Snake

[The Engineer]

I saw this by my pond yesterday. What kind of snake is this? It was under 2 feet long and no rattle but it coiled up a seemed to be aggressive. I kept on walking 

[Nytracker]

Looks like a water snake.

[rob-c]

I don’t know my snakes , but I would have walked away too. 

[Rattler]

Looks like a young timber rattler to me.  They don't have a rattle until they get older.

[The Engineer]

It was an aggressive little bastard. I didn't want to kill it as all the critters in the woods have a purpose even those dam black flies and nats 

[The Engineer]

Or looking on line maybe a Massasauga rattlesnake looking at the pictures 

[helmut in the bush]

It's hard not to kill them, can't stand them, even though they serve a purpose 

[Rattler]

On 2nd thought I think it is a young Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake as well.  They are here in NY.

[Nytracker]

8 minutes ago, The Engineer said:

Or looking on line maybe a Massasauga rattlesnake looking at the pictures 

Could be cant see if it has the lateral stripes along the side of its head  in the pic.

I thought they were found around southern  lake ontario shores  around Rochester  area  .

Edited June 16, 2019 by Nytracker

[Nytracker]

I know they are protected ... I still would have busted a cap in his ass

[The Engineer]

I wanted too because I have 2 dogs and my wife up here with me this weekend but I just kept moving. I always hoped since I was high in the mountains they snakes would stay lower. Since cleared some woods and put in a pond I've been seeing more snakes but all garder snakes going for the frogs 

[Steuben Jerry]

Sure that’s not a garter? There’s a bit of color/pattern variation to them and they can change at different ages. Those short little bluish lines in the pattern makes me wonder. I had a garter in one of the flower beds last year that coiled up on me and acted aggressive. Turned out she had a little brood of youngsters a couple of feet away.

Pic is from last weekend in our garden. Kind of has similar short lines, but not a distinctive checkered pattern although there is some checkering.

Edited June 16, 2019 by Steuben Jerry

[Rattler]

Not a garter.  Notice the triangle shaped head in his photo.  That's a sign of a venomous snake.

[Steuben Jerry]

9 minutes ago, Rattler said:

Not a garter.  Notice the triangle shaped head in his photo.  That's a sign of a venomous snake.

This photo of a massasauga is from the SUNY ESF page. Doesn’t appear to be the same in the Engineer’s post.

[Steve D]

In these parts it would be a dead snake.

Since it does not have a rattle it is probably not a Eastern Massasauga

 

It could be a eastern hognose snake also know as a puff adder and  have been known to show aggression along with rolling over on their back and playing dead. The only place I have seen them in in the southertier.

 

 

Edited June 16, 2019 by Steve D

[grampy]

No distinct head markings. Not thick and blocky like a massasauga and no rattle. Tells me it's a variation of a garter snake. I've seen that checkered variation here before.

[Rattler]

It may be a young one that has yet to develop the rattle and distinct markings.  A garters head isn't shaped like that one and they don't get aggressive.

[Steve D]

2 minutes ago, Rattler said:

It may be a young one that has yet to develop the rattle and distinct markings

I am no snake expert for sure and my tendency is to look at them through some form of firearm sight or down the handle of a shovel. The video indicates they are born with a rattle.

[Nytracker]

First 2 in the 45 colt is rat shot ... followed by 4  250grn  fn hard cast ... got it covered.

[BowmanMike]

My vote is with grampy and jerry. A garter snake with attitude.

[greensider]

It's a garter snake showing background color as snakes get upset they puff up spreading scales and showing skin color but it amazing how many outdoorsman cant tell one snake from another we only have 13 species to learn in ny

[turkeyfeathers]

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2016/06/meet_new_yorks_17_slithery_snakes_--_three_are_poisonous_to_humans.html

[rob-c]

13 minutes ago, greensider said:

It's a garter snake showing background color as snakes get upset they puff up spreading scales and showing skin color but it amazing how many outdoorsman cant tell one snake from another we only have 13 species to learn in ny

Agreed, honestly I have only seen the run of the mill gardener, and really have no interest in learning the others. 

[Dinsdale]

27 minutes ago, greensider said:

It's a garter snake showing background color as snakes get upset they puff up spreading scales and showing skin color but it amazing how many outdoorsman cant tell one snake from another we only have 13 species to learn in ny

More interesting most jump to the conclusion its venomous, and as "conservationists" have to kill it.

[Dinsdale]

30 minutes ago, turkeyfeathers said:

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2016/06/meet_new_yorks_17_slithery_snakes_--_three_are_poisonous_to_humans.html

This is crappy technical science too.

Poison is when a substance is toxic when ingested, like a dog drinking anti freeze.

Venomous is a toxin delivered by bite or sting, ie a snake bite.

Who fact checked that page?