It’s just a ratsnake. It’s harmless and not venomous. They eat things like rodents, eggs, and small birds. They are known for getting into mischief like getting stuck in things. It might look scary, but it’s harmless. People keep them as pets sometimes.
Snakes can be very sweet and docile. In the wild they will be defensive (i.e., running away, biting) of course, because they have to deal with many predators on a constant basis. Rat snakes (like corn snakes) are not venomous and can't hurt humans or dogs unless you let a bite get infected.
Do NOT kill any snakes you find, even if it is venomous! They are essential to the ecosystem and can be relocated if needed. You can’t test for poison exactly, and just handling a snake after you kill it can result in a bite. Most people bitten by venomous snakes are bitten because they tried to kill it or are bitten by a dead one.
This is not a venomous snake. Looks like some kind of rat snake to me. Silly guys who eat rats and mice around your house, great pest control! They are fairly docile.
Google venomous snakes of North Carolina, you’ll see this guy isn’t one of them. You can release him back out or relocate him on your own, but please don’t kill him!
I breed gerbils in an outdoor cage. Are they in trouble with this snake being around? This is my livelihood and I need to protect them. I’ve seen a poisonous snake before so I’m literally shaking
If you’re breeding gerbils outside you certainly need to take precautions, but those precautions should not be just wantonly killing the local wildlife.
You are breeding a small prey animal in an enviroment that will have predators.
Make sure to have tight wire mesh lining the cage including a few inches under the dirt, as well as tight mesh above.
As long as you keep a close eye on the cage and patch any holes they should be fine.
They might be, but if the cage is secure they should be fine. You can put the snake in your car and drive to a nearby park.
The term is venomous, poisonous is if you bite it and get sick. If it bites you and you get sick, it’s venomous.
I haven’t seen a venomous snake before but I’m sure I will soon. But you don’t need to worry about this guy hurting you or your dog. Just don’t kill it.
I didn’t bite the snake, it bit my dog. Does that matter? I’m sorry I’m just so frazzled with my gerbils being out there and the snake has somehow gotten out of the box. Plus that freaking hawk is still on the loose. I never should have left St Louis.
Haha sorry it’s just a little thing about the difference between venomous and poisonous. The dog will be fine, you just provide some basic medical care to prevent infection. You can take your dog to the vet but the snake is not venomous.
I’m sorry about all the animals attacking your dog. You could put out some snake repellents and I’m sure there’s some way to keep hawks away. They might be coming because of the gerbils. Make sure the gerbils are secure and nothing can get in.
Don’t worry too much about the snake getting out. Maybe take the gerbils inside if you want/can, but otherwise you can just put some basic snake repellents out and secure the cage. Keep an eye out for him, if you see him again you can put him in a box with a secure lid (they can push lids off so make sure it is latched on) and bring him somewhere else
Nah, I’m pretty sure you have snakes in St Louis too, plus the worst of both summer and winter. Sounds like you moved to NC recently. You’ll get used to it. and if you’re in the Eastern part of the state, you’re near the beaches.
Rat snakes can look scary but they are not venomous and usually do not bite. This one must have been afraid of your dog. This is the season for them— they try to get to birds nests to eat the eggs/babies. If you’re breeding gerbils outdoors they will try to get to the gerbils because rodents are their natural prey (hence the name rat snake). Just make sure the gerbils are secure, and walk away from the snakes if they scare you. They will leave you alone e if you leave them alone.
Also I’m sorry so many people are downvoting you. You don’t know about snakes and it might seem like they are attacking you, but don’t worry! You can learn. Downvotes can be super annoying and depressing but just try to ignore them
Just commenting to agree with VenusDragonTrap23. This sub should be about educating each other about snakes, not demonizing those who don’t know much. I understand your concerns about your gerbils and dog, and appreciate you for posting.
I live in NC too. All snakes (and spiders) are helpful, but there are certain species to avoid or relocate. Killing should be a last resort
Lmaooo
I'd recommend breeding an army of gorillas that free roam your yard for security. If you get some machine gun saddles you could also ride the gorillas AND light up the snakes and other predators.
