Any ideas what this might have been?

OverTech · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 07:55 PM

It's a slow day at work as I sit here on conference calls, so figured I would describe a snake from memory as best I can and see if anyone has any ideas what it could have been.

This was a few years ago at Ft. Bragg, NC. I was in the Army and preparing a live-fire range for some training. As a precaution, we always walk the range and look for anything that could be a hazard when we start charging in with guns blazing. It was a warm summer day, so I expected to find a snake or two on the range...

Well, the feller that was the most afraid of snakes was the one that found a snake. He yelled to me that he'd found one and quickly moved away from it. I walked over to find a small black snake, maybe 13" or 14" long and slender. The first 3" or 4" of his head and body were completely flat and he was motionless. It looked like he'd been run over by one of the trucks or something, which was odd because vehicles don't usually drive on a live-fire range. But, nevertheless, he was flat and motionless.

Since he was "obviously" already dead, I laughed at the notion that my friend was scared of him anyway and went to pick it up and move it off the range. When I reached for it, it lifted it's head and drew back like it was about to strike. Only then did I realize it hadn't been run over, it was flattening itself out on purpose. I'm not sure if it actually hissed at me or if that's something my mind added to the memory, but I *think* it hissed pretty loudly. I managed to move quick enough NOT to get bit, then got a stick to hook it with and move it off the range.

I'd never seen one like that and haven't seen one like that since, I've always wondered what it might have been... Short, slender, black, flat, North Carolina. Anyone got any ideas?

Dave
[addsig]

telefrag · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:05 PM

probably an eastern hognose, thats all I can think of.
[addsig]

Ed_r · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:12 PM

If it was all black its highly unlikely it was venemous. Black snakes in the area could be a racer, black rat snake(not sure for the location), possible Indigo, black pine snake, pines can be real big hissers. Im not real good with the local, but no venemous would fit that description. Only thing that would come close is a real dark phase cottonmouth. But even those usually have bars on them, and usually thick bodied.
[addsig]

OverTech · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:19 PM

>>probably an eastern hognose, thats all I can think of.

I think you are right. I did a search and found a picture here... The one on the far right looks just like the one I saw (only mine was smaller)...

Thanks!

Dave
[addsig]

Ed_r · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:24 PM

Very well could be I've never seen an Eastern Hognose in black phase. Course theres allot i havent seen. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
[addsig]

herm · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:29 PM

So do any of these snakes have to ability to flatten themselves out?
[addsig]

BWSmith · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:31 PM

My guess would be a hognose. Seen many almost completely black and they flatten out like a cobra and are notorious for playing dead.
[addsig]

OverTech · #8 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:44 PM

>>So do any of these snakes have to ability to flatten themselves out?

The hognose apparently does. There's a picture of one flattened out in the link I posted above. The description of it's habits are kinda cute:

"One feature is its distinctive behavior: When it is encountered it inflates its body and fattens its head. Hissing wildly it strikes blindly at the intruder but rarely bites."

"If the attacker continues to press upon the hognose, it will open its mouth, writhe as if in pain and finally roll onto its back with its mouth open and tongue hanging out. It cannot be induced to move."

So, basically it goes spastic for a bit, then plays possum. One description says that it rarely opens it's mouth when striking...

Dave
[addsig]

herm · #9 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:49 PM

Sounds like we have a winner!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I think I would have soiled my armor if that happened to me!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
[addsig]

#10 (**permalink**) 12-03-2002, 08:58 PM

Yep, I'd say E. Hog too, Melanistic.

Black racers and black rat snakes at that size are heavily patterened. Kings in NC are black, but have varying degrees of yellow/white bands even as juveniles - and they don't flatten out unless squished by a truck...
[addsig]

Advertisement