Can you spot the problem? ;)

[Hazcat]

LMFAO FQ. I guess that picture is a little misleading. I have seen and killed more then my fair share of rattle snakes and that thing, as sure as the day is long, ain't one. That is at best a young bull snake but more than likely a rat snake.

For one, it was well over 2.5 ft long and it didn't have a single rattle on him. Two, no fangs... he was striking away at me and my shovel. His head wasn't much bigger then my thumb. Third, a lot of snakes imitate the markings of other more dangerous snakes for protection purposes.

Also I might add, I ABSOLUTELY detest snakes. I kept my distance from the thing, poison or not, but at the same time did what was required to get stuff done. Might have channeled Steve Erwin a little there. HAHAHAHA!

I'll leave the impersonation to Phil. I'm sure he's a ton better at it.

True Tex,  that is why I asked what I did above.  I also noticed 'no rattles' but I am FAR from a snake expert and wanted more info.

[Rob10ring]

That is a rat snake. Looks a lot like the Great Planes Rat Snake.

[fightingquaker13]

LMFAO FQ. I guess that picture is a little misleading. I have seen and killed more then my fair share of rattle snakes and that thing, as sure as the day is long, ain't one. That is at best a young bull snake but more than likely a rat snake.

For one, it was well over 2.5 ft long and it didn't have a single rattle on him. Two, no fangs... he was striking away at me and my shovel. His head wasn't much bigger then my thumb. Third, a lot of snakes imitate the markings of other more dangerous snakes for protection purposes.

Also I might add, I ABSOLUTELY detest snakes. I kept my distance from the thing, poison or not, but at the same time did what was required to get stuff done. Might have channeled Steve Erwin a little there. HAHAHAHA!

I'll leave the impersonation to Phil. I'm sure he's a ton better at it.

Good to know there's hope for you, cause that picture on the floor looked like rattler. A bull snake is still an aggresive sob and like you, I don't much care for snakes. I apologise for any slight. I was just thinking "Crikey that's a big one" when I saw the photo on the floor.
FQ13 who still stands by his earlier advice, just for different reasons

[True_Texan]

True Tex,  that is why I asked what I did above.  I also noticed 'no rattles' but I am FAR from a snake expert and wanted more info.

I missed the post for whatever reason Haz.... OOPS!

His head wasn't broad like a viper. It was very narrow. Like I said, about the size of my thumb. That picture of him in the blower was taken pretty close up and throws off the perspective. If you just lay your thumb on the table and press down, that is what his head looked like.

This is a rat snake picture I found online. The Texas Rat Snake:

[Hazcat]

He didn't seem to want me to shoot the thing.

Well. of course NOT!











Dryers are expensive!

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

I missed the post for whatever reason Haz.... OOPS!

His head wasn't broad like a viper. It was very narrow. Like I said, about the size of my thumb. That picture of him in the blower was taken pretty close up and throws off the perspective. If you just lay your thumb on the table and press down, that is what his head looked like.

This is a rat snake picture I found online. The Texas Rat Snake:

COOL!  It re-enforces what I thought I knew.  If the head is the same as the body width then NOT poisonous BUT if the head is triangle and wide then....

[True_Texan]

Good to know there's hope for you, cause that picture on the floor looked like rattler. A bull snake is still an aggresive sob and like you, I don't much care for snakes. I apologise for any slight. I was just thinking "Crikey that's a big one" when I saw the photo on the floor.
FQ13 who still stands by his earlier advice, just for different reasons

No worries FQ. I looked back at the picture and can see how someone might think that.

Wish I had gotten pictures of the 52" snake I yanked out of a dryer a year or so back. He was still alive too and jumped back when I tried to grab him with a very long set of pliers.

I told the man that why don't I just shoot the thing while it is in there and we can replace whatever has a hole in it later.

He didn't go for that either and I guess it is the reason Haz raised.

[True_Texan]

Just another picture to show that I am not COMPLETELY nuts...

Got this off the website:  http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Snakes/SnakeInfo.htm

[Hazcat]

Just another picture to show that I am not COMPLETELY nuts...

Got this off the website:  http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Snakes/SnakeInfo.htm

Glad you added the qualifier....other wise you wouldn't belong here!  

[True_Texan]

.....but I still would not put any faith in judging by the eyes, even if it IS an accurate way to tell you need to be WAY to close to find out. the shape of the head works from a greater DISTANCE. flat triangular head BAD, more oval shaped head still a snake but not poisonous so LESS BAD. also remember, snakes don't brush after meals (why don't they get cavities ?) so even non poisonous snake bites can easily cause dangerous infections......

Absolutely right Tom. I just figured I would check him out a little before I did a damn thing. Plus I had a bit of a captive specimen there. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place or in the case a blower and a housing.

Taking about infections, I went to a house that was something slightly less worse then a sewer pit. Another dryer not running. Tilted it forward to look at the vent and saw what I thought was a snake tail sticking out.

Grabbed my Leatherman and pulled on it hoping it would just come free and I wouldn't have to go in after it. After a bit of a tug, I pulled out what happened to be the tail of a VERY large rat.

Had to dismantle everything and found a rat the size of a chihuahua stuck in there. He had been gnawing on the plastic blower wheel and got caught when they turned it on. He was dead which made things easier.

When I returned with the new part, I was sure to wear some old mechanics gloves I had in the truck and those have since been retired. I keep a large bottle of hand sanitizer and wipes in my truck. I took a bath in the stuff and went to the nearest bathroom to scrub up to my elbows.

Sad thing was, as I was leaving the second time, another VERY large rat ran past me and jumped through a hole that had been gnawed in the hinge side of a wooden door between the lower and middle hinge. The hole was about 3 inches in diameter if that gives you any idea of how big that bastard was.

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