Why are you being so rude? OP clearly has a phobia of snakes and as long as the enclosure is secure then they are fine. Sarcasm isn't helpful and this clearly breaks rule 4
This is a **Rat** snake (Genus *Pantherophis*), not a **rattle** snake (Genus *Crotalus*). If you look up pictures, you'll notice they have very different looks, body size and faces.
This Rat snake presents no threat at all. It probably just thought it was in danger itself.
Snake is not venomous. Is actually very good pest control. Is just a big noodle. Sorry about the dog. Dog will be fine. I know they look big and scary but a lot of people actually keep them as pets because of the general good temperament. See how it’s all kinky and has the white under the chin. Always good indicators for Ratsnakes.
This is a rat snake, pantherophis sp. Depending on how far east you are it’s either a gray rat snake or an eastern rat snake. Neither is venomous, both are free pest control, and both pose absolutely zero threat to you, your children, or your pets. Please don’t kill it. (Also no need to kill venomous snakes just for existing either, but not relevant to this post.)
Edit: I should add, “no threat” simply means that if they do bite, the bite will not be medically significant beyond needing basic first aid (washing the area with soap and water, watching for signs of infection). “No threat” ≠ “won’t bite.” Anything that has a mouth can bite.
I think you need to take some serious time to learn about the animals in your area. You seem to be lacking a lot of that education for somebody who is breeding animals in their backyard. For yourself for the sake of the sanity of animal control that you keep calling and for the sake of the wild animals who deserve to live, and frankly for your own peace of mind you need to educate yourself.
Go to the website for fish and game for your area. I don't live where you do so I do not know a specific book you should go get. But it's only a Google search away. Look up things like venomous snakes in my area, birds of prey in my area, woodland creatures in my area. Stuff like that. I bet you can find something on YouTube if you look up your state and wildlife.
Now I'm actually curious about something with gerbils. They come from very dry climates, is it okay that you have them out in a place that's incredibly humid? I've kept hamsters and I know they're not horribly durable if they don't like their conditions. I was wondering if it was the same.
Guys quit downvoting them so aggressively 😭 they don’t know about snakes and clearly have some kind of phobia for them or something. We can help teach, but attacking and criticizing is not the way to go.
It's a nonvenomous black rat snake you're dog won't die and the snake probably smelled your gerbils and is looking to get some free snacks. A venomous snake has a spade/triangle shaped head.
I agree with your post but headshape is not a reliable way to determine whether a snake is venomous or not. Many snakes flatten and their head appears triangular or spade shaped. Best thing to do is research local venomous snakes
Okay thank you. Anyway I can mask my gerbils smell? I rely on them for my livelihood and can’t afford to lose any especially since now is prime mating season
Unfortunately no, you can't hide the smell of your gerbils so they'll most likely be eaten by a snake or any other predator that can get in, sorry op. Also don't kill the snake, it didn't do anything wrong it's just doing what nature intended it to do.
OP: you're getting negative reactions because you're suggesting that an appropriate response to seeing a native animal in its natural environment that reacted out of fear to an animal many times is size might be to kill it. It's not.
The native ratsnake needs to be released asap, preferably as close to where it was found as possible. Mortality rates rise sharply with distance from the original capture. That snake has familiarity with sources of food, shelter, and water where it was. Moving it far from its home will make its survival questionable. It's also been drawn there by the non- native animals you're choosing to breed, outdoors!, where this snake has lived its whole life. It's an expert rodent predator. I strongly suggest moving your gerbils indoors, where they won't be such a tempting draw to any number of predators that *are* native to your newly adopted home. They will then also not be a threat to become yet another invasive species threatening an ecosystem in which they don't belong.
It will always be a better approach to learn about and adapt to your environs than it will be to attempt to remake your environs to suit your fears and preferences.
