Snake ID please (TeriM and breeze take note--Snake photos)

[hazelrunpack]

hazel was in the blind today, photographing birds. Between spates of bird activity at the feeders, she unzips the side windows of the blind for a little air and sits in her chair for a break.

On one such break, she was lookin' out the window and suddenly noticed Ms Macie stalking something on the other side of the fence. Ms Macie's target seemed to be in front of the blind...which was not one of the open sides. Figuring there must be some doves under the feeders on that side, hazel stood up, stuck the lens of the camera out and saw:



Nope. Not a dove.

[hazelrunpack]

It was about 18 to 20 inches long and heading toward the blind. Since hazel like snakes, but not well enough to share a small space with one that big, she unzipped the front and stepped out to get some close-ups.

I'm thinking this is an eastern hognose. It was trying to convince me it was powerful and dangerous with the hood flare, but instead of rearing up to face me like a cobra, it tilted it's back to me to show me the magnificent breadth of its back! Very lovely, but not very intimidating.



When it realized it wasn't trapped, it just slithered off into the brush.



I've seen teeny hognose snakes before but never one this big. So I'm just making an educated guess that that's what this was.

Anyone know any differently?

[Dee-O-Gee]

O...M....G....Heebie Jeebies!

Any snake looks like a king cobra or python to me, but these are great close ups Hazel. Too close for my liking. Did Ms. Macie get really close to it?

[hazelrunpack]

Nah...she was a good 30 ft away by the time I saw it. I'm pretty sure it's an eastern hognose and nonvenomous. If she'd caught up to it, likely it would have rolled over and played dead. (no really...that's what they do!...leastwise when they're wee little baby snakes they do )

[Frenchy]

hoooooooooly macaroni !! I like snakes but not when their heads go flat like that

[hazelrunpack]

It was trying very hard to look dangerous. Pretty impressive flare on the hood, but it needs to practice its cobra stance. A cobra would have been bopping around face forward, mouth open with tongue testing the air. This guy just flared, then tilted the back of his head toward the camera to show me what an impressive dude he was.

Still, he was big enough that I really wouldn't have been too happy had he slithered into the blind with me, so I'm happy Ms Macie was lookin' out for her ol' Ma.

[Dee-O-Gee]

Originally Posted by hazelrunpack

likely it would have rolled over and played dead. (no really...that's what they do!...leastwise when they're wee little baby snakes they do )

If Gryphon would have spotted a snake playing dead, he's be rolling all over it. Seriously...a snake that plays dead? Interesting...

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by klmccallum

If Gryphon would have spotted a snake playing dead, he's be rolling all over it. Seriously...a snake that plays dead? Interesting...

I saw a show on Animal Planet where they showed a couple of animals/species that do play dead as defense mechanism , pretty cool !

What a good girl Macie is !