Snakes on the range !!

[mgssamn]

I am originally from non venomous part of the country Minnesota (years ago) and still cant identify all snakes. i have copper head identification down and had to put down a few in yard as well. this pic is from a friend,(Oklahoma) that shows round versus diamond eyes- but with triangle/diamond head. this snake no doubt had round eyes, but triangle head. personally, based on internet and facts maybe not poisonous due to round eyes? but I wouldn't trust it lol. anyone know what it is?

. I would have though cotton mouth but not if it isn't poisonous.

 

[Fyrtwuck]

I ain’t about to get close enough to tell what shape it’s eyes are. I am NOT and never been a fan of snakes.

Here’s a copy and paste of the warning posted in the TCGC email.


WARNING!!! Snakes and Critters

When you come to the range, be conscious of what is around you, look before you pick things up from the ground, move sand bags, open trap machines, etc. When you walk down range, pay attention to what is around you.

If you encounter snakes and critters, leave them alone, make note of where they are, give them a wide berth, do not try to pick them up and do not shoot them. They will move along given the right opportunity.

Early this morning a member encountered what he reported to be three Copperhead Snakes, around the Stat House that were probably enjoying the buffet of little frogs around the night light pole. Of course the little frogs were enjoying the buffet of little bugs atracted to the light. He encouraged them to move to the west off of the range.

If you have any questions, please let me know.



Ken Anderson

Chief Range Safety Officer

405 249-9804

[email protected]

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Poor Ken's phone number blasted out for the web crawlers to collect.

 

[TedKennedy]

I am originally from non venomous part of the country Minnesota (years ago) and still cant identify all snakes. i have copper head identification down and had to put down a few in yard as well. this pic is from a friend,(Oklahoma) that shows round versus diamond eyes- but with triangle/diamond head. this snake no doubt had round eyes, but triangle head. personally, based on internet and facts maybe not poisonous due to round eyes? but I wouldn't trust it lol. anyone know what it is?View attachment 209831 . I would have though cotton mouth but not if it isn't poisonous.

Not a cottonmouth. Just a banded water snake it looks like. One of their defenses is to flatten out, make that head a diamond, they'll even "rattle" their tail. They get big, and if you corner them, they'll bite, but not venomous at all. (I grew up catching these, trust me I know)

One thing about cottonmouths - when you do see the real thing swimming, you'll see they almost float on the water, the whole body.

Other snakes swim with neck, and head up only.

FWIW the biggest cottonmouth I ever saw was on Heyburn WMA. It was on top of the water, nearly still, and so big I thought it was one of those inflatable snakes you put in the garden to scare birds. It was easily over 5 feet long, which - in spite of many tall tales - is a huge cottonmouth.

 

[mgssamn]

thanks---

Not a cottonmouth. Just a banded water snake it looks like. One of their defenses is to flatten out, make that head a diamond, they'll even "rattle" their tail. They get big, and if you corner them, they'll bite, but not venomous at all. (I grew up catching these, trust me I know)

One thing about cottonmouths - when you do see the real thing swimming, you'll see they almost float on the water, the whole body.

Other snakes swim with neck, and head up only.

FWIW the biggest cottonmouth I ever saw was on Heyburn WMA. It was on top of the water, nearly still, and so big I thought it was one of those inflatable snakes you put in the garden to scare birds. It was easily over 5 feet long, which - in spite of many tall tales - is a huge cottonmouth.

Thanks-- I still will have a hard time getting close to a "banded water snake". but nice to think i know the difference.

 

[Hangfire]

Poor Ken's phone number blasted out for the web crawlers to collect.

Maybe not such a good idea @Oklabassin but all the board officers have their numbers listed on the TCGC web site for the whole world to see.

https://tcgc.us/Contact

 

[JEVapa]

I may need a bit of help with this one. We captured one in the yard that I was 80% sure was a Texas Rat Snake but I'm no herpetologist, and I'm fairly colorblind. Did I catch and release a dangerous snake?
No, this beanpole isn't me, it's my fearless neighbor
View attachment 209799 View attachment 209800 View attachment 209801

No

 

[JEVapa]

I am originally from non venomous part of the country Minnesota (years ago) and still cant identify all snakes. i have copper head identification down and had to put down a few in yard as well. this pic is from a friend,(Oklahoma) that shows round versus diamond eyes- but with triangle/diamond head. this snake no doubt had round eyes, but triangle head. personally, based on internet and facts maybe not poisonous due to round eyes? but I wouldn't trust it lol. anyone know what it is?View attachment 209831 . I would have though cotton mouth but not if it isn't poisonous.

That's a watersnake if someone hasn't already said so. We have them everywhere here.

 

[JR777]

I do not like killing good snakes, they are for sure less destructive than the critters they eat. Have heard about the eyes being the best way to tell if it is good or bad and so far it has worked for me. I didn't mind rattlers when I lived in California, at least they tell you before they kill you and it was the only bad snake you were likely to run across. Oklahoma is a different ball game.

My experience with rattlesnakes is by the time they rattle they're already super pissed. They will literally let you step on them before they rattle.

I was out hiking with some friends one day trying to cross a boulder field, and there was about a ten foot long FAT rattlesnake sunning itself on a boulder we needed to cross. And the lazy ******* wouldn't move! We were poking it with long sticks trying to get him to move or even push him along, but he wouldn't and he was too heavy to push. Didn't hear even a hint of a rattle the whole time. We gave up and just went around.

It was hot that day, so it's not like he was frozen or anything, and there weren't any obvious bulges so I don't think he was so full he couldn't move. No obvious injuries, no signs of him being sick. Just a fat lazy snake who knew he was the biggest baddest thing in the woods.

 

[jakeman]

Not a fan o

I ain’t about to get close enough to tell what shape it’s eyes are. I am NOT and never been a fan of snakes.

Here’s a copy and paste of the warning posted in the TCGC email.


WARNING!!! Snakes and Critters

When you come to the range, be conscious of what is around you, look before you pick things up from the ground, move sand bags, open trap machines, etc. When you walk down range, pay attention to what is around you.

If you encounter snakes and critters, leave them alone, make note of where they are, give them a wide berth, do not try to pick them up and do not shoot them. They will move along given the right opportunity.

Early this morning a member encountered what he reported to be three Copperhead Snakes, around the Stat House that were probably enjoying the buffet of little frogs around the night light pole. Of course the little frogs were enjoying the buffet of little bugs atracted to the light. He encouraged them to move to the west off of the range.

If you have any questions, please let me know.



Ken Anderson

Chief Range Safety Officer

405 249-9804

[email protected]

Not a fan of herding them West. I live West of there. You east siders need to keep your venomous snakes over there East of that big 'ole interstate.

I'm also not a fan of not killing copperheads, or any other venomous snake. I'll catch the rat snakes and bull snakes and bring them home to turn loose around my place, so I'm not a snake killer, but if it's one of the 3 I don't want around, they're going to die. Post. Haste.

I'd have killed them. Quicker than a cat could lick its ---.