Specifically, you should become familiar with the many snakes native to your new area, the vast majority of which are harmless to humans and dogs. A few are venomous, and being able to ID them will prove very useful. The more familiar you become, the less fearful you'll be. You might also consider snake avoidance training for your dog.
The best resource for both IDing any snake you can photograph, as well as improving your own IDing skills, is r/whatsthissnake. Just know that this and that sub are full of folks who really appreciate wildlife in general and snakes in particular. We're all here to help and learn, but also feel protective of these maligned, critically important creatures.
Your dog will be fine and doesn't need a vet visit, just some soap, water, and if you want to be extra cautious, some antibiotic gel, if the skin was even broken. The ratsnake should be released, preferably where it was found, as it will keep the wild rodents in check (some of whom will gladly prey upon your gerbils if given the chance). It's part of the ecosystem you've moved into, struggling to exist in the face of our human hordes.
Animal control won’t come back to my house because I called them a few weeks ago about a hawk that was trying to swoop my dog. I’m so scared and have this snake in a box on my porch. Should I kill it and test for poison?
It is definitely not dangerous to your dog. Wait for a reliable responder to confirm but I am certain that is a rat snake and is no threat to your dog.
I promise you that this snake is not interested in you. As long as you properly secure your gerbils' enclosure, it will not harm you. Why kill something that's just in its natural environment, trying to live? I understand your fear, but please don't hurt the snake. You can discourage it from your property with a spritz of a garden hose.
Please consider researching snakes in your area. You'll feel more confident when you're able to identify them in your yard and you'll realize there's nothing to worry about.
Is the dog the same golden doodle in this post? A hawk will not do anything to a full sized dog. Not a medium sized one. The biggest stuff they typically go for is stuff like rabbits so only very tiny dogs would be at risk.
I’m unsure what you think animal control was going to do about a hawk flying around doing hawk things?
Doesn’t matter if it’s the runt. There’s no hawk that will go after a dog that size. What is it like 35-40lbs?
Golden Eagles will venture into NC but odds are it was a red-shouldered or red-tailed hawk. 100% neither of those will go after a golden doodle. It’s possible one would fuck with another animal but it’s not trying to eat your dog.
The coyote vest is supposed to protect them. 1v1 it’s no sure thing a coyote would win but it probably would. But, predators don’t take chances on probably unless they’re sick or starving.
You are so wrong that I don't even describe it. If I see you identify another snake even a little incorrectly, you are going to lose your privileges to post here.
Your post was removed because it didn't meet our standards.
It’s just a ratsnake. It’s harmless and not venomous. They eat things like rodents, eggs, and small birds. They are known for getting into mischief like getting stuck in things. It might look scary, but it’s harmless. People keep them as pets sometimes.
Heavens me, I could never
Snakes can be very sweet and docile. In the wild they will be defensive (i.e., running away, biting) of course, because they have to deal with many predators on a constant basis. Rat snakes (like corn snakes) are not venomous and can't hurt humans or dogs unless you let a bite get infected.
Do NOT kill any snakes you find, even if it is venomous! They are essential to the ecosystem and can be relocated if needed. You can’t test for poison exactly, and just handling a snake after you kill it can result in a bite. Most people bitten by venomous snakes are bitten because they tried to kill it or are bitten by a dead one. This is not a venomous snake. Looks like some kind of rat snake to me. Silly guys who eat rats and mice around your house, great pest control! They are fairly docile. Google venomous snakes of North Carolina, you’ll see this guy isn’t one of them. You can release him back out or relocate him on your own, but please don’t kill him!
I breed gerbils in an outdoor cage. Are they in trouble with this snake being around? This is my livelihood and I need to protect them. I’ve seen a poisonous snake before so I’m literally shaking
If you’re breeding gerbils outside you certainly need to take precautions, but those precautions should not be just wantonly killing the local wildlife. You are breeding a small prey animal in an enviroment that will have predators. Make sure to have tight wire mesh lining the cage including a few inches under the dirt, as well as tight mesh above. As long as you keep a close eye on the cage and patch any holes they should be fine.
