What kind of snake is this?

[Boyd]

My daughter and grand daughter were in the back yard with my jack russel, the biggest baby of a lapdog. Screams and them beating a path to the back door set me on edge only to hear them telling me that they found a snake coiled up that my jack russel went after... it was coiled up, shaking its tail and snapping at them...

Well, told Ash to put my grand baby back inside, went outside with the lil pup, and she took me right back to the spot where they found the snake.

Not sure if it is a Masagua, but sure enough it was shaking its tail and trying to snap at me. Two quick shots with my .38 took care of business.....

Checked my pup over 3 times already, no bites... but if there is anyone familiar with SE Michigan snakes, let me know what this is for sure.....

Masagua, milk snake?

 

[Boyd]

ps from head to tail it is 42" long about an inch in diameter.......

No triangular head but I wasn't looking too close with it coiled and biting

 

[Boyd]

Anyone know? Please?

 

[CMV]

I thought those were milk snakes, but I don't profess to be a herpetologist.

 

[LoupGarou]

From what little I know, it looks like a milk snake--a mississauga would be larger around and more grey? I don't claim to be an expert either, though, so don't go by what I say.

 

[lisahaschickens]

do you have a better picture of the head? Many non-venomous snakes will rattle their tails in an attempt to scare you off. The head is usually the most telltale part (unless there is a rattle on the tail itself, and then it's clear). I don't know Michigan snakes in particular, but that looks non-venomous at first glance to me.

 

[chicksinthecity]

It could be a corn snake. There is a version of them called anerythristic, and they have the coloring of the snake in your photo. If you google "anerythristic corn snake" there is a great photo of one. Corn snakes aren't poisonous but can be aggressive when they feel threatened. I'm glad your dog is okay.

 

[CityChicker]

I'm pretty sure that is an Eastern Milk snake.

 

[Boyd]

ooops, going to have to dig through the woodpile to find the head, but the head did look like a corn snake.

Thought I should double check because of how it was acting, although I know there are a lot of copycat snakes... and being colorblind I wasn't sure, so I thought I would ask. Garder snakes are about all I can identify by sight

 

[lisahaschickens]

There are many similar snakes out there, especially in northern climates... I have to agree that it looks most like an Eastern Milk snake... though milk snakes are usually mostly nocturnal and extremely docile and timid...

The behavior sounds more like a gopher snake/bull snake/rat snake... maybe corn snake... to me. But, the look is closest to milk snake.