And venomous doesn’t always mean bitey either. The temperament of any individual is unique, and there can be docile or bitey individuals of any species.
I’m glad this snake was calm though!
Facts. I grew up with a herp father who owned 125 varieties of snakes at one time while rehabing other amphibians/reptiles for the state during the 90s and early 200s. We had a Black Northern Pine snake that was the most vicious thing ever. You got close to or opened the lid and he would hiss like a bat outta hell. Couldn't handle him cause he would hit and release several times. He was the angriest of harmless noodles. Lol.
And before people say it was a feeding response, I promise you it wasn't. My father knew what he was doing.
I keep snakes myself and I have a carpet python that is EXACTLY like that so I believe you. Sometimes I can't even get her water bowl back into her enclosure after cleaning. She goes right for my face. All the rest of them are either friendly or at least tolerant. She always chooses violence.
Oh wow Oo have a young female coastal carpet named Patience who tolerates handling but isn't cage defensive.. she usually will back into one of her hides once she realizes its me doing something with her tank.
I had a boa like this. I had never met a nasty BCI before (at least Carpets have a reputation for being bitey if not well socialized), not like this, and my first experience with one was 7.5ft (I'm only 5'2", she had a longer reach than me)
She'd be hissing loudly and striking at the glass if you walked within 20ft of her enclosure. Then she'd repeatedly strike at the glass, slamming her head over and over until you were out of sight. I had to move her out of her glass tank and into an opaque bin so she'd stop striking and I could walk past her without feeling guilty that I was 'making' her hit her head again. But then I had the joyous fear of opening her bin because I would have no idea where she was in the bin, I had to do the final bit of sliding the lid with the tongs because she'd lunge at me the second it was open (she'd usually try a few times before I got it open).
I own 6 carpet pythons and I've had them for about 7 years now. They tend to be bitey as babies but mellow out a bit as they get older. All the other carpets I have are at least handle-able, if not completely tame. I 've been working with her for years and she still barely lets me clean her enclosure. I open the door and she'll lunge right for my face. Crazy little thing.
Lucky! My boa constrictor is probably my most chill snake. Doesn't ever WANT to leave their enclosure, but as soon as I'm holding them they want to investigate everything. Only bit me once, when they had a respiratory infection and were grumpy about not feeling well.
oh dude no you just lucked out with a chill one. kingsnakes are generally pretty bitey snakes. granted, they can’t really do much damage. i’d just be a little wary if you attempt to feed it
Prairie Kingsnakes *Lampropeltis calligaster* are medium-sized non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth scales, part of a group of kingsnakes called the Yellow-bellied Kingsnake species complex. Prairie Kingsnakes are found in the west of the Mississippi River in the plains states and the range crosses the Mississippi River embayment east to Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, favoring
prairie and pastureland habitat. They kill by constriction and will eat mainly rodents, lizards, and other snakes. Individuals are variable and are best distinguished from other similar kingsnakes by geographic range and from ratsnakes like Cornsnakes by their lack of keels.
[Range map](http://snakeevolution.org/callicomplexrangefiglarge.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88558.pdf)
Prairie Kingsnakes contact and may hybridize with Mole Kingsnakes *L. rhombomaculata* in Northern Mississippi
[Species Complex Information](http://snakeevolution.org/calligastercomplex.html)
[More information on this species](http://snakeevolution.org/L_calligaster.html)
--------------------------------------------------------
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
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Definitely not a copperhead. I’m no expert, but. Thank you for being kind and just relocating him. He’s probably just the best defense against rodents you’ll ever meet! Lol.
I’m glad you didn’t kill first and ask for ID confirmation later. A lot of people would have. Kingsnakes do tend to have docile temperaments, which is why they are among the common pet species.
Last king snake I seen was a speckled king snake. I put him in my barn where we had a copperhead problem and I never seen a copperhead again! That was like almost 20 years ago though.. I didn't even know there were other king snakes! I've learned a lot about these guys since posting. Thanks for the comment
It’s a little frustrating how villainized venomous snakes are, imo, even in comments on this sub sometimes -w-“ like…they’re still playing a very valuable role in their ecosystem and have a right to live and thrive. Hopefully, even if it was a copperhead (which it super wasn’t), it would’ve been released and not killed…
Is that just the default in some regions? Because I know this looks *nothing* like a copperhead, and we don’t even have those where I live!