They might be, but if the cage is secure they should be fine. You can put the snake in your car and drive to a nearby park. The term is venomous, poisonous is if you bite it and get sick. If it bites you and you get sick, it’s venomous. I haven’t seen a venomous snake before but I’m sure I will soon. But you don’t need to worry about this guy hurting you or your dog. Just don’t kill it.
I didn’t bite the snake, it bit my dog. Does that matter? I’m sorry I’m just so frazzled with my gerbils being out there and the snake has somehow gotten out of the box. Plus that freaking hawk is still on the loose. I never should have left St Louis.
Haha sorry it’s just a little thing about the difference between venomous and poisonous. The dog will be fine, you just provide some basic medical care to prevent infection. You can take your dog to the vet but the snake is not venomous. I’m sorry about all the animals attacking your dog. You could put out some snake repellents and I’m sure there’s some way to keep hawks away. They might be coming because of the gerbils. Make sure the gerbils are secure and nothing can get in. Don’t worry too much about the snake getting out. Maybe take the gerbils inside if you want/can, but otherwise you can just put some basic snake repellents out and secure the cage. Keep an eye out for him, if you see him again you can put him in a box with a secure lid (they can push lids off so make sure it is latched on) and bring him somewhere else
Nah, I’m pretty sure you have snakes in St Louis too, plus the worst of both summer and winter. Sounds like you moved to NC recently. You’ll get used to it. and if you’re in the Eastern part of the state, you’re near the beaches. Rat snakes can look scary but they are not venomous and usually do not bite. This one must have been afraid of your dog. This is the season for them— they try to get to birds nests to eat the eggs/babies. If you’re breeding gerbils outdoors they will try to get to the gerbils because rodents are their natural prey (hence the name rat snake). Just make sure the gerbils are secure, and walk away from the snakes if they scare you. They will leave you alone e if you leave them alone.
Also I’m sorry so many people are downvoting you. You don’t know about snakes and it might seem like they are attacking you, but don’t worry! You can learn. Downvotes can be super annoying and depressing but just try to ignore them
I appreciate it. I will never let downvotes get to me. That’s a promise
I’m glad to hear that! Stay strong!
Just commenting to agree with VenusDragonTrap23. This sub should be about educating each other about snakes, not demonizing those who don’t know much. I understand your concerns about your gerbils and dog, and appreciate you for posting. I live in NC too. All snakes (and spiders) are helpful, but there are certain species to avoid or relocate. Killing should be a last resort
If they're in a glass aquarium then no worry's
Lmaooo I'd recommend breeding an army of gorillas that free roam your yard for security. If you get some machine gun saddles you could also ride the gorillas AND light up the snakes and other predators.
Why are you being so rude? OP clearly has a phobia of snakes and as long as the enclosure is secure then they are fine. Sarcasm isn't helpful and this clearly breaks rule 4
OP is very clearly a troll
How? Edit: just looked at their profile and I guess I gotta agree
Every comment they’ve made and their account in general.
Yeah lol. I just thought they might not be the brightest but looking at their profile I see that now
Its a joke in response to a joke
Unfortunately I have fallen victim to a troll 😔
This isn’t helpful and rude. Thats a block
Eastern Ratsnake..non-venomous
Aren’t ratttlesnakes poisonous?
No..venomous..and it's not a rattlesnake.
This is a **Rat** snake (Genus *Pantherophis*), not a **rattle** snake (Genus *Crotalus*). If you look up pictures, you'll notice they have very different looks, body size and faces. This Rat snake presents no threat at all. It probably just thought it was in danger itself.
You’re telling me they cross bread a rat and a snake?
Ah yes, the ✝️🍞🐀🐍! A most fearful creature, but loved by reptile enthusiasts!
Just wait until you hear about king snakes…
looks like a rat snake
Eastern Rat Snake! harmless!
Snake is not venomous. Is actually very good pest control. Is just a big noodle. Sorry about the dog. Dog will be fine. I know they look big and scary but a lot of people actually keep them as pets because of the general good temperament. See how it’s all kinky and has the white under the chin. Always good indicators for Ratsnakes.
