This one scared the crap out of me yesterday! I had walked out this door about a minute earlier to start my grill. Apparently, this guy was sleeping in the shade in the corner.

I turned around to go back in, stepped up on the porch and out of the corner of my eye saw this guy striking at my leg. He tried striking 3 times before I was able to back up and get off the step. It is a covered porch and was shadier than it appears in the pictures, so I couldn't see the details that the picture shows.

My wife and grandson were just coming out, so I yelled at them to stay inside. My grandson started yelling that it was a "dark copperhead". He is nine but knows his snakes and has spotted copperheads for us before, so I wasn't going to doubt him without proof. I had to take the picture and zoom in to make sure that it wasn't one.

I've never seen a water snake as aggressive as this one. He was a mean one. I ended up "relocating" him away from the house.

Sure seems to have a moccasin shaped head.

Looks like a pit viper

Diamondback water snake? They are mean! This

Diamond back water snake a couple of others will 'flatten' their head when feeling threatened making it look more triangular than it already is.

In my opinion (and experience) there is NO water snake more willing to strike than this one.

I won't say they are ill tempered....but seemingly very willing to defend themselves and very quick to feel the need.

They eat my fish in my pond. If I see one in there I don’t stop the water assault until it’s dead.

Almost hidden. Lucky

Yup…

I bet that gave you a scare especially with it striking at you...lol. He is respectable-looking.

Diamondback water snake. The identifying marker is the vertical labial lines on the mouth.

Last week I stepped out the front door in town and a 3' Rough Green Snake shoots through my feet. I did a two step before realizing what it was.

Yep, fish eating machine.

And these suckers get BIG for a water snake.

I would have needed fresh shorts. Sure looks like a pit viper at first glance!

They look 'enough' like a Water Moccasin/Cottonmouth that MANY are killed for just that reason.

I'd say the majority of folks are not able to distinguish an adult Diamondback Water Snake from a Moccasin.

Also, the average person will not be willing to get close enough to actually look for the 'pit'.




The three (indigenous) Pit Vipers in Texas are the Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth and Copperhead (various species for two of those). The fourth venomous snake (not a Pit Viper) is the Coral Snake but it is easily recognized by its color and pattern.

Darn straight. I've had them get in the boat with me several times and try to pick a fight. Highly aggressive animals.

BINGO! Quickest thing to look for are the bars on the jaw.

Not that I am doubting any of the snake experts on here, but one of the things I look at is the thickness of the body in comparison to the length. This one has all the characteristics of a venomous snake from a body standpoint.

Had I seen that it would have been a dead snake. The watersnakes I have seen are much longer for their girth than this one appears....

For anyone interested in the Snakes of 'Texas' this is an excellent 'field guide'.



It has good illustrations, information, comparisons to other snakes (where applicable) and shows the traditional range where found (area and counties).

For instance....the Broadband Copperhead below:





Book is small enough to be placed in a vehicle, backpack. Ruggedly built...so won't fall apart on you the first time out in the field.

This one probably would have fooled me too, and met a quick demise because of it. Water snakes fool me more than any other type of snake and get the sharp end of a revolver more than not.

Ooof!! LOL @ picking a fight with you. They definitely take advantage of their "Cottonmouth" looks and try and play bigger than they are! Water snakes are just mean in general. Even the babies!

Scary

That is a banded water snake, not a diamond back water snake.

Had to enlarge the OP's photo so my old eyes could get a better look.

I don't think its a 'banded' it simply doesn't have unbroken bands, but also don't think its a diamondback either (now seeing it closer).

I believe its actually a 'Blotched Water Snake'.

OP's photo:



Typical adult Blotched:



Regardless.....we know one thing: It was a 'Porch Snake'. EEEEEK!

I tolerate garter snakes and red racers, anything else needs killin' if it's around my house.

Yes, that is the one! I had found a picture of one online, but it didn't give the name. I used to have a small place on Cedar Creek Lake and we had tons of water snakes, but they were all diamondback water snakes.

All the features you guys have mentioned had me fooled big time! After we looked it up, I removed it with a rake.

My Grandson had the right idea though and said: "Are you going to shoot him Grampa?". We talked and he understood that there would not be a safe way to shoot into that corner.