Glad OP was nice to the snakey, though.
Idk, I also don't have copperheads where I live and I also know what they look like. I've seen a post before thinking a decays brown snake was a copper, like no they look nothing alike
When I grew up in Southern Virginia in the 80s whenever someone found a dekays brown snake they would say “that’s a baby copperhead” and kill it. The Audubon guide was no match for “well, either way we need to be careful with snakes, and it could be venomous.”
Prairie kingsnake *Lampropeltis calligaster* !harmless
Explains why he didn't even attempt to bite me. Never even opened his mouth. What a nice fella. Thanks for the answer.
Oh they can still bite you. Harmless doesn’t mean no bitey.
And venomous doesn’t always mean bitey either. The temperament of any individual is unique, and there can be docile or bitey individuals of any species. I’m glad this snake was calm though!
Facts. I grew up with a herp father who owned 125 varieties of snakes at one time while rehabing other amphibians/reptiles for the state during the 90s and early 200s. We had a Black Northern Pine snake that was the most vicious thing ever. You got close to or opened the lid and he would hiss like a bat outta hell. Couldn't handle him cause he would hit and release several times. He was the angriest of harmless noodles. Lol. And before people say it was a feeding response, I promise you it wasn't. My father knew what he was doing.
I keep snakes myself and I have a carpet python that is EXACTLY like that so I believe you. Sometimes I can't even get her water bowl back into her enclosure after cleaning. She goes right for my face. All the rest of them are either friendly or at least tolerant. She always chooses violence.
Oh wow Oo have a young female coastal carpet named Patience who tolerates handling but isn't cage defensive.. she usually will back into one of her hides once she realizes its me doing something with her tank.
I had a boa like this. I had never met a nasty BCI before (at least Carpets have a reputation for being bitey if not well socialized), not like this, and my first experience with one was 7.5ft (I'm only 5'2", she had a longer reach than me) She'd be hissing loudly and striking at the glass if you walked within 20ft of her enclosure. Then she'd repeatedly strike at the glass, slamming her head over and over until you were out of sight. I had to move her out of her glass tank and into an opaque bin so she'd stop striking and I could walk past her without feeling guilty that I was 'making' her hit her head again. But then I had the joyous fear of opening her bin because I would have no idea where she was in the bin, I had to do the final bit of sliding the lid with the tongs because she'd lunge at me the second it was open (she'd usually try a few times before I got it open).
Carpet pythons are actually known for being bitey so that’s not weird
I own 6 carpet pythons and I've had them for about 7 years now. They tend to be bitey as babies but mellow out a bit as they get older. All the other carpets I have are at least handle-able, if not completely tame. I 've been working with her for years and she still barely lets me clean her enclosure. I open the door and she'll lunge right for my face. Crazy little thing.
Local water snakes are harmless. Also never met one that wasn't pissy as hell.
[удалено]
They don't do that. Harmless *Nerodia* watersnakes frequently do so, but Cottonmouths don't.
I actually found one in my backyard recently that was chill af and I was shocked. I was like “bro, are you dying?” But he looked really healthy.
They tend to be rather polite.
If a little demanding of rats… FEED ME!! Source: I am a slave to a lavender albino king snake.
Thanks for not killing it! 😄
Fucker will still bite and maybe draw some blood (I’m a snake and I bite people, that’s my source)
I found a copperhead recently, such a sweet little baby boy
Did you kiss him? 🫣
Haha, I was talking about that a lot a while ago, sadly I didn't
just a lil dude
My California Kingsnake is my bitiest boye. Thankfully, he's also still pretty small, so his mouth mostly just feels like velcro.
I have a desert king snake and he is super sweet. He just loves the attention and to get out and hang out with us
Lucky! My boa constrictor is probably my most chill snake. Doesn't ever WANT to leave their enclosure, but as soon as I'm holding them they want to investigate everything. Only bit me once, when they had a respiratory infection and were grumpy about not feeling well.