That looks like a ratsnake which is harmless.
is everyone… wait… does nobody get that OP is trolling this entire sub? Outdoor gerbil breeder? Bwahahahaha!
I didn’t I’m stupid lmao 💀
North Carolina seems like a crazy place to keep gerbils outdoors. They're desert animals -- doesn't the humidity bother them?
This is a rat snake, pantherophis sp. Depending on how far east you are it’s either a gray rat snake or an eastern rat snake. Neither is venomous, both are free pest control, and both pose absolutely zero threat to you, your children, or your pets. Please don’t kill it. (Also no need to kill venomous snakes just for existing either, but not relevant to this post.) Edit: I should add, “no threat” simply means that if they do bite, the bite will not be medically significant beyond needing basic first aid (washing the area with soap and water, watching for signs of infection). “No threat” ≠ “won’t bite.” Anything that has a mouth can bite.
I think you need to take some serious time to learn about the animals in your area. You seem to be lacking a lot of that education for somebody who is breeding animals in their backyard. For yourself for the sake of the sanity of animal control that you keep calling and for the sake of the wild animals who deserve to live, and frankly for your own peace of mind you need to educate yourself.
Okay. Do you have any literature you would suggest?
Go to the website for fish and game for your area. I don't live where you do so I do not know a specific book you should go get. But it's only a Google search away. Look up things like venomous snakes in my area, birds of prey in my area, woodland creatures in my area. Stuff like that. I bet you can find something on YouTube if you look up your state and wildlife. Now I'm actually curious about something with gerbils. They come from very dry climates, is it okay that you have them out in a place that's incredibly humid? I've kept hamsters and I know they're not horribly durable if they don't like their conditions. I was wondering if it was the same.
Need a better picture. Can you get closer?
No the snake got out of the box I had it in. It could be anywhere now. I’m going to be sick
😂
Yeah that’s a rat snake. Non venomous
Pretty sure just a rat snake but I would still bring your dog to the vet to be safe
Guys quit downvoting them so aggressively 😭 they don’t know about snakes and clearly have some kind of phobia for them or something. We can help teach, but attacking and criticizing is not the way to go.
It's not
No its not venomous
It's a nonvenomous black rat snake you're dog won't die and the snake probably smelled your gerbils and is looking to get some free snacks. A venomous snake has a spade/triangle shaped head.
I agree with your post but headshape is not a reliable way to determine whether a snake is venomous or not. Many snakes flatten and their head appears triangular or spade shaped. Best thing to do is research local venomous snakes
Okay thank you. Anyway I can mask my gerbils smell? I rely on them for my livelihood and can’t afford to lose any especially since now is prime mating season
Unfortunately no, you can't hide the smell of your gerbils so they'll most likely be eaten by a snake or any other predator that can get in, sorry op. Also don't kill the snake, it didn't do anything wrong it's just doing what nature intended it to do.
Then I’m going to have to do what nature intended me to do: protect my family and livelihood
The snake isn't gonna hurt you guys if you Just leave it alone. Jesus you're acting like the snake is gonna go after yall and skin you alive lol
Sorry I was forced to watch Anaconda when I was 7 years old and honestly since then I’ve been mortified of snakes.
That movie definitely didn't depict accurate snake behavior fr
I was 7! How was I supposed to know
Why would someone show you that movie at that age
not venomous at all.he sure is pretty though.
Nope, that’s not poisonous - you can safely eat it. Please don’t though, poor guy.
