Can anyone identify this guy?

[AverageGuy]

I was working under the hood this morning and found I had a new camping pet.



While I'm not afraid of snakes, I can't always tell if they are poisonous or not. I don't think this one is.

[JFlightRisk]

OMG! I don't know what kind it is, but it does not look happy. I'm not fond of critters like that.

[Midnightmoon]

My daughter said that it is a Cottonmouth (I know nothing about snakes so I'm just repeating what she said). She wanted me to ask if you are near water or in a damp area?

[Grumpaw374]

Whatever it is, it's a good candidate for this...

[Happy wife / happy life]

Eastern white snake, I think! Non-venomous, I think!

[TaftCoach]

Now you know why mice aren't chewing on your wiring.

[AverageGuy]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

My daughter said that it is a Cottonmouth (I know nothing about snakes so I'm just repeating what she said). She wanted me to ask if you are near water or in a damp area?

We live on a very small creek that only flows when there has been sufficient rain. The coloration doesn't look right for a cottonmouth and the cottonmount has a vertical pupil. If you zoom in on the picture you'll see the pupil is quite round.

[AverageGuy]

Thanks, but I think it's illegal to kill a non venomous snake in GA. :-)

[TaftCoach]

It's there for a reason, usually food. Or if it's been raining a dry place to hang out. If you chase it away it will likely not return. Have you seen any signs of mice under the hood?

[Shorty Cox]

I think it is a Bull Snake. Not sure Bull Snakes are native to GA, but they are everywhere here.

[AverageGuy]

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

It's there for a reason, usually food. Or if it's been raining a dry place to hang out. If you chase it away it will likely not return. Have you seen any signs of mice under the hood?

No mice. I think he's just curled up on a warm place. It was 60 degrees here this morning and I suspect the piece of black plastic he's curled up on is warmer than the ground. The hood was in the full sun so it's definitely warmer under there. I don't care if he stays. I was finished working by the time I saw him. He'll leave if he gets hungry. Then reptiles don't eat very often in cold/cool weather so maybe not.

I'm a live and let live kinda guy. My wife on the other hand would have take a hoe to him.

[AverageGuy]

Originally Posted by Shorty Cox

I think it is a Bull Snake. Not sure Bull Snakes are native to GA, but they are everywhere here.

Bull snakes aren't any farther east than IL, according to the literature. After looking at a number of sites, I have decided it might be in the water snake family. Eyes are right, size is right and the markings are similar to some of the water snake varieties.

I don't think I'll keep him for a pet, however. I might have when I was 9.

[TaftCoach]

While I was working for the Boy Scouts we caught a glimpse of a black snake that was making a comfortable living under the dining hall kitchen. Stretched out it was every bit of six feet. We mentioned it to the ranger and he said there were two and he estimated the second at closer to eight feet.

I'm not bothered by snakes but later that summer I was a bit concerned when we needed to crawl under the kitchen to look for a leak. Luckily someone else volunteered.

[FrankieSaysRelax]

Thank you so much for not harming that beautiful creature. And thank your wife also.

[craigav]

I think you should have a serious talk with her about the dangers of hanging out in an engine compartment. ~CA

[Marcm157]

I don't want to see anything bad happen to a snake but they are my Kryptonite! I am literally scared to death of them. I have a you stay out of my way and I will stay out of yours...

[CAG]

Two things to look for to determine venomous snakes in the US. Arrow point shaped head (the result of poison sacs behind the eyes) and eye slits running up and down. Other than Coral snakes most all are pit vipers and will also have the pit (heat seeker) between the nose and eyes. There are so many different color patterns with bull, and king snakes depending upon the part of the country it is sometimes difficult to tell but most all will have narrow heads that lack the points mentioned above.



There really is no reason to kill a snake that is not an immediate threat and even then if you go one direction they will go another. I have heard tails of Mojave Rattlesnakes, which are more aggressive, chasing people, but I have never seen proof of that and call BS to most of those claims.

[mini4mw]

Looks like a gray rat snake (even though its brown). Non-poisonous and good to have around.

[CTGT]

Definitely not a poisonous snake. I agree, it looks like a gray rat snake. I have seen various coloring and markings on them, depending on where they're found. looking for warmth, and one of the best to have around.

[bucko]

There is a free app (Google Lens) you can download that can identify darn near anything by sending a picture of the "thing" in question. Snap a picture with your cell phone, then open the app and it will identify it.

Works for any pic of a tree, flower, snake, animal, etc.