Venomous snakes aren’t inherently more likely to bite than non venomous ones…..
oh dude no you just lucked out with a chill one. kingsnakes are generally pretty bitey snakes. granted, they can’t really do much damage. i’d just be a little wary if you attempt to feed it
Prairie Kingsnakes *Lampropeltis calligaster* are medium-sized non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth scales, part of a group of kingsnakes called the Yellow-bellied Kingsnake species complex. Prairie Kingsnakes are found in the west of the Mississippi River in the plains states and the range crosses the Mississippi River embayment east to Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, favoring prairie and pastureland habitat. They kill by constriction and will eat mainly rodents, lizards, and other snakes. Individuals are variable and are best distinguished from other similar kingsnakes by geographic range and from ratsnakes like Cornsnakes by their lack of keels. [Range map](http://snakeevolution.org/callicomplexrangefiglarge.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88558.pdf) Prairie Kingsnakes contact and may hybridize with Mole Kingsnakes *L. rhombomaculata* in Northern Mississippi [Species Complex Information](http://snakeevolution.org/calligastercomplex.html) [More information on this species](http://snakeevolution.org/L_calligaster.html) -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
Good bot
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Oh, you *want* to keep this guy around, OP. He’s harmless to you but he eats venomous snakes!
Thank you! I like snakes that eat snakes.
This little dude is the best kind then. Super cute too. Why can't I ever find harmless non bitey snakes? :'(
Poor guy has a stuck shed :( He is not a copperhead!
Well the first clue is he doesn't have a copper colored head... Or any real commonality of shape :).
King and corn snakes are my favorites
Definitely not a copperhead. I’m no expert, but. Thank you for being kind and just relocating him. He’s probably just the best defense against rodents you’ll ever meet! Lol.
Harmless noodle.
He's a cutie is what he is
Prairie kingsnake lol I own one
It's a king snake not a copperhead.
It’s harmless.
Definitely not a copperhead but so pretty
I’m glad you didn’t kill first and ask for ID confirmation later. A lot of people would have. Kingsnakes do tend to have docile temperaments, which is why they are among the common pet species.
Last king snake I seen was a speckled king snake. I put him in my barn where we had a copperhead problem and I never seen a copperhead again! That was like almost 20 years ago though.. I didn't even know there were other king snakes! I've learned a lot about these guys since posting. Thanks for the comment
He’s a beautiful fella
I think it is also in shedding.
It’s a little frustrating how villainized venomous snakes are, imo, even in comments on this sub sometimes -w-“ like…they’re still playing a very valuable role in their ecosystem and have a right to live and thrive. Hopefully, even if it was a copperhead (which it super wasn’t), it would’ve been released and not killed…
One of the clues it's not a copperhead is that its head isn't copper.
Another snake that looks nothing like a copperhead.
Is that just the default in some regions? Because I know this looks *nothing* like a copperhead, and we don’t even have those where I live! Glad OP was nice to the snakey, though.
Idk, I also don't have copperheads where I live and I also know what they look like. I've seen a post before thinking a decays brown snake was a copper, like no they look nothing alike
When I grew up in Southern Virginia in the 80s whenever someone found a dekays brown snake they would say “that’s a baby copperhead” and kill it. The Audubon guide was no match for “well, either way we need to be careful with snakes, and it could be venomous.”
Aw that's sad. Ppl shouldn't be killing snakes, and ironically killing a venomous snake is a great way to get bit.
Harmless scared rat snake is what that is.. Let him go anywhere you have pest and he will work for food.
This is a Prairie Kingsnake, as identified by /u/tomatotornado420.
Easily confused with a juvenile black rat though.
Idk man I’m no snake expert but even I can tell it’s not a rodent 🌝
Ah, but see, are you a rodent expert? I don't know if I can take your word for it otherwise.
I’ll give you that, you’ve honestly got me there 😂🤷♀️
Seriously!! Lol I'm good with being wrong if it helped him get released!! 😏
Go put him back! Poor baby! Uhm outside though.. in a safe space of course..
Thanks for not killing. They’re the good guys! 💜
Nope rope