Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Thanks @rural mouse, @Ponypoor, and @notabitail on quick responses on the snake.
I am feeling more confident it isn’t dangerous and will leave it be to go about its snake business.
I just heard a kerfuffle and I think Bernie told it to leave the premises. She may be greatly diminished by her molt, but she is still an intimidating bird.

Just heard back: says it looks like a gopher snake (same family as the corn and rat)

 

[Logar]

Reassurance please.
I don’t know anything about snakes. Just met this beauty in the chicken run. The chickens are going out of their way to avoid it and it was aggressively lunging at me when I walked past.
I will leave it be unless it might be dangerous.
Any insight?
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The only one of us safely out of its reach is of course Tassels. Still broody, after all this time. Still broody …
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Yes, that is a perfectly harmless garter snake. Most north American colubrids will flatten out their heads to try and seem more intimidating.

And it is really only vipers that have the triangle heads. Elapids (Cobras, coral snakes, mambas, etc) are all examples of highly venomous snakes that lack a triangle head.

 

[Logar]

Just heard back: says it looks like a gopher snake (same family as the corn and rat)

that isn't a gopher snake. Gophers and bull snakes look like this:

And yes I know I am a nerd

 

[rural mouse]

that isn't a gopher snake. Gophers and bull snakes look like this:

View attachment 3956367

And yes I know I am a nerd

Needs have all sorts of info available. Frequently useful info. Thanks

 

[Logar]

that isn't a gopher snake. Gophers and bull snakes look like this:

View attachment 3956367

And yes I know I am a nerd

I could be wrong but I also don't believe that gopher snakes are found in NJ

 

[rural mouse]

I could be wrong but I also don't believe that gopher snakes are found in NJ

Either way, non-venomous, but doesn't mean isn't a threat to /threatened by chickens.

 

[Logar]

Either way, non-venomous, but doesn't mean isn't a threat to /threatened by chickens.

yeah, a garter snake would be tortured and killed if the chickens took a particular interest in it.

 

[RoyalChick]

yeah, a garter snake would be tortured and killed if the chickens took a particular interest in it.

They seemed very wary of it which is why I was worried. But Bernie stomped towards it with her huge feet and it decided to move on.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Reassurance please.
I don’t know anything about snakes. Just met this beauty in the chicken run. The chickens are going out of their way to avoid it and it was aggressively lunging at me when I walked past.
I will leave it be unless it might be dangerous.
Any insight?
View attachment 3956312

The only one of us safely out of its reach is of course Tassels. Still broody, after all this time. Still broody …
View attachment 3956313

Harmless garter snake! They do the triangle head when threatened, technically all snakes are capable of it.
They eat mostly mice and frogs

 

[RoyalChick]

Harmless garter snake! They do the triangle head when threatened, technically all snakes are capable of it.
They eat mostly mice and frogs

Thanks!