Alright all you ‘snake guys’.

Let’s see who can I.D. this one correctly.

Snake: Approximately 3-1/2’ in length. Location: Deep East Texas

I was hand broadcasting some corn this afternoon in preparation for a Hog Hunt this evening.

I spotted this snake in the leaves, laying there completely motionless. Even as I got within a couple of feet of it, it never moved and had its head hidden.



I recognized the species of snake but wondered if it was alive or not.

So I tapped it with my foot….and immediately got my answer.




Beautifully marked specimen.




After taking a few pics I released it and it was on its way to do whatever snakes do.

I say speckled king

King

I would have found a stick to poke it with

I honestly wasn't expecting it to be alive. It NEVER moved. Just let me walk right up on it.

When I nudged it with my foot, BAM...it hit me and then just sat there looking at me.

Maybe it was sleeping, who knows.

One thing is for certain, it had a good 'reaction time', much better than mine.

Agree, that one is more speckled than any I have seen. Good snake to have around.

I agree speckled king snake. Surprised it bit you, they are usually pretty docile unless your another snake.

what I thought, they have always be very docile

Possibly, but this snake was white bellied.

Look closely at the fleck pattern. I can post some close up pics if necessary. The light color is not really a dot or speckle on this snake.

I'm torn between Speckled King and Buttermilk Racer but leaning toward the latter.

https://txsi.org/2016/03/09/snake-of-the-day-buttermilk-racer/

http://www.southwesternherp.com/snakes/anthicus.html



Two things I AM sure of: They can lay very still and they can strike really FAST if you nudge them.

Why didn't you just throw a couple of pieces of corn at it?

Because I'm 62 yrs. old and pretty sure I don't think logically any more.

Honestly, I don't know. I simply didn't expect it to have much of a reaction.

No big deal, been bitten many times by non-venomous snakes. Either while handling them or trying to catch them. I'm sure this is number one hundred and something.

Pretty snake. Hopefully a King-snake...since we have a LOT of Copperheads where this snake was found.

It's not a speckled king. It's a buttermilk racer.

I believe he's got it . I looked up a photo since I didn't recognize it and that looks right.

Why would you tap a snake with your foot?

senior moments...

Yep...unless you had already made it a GOOD snake.

I stepped on rattlesnake once and he did the same thing to me, of course I didn't see him. Them suckers will bite. Lol

Yup....buttermilk racer....very neat snakes.....speckled kings are more black with gold dots.....

Like this.....

Speckled Kings usually have a speck on just about every scale and have a somewhat symmetrical pattern. The one in the photo provided is a good example. That is why I suspected Buttermilk Racer.

Next question:
Why the heck would you wear shoes like that in an area that has lots of copperheads??

Also, I suggest you not tap copperheads with your foot to see if they are sleeping!

Neat looking racer snake though....

Maybe it is a Democrat and was just having a bad day.

The area does have a lot of copperheads, but with this cooler weather they are not moving about very much. If it had been warmer and I had planned on checking snares or roaming the area...I would have had my boots on.

In this case...I just made a quick trip down there to put out some corn. The site is only 400 yards behind my house.

Once at the area...I keep a path raked out (about 3' wide) that leads to my stand and also to the bait site so I can approach and leave quietly. Anything on the path would be readily spotted. As long as I stay on the path...I could go down there bare footed, so I often go in whatever I have on my feet at the time.

I do HUNT in boots however.

Of course, I would NOT tap/nudge any venomous snake with an exposed foot. Though I have often stepped on Copperheads with a booted foot in order to stretch them out and pick them up (when a stick is not available). They are not able to strike through normal boot leather or the soles of same.

Yes, a beautiful snake. Not 'rare' for my area....but somewhat uncommon. Usually only see them when mowing pasture when they are booking it out of there. Don't know why this one (for a racer) was so lethargic acting.

As for the 'bite', it means nothing to me and was not intended to be the focal point of the post. When I spotted the snake...I knew it was one of two species (king or racer). Kings ARE generally docile and can be readily handled with not much concern. Racers OTOH are notoriously bite 'prone'...but its a harmless experience even if they do tag you. It did surprise me though...owing to the position of the snake and its previous display of just laying there.

Anyway, no big deal as far as I am concerned, just wanted to share a cool snake with the 'snake people' here.

Flint.

Yes, this makes the most sense to me. Maybe the snake was 'crying' and distraught? That might explain why it had its head hidden.

Then when the staunch conservative (Flint) came along to check on it...it lashed out.

Well....its as a good a theory as any.

Are those racer snakes any kin to a coachwhip?