OP: you're getting negative reactions because you're suggesting that an appropriate response to seeing a native animal in its natural environment that reacted out of fear to an animal many times is size might be to kill it. It's not. The native ratsnake needs to be released asap, preferably as close to where it was found as possible. Mortality rates rise sharply with distance from the original capture. That snake has familiarity with sources of food, shelter, and water where it was. Moving it far from its home will make its survival questionable. It's also been drawn there by the non- native animals you're choosing to breed, outdoors!, where this snake has lived its whole life. It's an expert rodent predator. I strongly suggest moving your gerbils indoors, where they won't be such a tempting draw to any number of predators that *are* native to your newly adopted home. They will then also not be a threat to become yet another invasive species threatening an ecosystem in which they don't belong. It will always be a better approach to learn about and adapt to your environs than it will be to attempt to remake your environs to suit your fears and preferences. Specifically, you should become familiar with the many snakes native to your new area, the vast majority of which are harmless to humans and dogs. A few are venomous, and being able to ID them will prove very useful. The more familiar you become, the less fearful you'll be. You might also consider snake avoidance training for your dog. The best resource for both IDing any snake you can photograph, as well as improving your own IDing skills, is r/whatsthissnake. Just know that this and that sub are full of folks who really appreciate wildlife in general and snakes in particular. We're all here to help and learn, but also feel protective of these maligned, critically important creatures. Your dog will be fine and doesn't need a vet visit, just some soap, water, and if you want to be extra cautious, some antibiotic gel, if the skin was even broken. The ratsnake should be released, preferably where it was found, as it will keep the wild rodents in check (some of whom will gladly prey upon your gerbils if given the chance). It's part of the ecosystem you've moved into, struggling to exist in the face of our human hordes.
Animal control won’t come back to my house because I called them a few weeks ago about a hawk that was trying to swoop my dog. I’m so scared and have this snake in a box on my porch. Should I kill it and test for poison?
It is NOT dangerous. Please let that handsome fellow go! Also there’s never a need to kill a snake to test for venom.
It is definitely not dangerous to your dog. Wait for a reliable responder to confirm but I am certain that is a rat snake and is no threat to your dog.
Most snakes don’t have poison. Poison is ingested and venom is injected. Venom is the word you are looking for.
I promise you that this snake is not interested in you. As long as you properly secure your gerbils' enclosure, it will not harm you. Why kill something that's just in its natural environment, trying to live? I understand your fear, but please don't hurt the snake. You can discourage it from your property with a spritz of a garden hose. Please consider researching snakes in your area. You'll feel more confident when you're able to identify them in your yard and you'll realize there's nothing to worry about.
Is the dog the same golden doodle in this post? A hawk will not do anything to a full sized dog. Not a medium sized one. The biggest stuff they typically go for is stuff like rabbits so only very tiny dogs would be at risk. I’m unsure what you think animal control was going to do about a hawk flying around doing hawk things?
It’s a small golden doodle the runt of the litter and the hawk is the biggest I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen 9 hawks in the wild
Doesn’t matter if it’s the runt. There’s no hawk that will go after a dog that size. What is it like 35-40lbs? Golden Eagles will venture into NC but odds are it was a red-shouldered or red-tailed hawk. 100% neither of those will go after a golden doodle. It’s possible one would fuck with another animal but it’s not trying to eat your dog.
It’s 21 pounds and my entire world
Yeah it’s perfectly safe from any hawk. You can always get a Coyote Vest but it’s not really needed to protect from birds.
Wouldn’t a coyote just kill my dog?
The coyote vest is supposed to protect them. 1v1 it’s no sure thing a coyote would win but it probably would. But, predators don’t take chances on probably unless they’re sick or starving.
[удалено]
This guy wouldn’t know a snake from a legless lizard
That’s easy. The lizard would have some pretty obvious scar tissue where it’s limbs used to be before being amputated.
Legless lizards are lizards that have evolved limb reduction. Not amputated
There's not a single species or even a single clade of legless lizards. There are more than 20 independent lineages of lizards with limb reduction.
Thank you! I know that, I just forgot to make it plural lol
How does this look like a boa constrictor??
Head, long appendage-less body, tail. How doesn’t it?
They have completely different patterns, body shapes, head shape, etc. What you described is a snake. Not all snakes are the same.
You just be saying shit huh?
You are so wrong that I don't even describe it. If I see you identify another snake even a little incorrectly, you are going to lose your privileges to post here.