Snake Identification

[JohnRich 4]

You guys are always so amazingly helpful with these kinds of things - I've got another one for you.

During my weekly walk in the woods, I was following a new stretch of creek I haven't been on before, and I kept running into these pretty little snakes - images attached below.

I haven't seen these before in the woods around me. Usually I see mostly water moccasins, and more rarely, several types of water snakes. And I had a really big moc on this hike. But that's not what this post is about.

But these guys were different, I haven't seen them before, and the orange color on their heads is kind of pretty. They don't seem to be poisonous, and weren't very aggressive. Like most snakes, they just wanted to run to get away. The big ones were only about a foot and half long.

The first one slithered into a hollow tree trunk to get away, and after posing for some nice photos, he disappeared into a hole in the ground. The 2nd I caught on open ground with no hidey-holes nearby, and this is probably the best photo. The third one was a tiny little fellow I found in the shallow water of the creek.

Location: Houston, Texas.

Does anybody know what they are?

[JohnRich 4]

While I'm at it, here's a couple of nice turtle photos. This is a "red-eared slider", I believe.

The first photo I caught him in the water with nowhere to hide, so he tried to slip behind some sticks thinking I wouldn't see him. The 2nd photo is after I dragged him kicking and screaming out of the water for a better photo, and after hiding in his shell for a few seconds, he emerged and ran for the water again.

[shropshire 0]

Is this the same?

http://www.texassnakes.net/BroadBanded.htm

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[turtlespeed 221]

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While I'm at it, here's a couple of nice turtle photos. This is a "red-eared slider", I believe.

The first photo I caught him in the water with nowhere to hide, so he tried to slip behind some sticks thinking I wouldn't see him. The 2nd photo is after I dragged him kicking and screaming out of the water for a better photo, and after hiding in his shell for a few seconds, he emerged and ran for the water again.

SEE - I told you Skymama was too rough!

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[JohnRich 4]

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Is this the same?
http://www.texassnakes.net/BroadBanded.htm

By gosh, that sure looks like it! Non-venomous. Okay, now that I know that, maybe I'll play with one a little more up-close next time I see one.

Thanks for the I.D.!

[JohnRich 4]

What else have I got for wildlife photos from this hike.

1) Heron
2) Apple snail
3) Deer tracks
4) Crawdad home
5) Freshwater clam

[shropshire 0]

You're welcome ... I used this site to find him ..... clicky... Found something similar then did a search for Texas Water snakes.. which sealed it by the looks of it.

All the best

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[JohnRich 4]

6) Unknown animal burro. Armadillo?
7) Remains of a cow?
8) Bird nests under a bridge. What kind?
9) The birds who live in those nests, swirl in the sky.
One of them is going to get talked to by the S&TA for violating the traffic pattern.
10) Some kind of critter is gnawing down small saplings. Can't be a beaver. What else does this?

[JohnRich 4]

11) The mystery track. Looks sort of like a bobcat, but I'm having trouble believing that a bobcat could live this close to civilization. Not canine, since there's no toenail marks. I placed a dime between the prints for scale. Got any ideas?

[Amazon 7]

Damn JR you should get yourself a good heavy duty burlap sack and one of these.

http://ace-cap.com/products/Grab_Em_Tongs-40-40.html

Then you can play with them later.

Might I suggest the 72" version

[piisfish 140]

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7) Remains of a cow?

which was eaten by your black and orange non venomous fucker

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[madhatter 0]

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You're welcome ... I used this site to find him ..... clicky... Found something similar then did a search for Texas Water snakes.. which sealed it by the looks of it.

All the best

If the site turns out to be wrong, can I have your camera?

Edit: Oops! I meant Johnrich's camera!

A VERY MERRY UNBIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
D.S # 125

[muff528 3]

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Is this the same?
http://www.texassnakes.net/BroadBanded.htm

By gosh, that sure looks like it! Non-venomous. Okay, now that I know that, maybe I'll play with one a little more up-close next time I see one.

Thanks for the I.D.!

Better look twice before you pick em up. Baby mocs look very much like that. Probably on purpose, evolution-wise. Not too bad if you mistake one for a moccasin but it would not be much fun to mistake a cottonmouth for a banded water snake. I'm still not sure about your 2nd pic. Colors and posture look like it could be a moc but higher res pics of the head could nail it down. Especially the dark band across the eye and the pupil. (|) = moc and (o) = water snake.

[JohnRich 4]

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I'm still not sure about your 2nd pic. Colors and posture look like it could be a moc but higher res pics of the head could nail it down. Especially the dark band across the eye and the pupil. (|) = moc and (o) = water snake.

Eyeball is definitely an "o" rather than a slit. Thanks for that tip!