YouTube - Northern Water snake (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG3LfSh2T54)
Pat in Joppa

[night nurse]

10 years ago the wife and I stopped on Poppler Island for the night after sailing all day. We built a samll campfire and were talking in the dark when I look down in my lap and see a snake coiling up on my crotch. I quickly pick him and pitch him in the brush. I jump up and tell the wife we should spend the night "in " the boat just incase it gets cold. only the next day do I tell her the truth about the snake, she thanked me for NOT saying anything that night.

TED

[goose70]

I took the kids back to Calvert Cliffs State Park yesterday, and this time my wife joined us. The Northen Water Snakes were still there in force, but this time we saw a Copperhead, too! It was crossing the trail. For all the negative things I’ve heard about them, it was an absolutely beautiful snake with a very defined bright orange and copper pattern.

Then I noticed a big problem. The snake’s head was so smashed that we could not make out any features. His jaw...or what was left of it...hung limp. How it was still alive and moving we don't know. We all felt sick to our stomach. Of course, maybe an animal did this, but the snake had no other scars and it looked, unfortunately, all too much like the work of a blunt instrument in the hands of a human. Other hikers who came upon it had the same sickening reaction as us. It bothered one guy so much that he decided to hike a half-mile back to find it and put it out of its misery. That was a bad way to conclude our hike. I'm as cautious about snakes (especially venomous ones) as the next guy, but there simply is no excuse for such wanton killing.

[petekilch]

I took the kids back to Calvert Cliffs State Park yesterday, and this time my wife joined us. The Northen Water Snakes were still there in force, but this time we saw a Copperhead, too! It was crossing the trail. For all the negative things I’ve heard about them, it was an absolutely beautiful snake with a very defined bright orange and copper pattern.

Then I noticed a big problem. The snake’s head was so smashed that we could not make out any features. His jaw...or what was left of it...hung limp. How it was still alive and moving we don't know. We all felt sick to our stomach. Of course, maybe an animal did this, but the snake had no other scars and it looked, unfortunately, all too much like the work of a blunt instrument in the hands of a human. Other hikers who came upon it had the same sickening reaction as us. It bothered one guy so much that he decided to hike a half-mile back to find it and put it out of its misery. That was a bad way to conclude our hike. I'm as cautious about snakes (especially venomous ones) as the next guy, but there simply is no excuse for such wanton killing.

I totally agree ! Nice to know there are others out there that respect them......

Pete