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Is anyone good at identifying snakes I have baby birds in my garage? I opened the door to give the birds some air went into the house to use the restroom this snake killed one of my ducklings by the time I had returned.

#birds
azzow2 9 June 16
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1

Level 3

First off, google "(your state) snakes" so you can see what snakes actually inhabit your state and ecosystem. It's very unlikely it's a venomoue snake, and the markings do not look any of them, anyway.

Second: Make any animals you keep outside predator proofed. If your ducklings are not in a safe enclosure then they will get eaten by raccons, foxes, 'possums, coyotes, rats and yes, snakes.

Third: If you are serious about ridding your area of snakes, get rid of places that snakes use: brush piles, rocks, wood piles, etc.

And no, you can't "relocate them" without killing them. They cannot be moved to a new territory.

Last: Don't kill snakes. Ironically, that snake may have prevented rats from eating your ducklings. And besides eating rats and mice, they are a part of almost every healthy ecosystem. Kill one and there are many more living their quiet, important lives. That snake you killed lived on your property for years, maybe even 5 years by the size of it.

I am leaving this thread now, because I have no patience for the "I hate snakes" and "Kill the all" posts to come.

The more you learn, the less you fear. The more you learn, the less you hate. Nature needs help, and all creatures are important.

Make America GREEN again!
2

Level 6

Check its eyes. Cat eyes rattle snake. Round eyes rat or bull snake.

Was a cats eye I buried the head.

2

Level 8

Snakes.... don't like them.

I'm not crazy about spiders either, but I don't kill them. I relocate them if I'm not standing on a chair!
3

Level 8

That right there is the common north American nope rope.

0

Level 8

Rat snake bull snake all the same. Regional names is all

t1nick Level 8 June 16, 2018
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rat snakes and bull snakes aren't even the same genus.

@SecularSurfer sorry you are vorrect, my bad
2

Level 8

I don't see rattles at the end of its tail. So based on the pattern on the skin, it's probably a bull snake. They are valuable for the environment as they keep the wild rodent population in check. But I can understand your desire to get rid of it. Now that it knows where to get a free meal, it would keep coming bsck for your ducklings.

t1nick Level 8 June 16, 2018
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2

Level 5

I initially thought gopher, but quickly starting leaning towards western diamondback rattlesnake. Checked with 2 herpetologists, the one I heard back from agrees.

I thought it was a viper as well.
4

Level 8

Sorry about your duckling - also sorry you felt you needed to kill the snake. As long as there is "bait" in your garage, others may come ...

Was also uncertain of the danger. I have 7 year curiosities around and they are my charges to protect. So the rationalization to terminate the snake was in my mind justified.

@azzow2 But it isn't a danger to your children. Next time perhaps a teaching opportunity?

@Countrywoman opportunist might last for a while a survivor last a lot longer.
1

Level 7

That's a rat snake/gopher/hungry snake that will try to eat anything smaller than itself! They can e very aggressive when challenged for a meal.

Regretted killing it was thinking it would just come back and kill more birds.

@azzow2 I am happy for the regret. Most snakes just want to be left alone. Protect your ducklings by enclosures. Running loose is merely attracting what wild creatures do naturally. Looking for food.

@Countrywoman So next time you run out of food and kill the neighbors dog so you can eat, I will keep that in mind.

2

Level 7

Well you need to leave head alone to properly id it. Looks like might be a rat snake or gopher both non posionous

I put the head in the ground was not certain if it was a viper or not.
2

Level 8

Gopher snake / bull snake, (Pituophis catenifer).

2

Level 6

Looks like a gopher snake or similar.

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