Gene what is it?

[Brian Randolph]

Gene, saw this in Reston today and all my Facebook friends want to know! I was thinking water snake but it's not as brown as they usually are. you are the expert!

[Rob Snowhite]

If Miles was there he'd have grabbed that snake.

Crikey

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 24, 2016, at 9:59 PM, Brian Randolph <brianr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <image1.JPG>
> <image2.JPG>
> <image3.JPG>

> Gene, saw this in Reston today and all my Facebook friends want to know! I was thinking water snake but it's not as brown as they usually are. you are the expert!
>

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[Carl Z.]

It is no longer hungry.

Carl

--

Carl Zmola

2016-05-24 21:59 GMT-04:00 Brian Randolph <brianr...@hotmail.com>:

Gene, saw this in Reston today and all my Facebook friends want to know!  I was thinking water snake but it's not as brown as they usually are. you are the expert!

[TurbineBlade]

Nerodia.....something or other. (formerly Natrix spp.);)

In Missouri I would say Nerodia sipedon and 99% of the time it would be correct, but this ain't Missouri and there are a few other species in this region.  It also doesn't help that their pattern and coloration can vary within the species.  

In any case it's a harmless watersnake doing its thing.  Beth and I startled 6-7 of them a couple of weekends ago in the canoe.  

Gene

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:42:35 PM UTC-4, Rob Snowhite wrote:

If Miles was there he'd have grabbed that snake.

Crikey

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 24, 2016, at 9:59 PM, Brian Randolph <brianr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <image1.JPG>
> <image2.JPG>
> <image3.JPG>
> Gene, saw this in Reston today and all my Facebook friends want to know!  I was thinking water snake but it's not as brown as they usually are. you are the expert!
>
> --
> http://www.tpfr.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[TurbineBlade]

Miles would have been bitten and crapped upon, with almost 100% certainty ;).  For whatever reason, Nerodia seem to pretty much bite as a knee-jerk reaction to being grasped.  

Black rat snakes are a 50/50 grab bag; some of them bite instantly, and others just kind of tolerate it.  Like this guy who I caught pursuing chipmunks under the deck -- 

Gene

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:42:35 PM UTC-4, Rob Snowhite wrote:

If Miles was there he'd have grabbed that snake.

Crikey

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 24, 2016, at 9:59 PM, Brian Randolph <brianr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <image1.JPG>
> <image2.JPG>
> <image3.JPG>
> Gene, saw this in Reston today and all my Facebook friends want to know!  I was thinking water snake but it's not as brown as they usually are. you are the expert!
>
> --
> http://www.tpfr.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[TurbineBlade]

Impressive cranial kinesis BTW -- ;)

Note that as a result, snakes have very little musculature to use to "bite".  They basically just throw their head (and teeth) at you.  

[namfos]

Always a fascinating process to watch.

Mark