One of the things that I DO NOT like is a snake - dead or alive but more-so, alive.

With that as background, I got a nasty surprise when I opened the hood on a stored car last night around dusk. Yes; the hood slammed and I jumped.

http://members.***.net/jfriesen1/DSCF0860.JPG

Can anyone tell me what it is (aside from something that I'd rather not meet)?

 

should of shot it that EDIT is big ida blown the car up

 

If I'm not mistaken it isn't poisonous. I think black and orange means safe.

 

Thanks. I'll let YOU pick it up until we're sure.

 

shoot it

 

It looks like it could be a black rat snake. If it is it's non venemous.

See here.

 

I'm with you willy91 shoot first & ask questions later. I think edwinsmith got it right, black rat snake. Snakes just have such a lowly corrispondence I'd just asume leave them.

 

You should have moved him away from the vehicle and let him go his way, Snakes like that keep you from having rodent problems. I don't love snakes by any means but I only kill the poisonous ones.

My wife on the other hand will take a garden hoe to a small garter snake and then ask me to identify the species......so far "hamburger" is the closest I have come to identifying one after she got done with it

 

Remember, "red touch Black is a friend of Jack"

Don't kill him.

 

I think edwinsmith is right. Of all the sites I checked on that's the closest pic I could find also.

I don't blame you though, I'd rather not get close enough to one to find out what it is.

 

that snake will, for the most part, leave you alone....SPIDERS however, will crawl under the sheets and nibble on your toe while you sleep....Ill take a snake over a spider any day....

 

Famous last words.

I believe that's your common black and orange snake....aka the Halloween snake. They are completely harmless except on Halloween when they grow large fangs and develop deadly venom sacks.

Ditto on the spider thing. I'd take a snake over a spider any day of the week...even a poisonous one.

 

Man! I hate spiders!

 

I'll pick up any snake,
you just need to know how to pick them up, poisonous or not, pick them up the same way.

I'll tell you though, nothing's worse than driving down the road,
minding your own business, when one of them light tan, slightly see-through,
straw like spiders zips down on a web from the drivers side visor.

Twice in the last month, I've almost taken out 4 lanes of traffic getting over to the emergency lane,
jumping out of the truck screaming, before it even rolls to a stop.
(ok, maybe exaggerating a wee bit)

Same spiders seem to congregate around the front door of my house,
wonderful thing hairspray and a lighter.

Can't remember what they are called, I know they are pretty much harmless, but they still give me the heebeejeebies.

phox

 

From the pic and your location, I would say it is a black rat or a corn snake. They are non poisonous and are really quite harmless unless you are a small furry rodent. He was just looking for some heat and a little peace and quiet. I catch about a half dozen a year and turn them loose under the house. Best mouse trap ever built. I grabbed one wrong one day about six feet long. He bit my finger to let me know he was quite unhappy. Broke off about a dozen of those little razor sharp teeth in my finger and bled a little, that was about it. They really do quite a service for us so just chase him away and he will leave you alone.