# Snake ID please **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486 "2016-10-23T16:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/21 "2016-10-26T18:12:06Z")
I imagine that threads about vipers would be posted in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/22 "2016-10-26T19:05:27Z")
Careful! Putting them in the Pit might make them adder than they already are. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/23 "2016-10-26T19:32:40Z")
I was 88.64% certain it was a rattler, so pleased out resident expert confirmed. A gorgeous snake, glad you got such a great pic! ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/24 "2016-10-26T19:49:09Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Careful! Putting them in the Pit might make them adder than they already are. boo! hisssss! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/25 "2016-10-26T20:25:02Z")
Damnit. Got here too slow. Opened it and said Mother-F! That’s a rattlesnake. Next time, maybe don’t get close enough to take the picture… although if you get bitten, definitely get a pic. They’ll need it for the antivenin ID. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/26 "2016-10-26T23:27:32Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Damnit. Got here too slow. Opened it and said Mother-F! That’s a rattlesnake. Next time, maybe don’t get close enough to take the picture… although if you get bitten, definitely get a pic. They’ll need it for the antivenin ID. Not really, all the venomous snakes in CA are rattlesnakes. Don’t think they need different antivenin, do they? I too had an immediate “rattlesnake!” hit off the photo. They are distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/27 "2016-10-26T23:40:10Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I am 99% sure it is a [Northern Pacific rattlesnake](http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=northern+pacific+rattlesnake+photos&view=detailv2&&id=377F710A59B82EF3F8EB9F03104C5E9C2955792D&selectedIndex=0&ccid=b01HFjaA&simid=608040922197658851&thid=OIP.M6f4d4716368010caaabd36a5d1cac166o0&ajaxhist=0). Crotalus oreganus. … just noticed your username … ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/28 "2016-10-27T01:15:22Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Not really, all the venomous snakes in CA are rattlesnakes. Don’t think they need different antivenin, do they? > > I too had an immediate “rattlesnake!” hit off the photo. They are distinctive. The internet confirms that all poisonous snakes in CA are rattlesnakes. There are 6 varieties. I suspected that there might also be Coral snakes, but that’s apparently the Southwest, where I have hiked (I guess that planted the seed). I meant my comment more as a general rule, btw, rather than a comment on this situation. Don’t get close enough to an unknown snake that it can bite you. If it does, you need to be able to identify it. ---
**Author:** ![dunkleosteus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkleosteus/32/9331_2.png) [@dunkleosteus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dunkleosteus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/29 "2016-10-28T17:11:13Z")
[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrpdNKnWIAYrFUt.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrpdNKnWIAYrFUt.jpg) This is a very good rule of thumb for snakes. The head is very clearly diamond shaped and so its likely venomous. It’s been identified as a rattlesnake, but in future, this is good to remember. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/30 "2016-10-28T18:31:46Z")
> [@dunkleosteus](#): > > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrpdNKnWIAYrFUt.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrpdNKnWIAYrFUt.jpg) > > This is a very good rule of thumb for snakes. The head is very clearly diamond shaped and so its likely venomous. It’s been identified as a rattlesnake, but in future, this is good to remember. Maybe where YOU come from. But your linked “rule of thumb” is by no means universal. Very poor advice. It’s best to treat all snakes as potentially dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/31 "2016-10-30T01:44:15Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Maybe where YOU come from. But your linked “rule of thumb” is by no means universal. Very poor advice. It’s best to treat all snakes as potentially dangerous. Well, even when rules of thumb are accurate (like “red on yellow, kill a fellow”), it’s probably better to give a snake plenty of room, rather than stay close up and try to remember the rule. I see water snakes all the time, and I know most of them are NOT moccasins. But I’ve always told my son to let snakes swim on their merry way, and not bother checking the shapes of their heads. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/32 "2016-10-30T02:48:34Z")
I don’t have much personal experience with venomous snakes. I have read that baby venomous snakes are much more aggressive than mature individuals. Something about older snakes having learned what and what is not appropriate size for a meal or what does or does not constitutes a threat. My only experience was a tiny little water moccasin that struck at me with such enthusiasm that it seemed to be launching off the ground. It was maybe 10 inches long and I was about 5 feet away so no worries. Any experts that can confirm or rebut this? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/33 "2016-10-30T03:03:33Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Well, even when rules of thumb are accurate (like “red on yellow, kill a fellow”), it’s probably better to give a snake plenty of room, rather than stay close up and try to remember the rule. “Red and yellow, kill a fellow, red and black, nice to Jack” is an example of a rule that is accurate in a limited area, that is, the US. People have gotten in trouble here in Panama applying the rule, since it doesn’t work here. Some poisonous coral snakes here have red next to black. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/34 "2016-10-30T04:03:20Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I have read that baby venomous snakes are much more aggressive than mature individuals. > > Any experts that can confirm or rebut this? I’m not an expert per se, but based on handling a metric shit ton of snakes when I was a young hobbyist/biology student I’d anecdotally confirm that IME _most_ young snakes are feisty(er), not just venomous ones. I’d be inclined chalk it up to a vigorous defense being a greater deterrent to predation in a wee snake once camouflage has failed. But that is strictly anecdotal - I don’t have a cite to back that one up. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486/35 "2016-10-30T04:58:15Z")
Re baby rattlesnakes venom: Anecdotes are not data BUT—a cousin of mine along with two of his friends had the bright idea of capturing and milking rattlesnakes with a view towards selling the venom. I don’t know how they came into possession of a baby rattlesnake but they did and it bit one of them on his thumb (IIRC). It took him quite a while to recover and the photographs I saw of the wound site were gruesome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-id-please/769486.md?page=1)