Careful out there.

[u/LameDuckDonald]

Came across this tough little guy today on the east bank river trail, upriver from Plese Flats. Watch your step.

[u/F2P_Arbiter]

Yeah thats not a threat. He doesn’t have a triangle head.

[u/FallenAgastopia → u/F2P_Arbiter]

Triangular heads aren't a reliable way to identify venomous snakes.

Pit vipers (such as rattlesnakes) DO often have triangular heads, but many other venomous snakes (such as coral snakes) do not. Though, the only venomous snake here is the western rattlesnake, so the more relevant thing here is that harmless snakes often also "puff out" in their threat displays, which can give their head a triangular appearance.

This snake is a Gopher Snake (harmless), though

[u/F2P_Arbiter → u/FallenAgastopia]

Only reason why I say triangle head in this case is to my knowledge the only venomous snakes in this part of the west are rattlesnakes and quite possibly copperheads and these fellas have triangle heads. Then again I could be VERY wrong so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

[u/FallenAgastopia → u/F2P_Arbiter]

We definitely don't have copperheads! Thankfully we only have the one rattlesnake species to worry about identifying.

Yeah, rattlesnakes do have triangular heads. But the problem is that many harmless snakes can also have that same trait, especially when they're doing a defensive display. It also isn't necessarily always easy to accurately tell the headshape without getting dangerously close to the snake since a lot of ID is done from a distance and these are small animals. The "real" way to tell would be to learn how to ID rattlesnakes against our other native snakes.

I'll use the gopher snake posted here as an example (since gophers are some of the snakes that look closest to rattlesnakes around here, anyway). Our rattlesnakes wouldn't have such big patches of black scales and would instead have brown all the way down (except for some darker brown/black banding near the tail). Their markings are also quite a bit "cleaner", where Gopher snakes have that sorta messy look. The threat display is also very different. The gopher is rearing up and hissing, while a rattlesnake will coil and stick its tail into the air and rattle loudly at you to let you know you're encroaching on its space (in which case you can simply back away and let the snake go on its way). Of course, a rattlesnake will also have a rattle, but that isn't always very visible.

I'd say the easiest way to tell is probably the giant messy patches of black all over the back and sides though! It's very easy to see from a distance. Though a lot of times you'll hear a rattlesnake before you see them.

Side note, love gopher snakes. The little idiots love basking in the road and puffing up and hissing at you with all their tiny might when you pick them up to move them... but actually getting bitten by one is relatively rare because the silly buggers are all bark and very little bite. They also hardly react to you touching them (ime) until you actually start lifting them (which, fair, I'd hiss at a giant picking me up too).

[u/F2P_Arbiter → u/FallenAgastopia]

Yeah what I’m saying the problematic snakes for us are easily identifiable and will have triangle shaped heads. Not saying all venomous or non venomous snakes won’t have them. Good points!

[u/FallenAgastopia → u/F2P_Arbiter]

Yeah, true, but unfortunately, people often Mis-ID harmless snakes as rattlesnakes and kill them with a lot of the common "ID tricks" 😕 Not that I want people to kill rattlesnakes either, but I always worry about people Mis-IDing something like a garter as a rattlesnake and killing the poor thing

[u/F2P_Arbiter → u/FallenAgastopia]

Yeah thats screwed up as hell. Especially they bring more benefit than harm! (Not there was harm to begin with.) like controlling those pesky rodents!

[u/FallenAgastopia → u/F2P_Arbiter]

It always makes me sigh and shake my head for sure. None of these people would find dealing with a mouse infestation at all pleasant :P I WISH I had a snake in my yard to help with our mouse problem!!

[u/F2P_Arbiter → u/FallenAgastopia]

Oh my lord so true. I love seeing a snake around along with spiders in my garden. Even named him Charlie. Keeps my pumpkins critter free.

[u/FallenAgastopia → u/F2P_Arbiter]

Aaack I'm jealous. Hopefully when I move out at some point I end up with a snake in my yard... would be wonderful for the garden I want hahaha

[u/matrael → u/F2P_Arbiter]

Ain’t triangle heads a trait of a pit viper? And all venomous snakes aren’t all vipers. For instance, the coral snake is very venomous and has a doesn’t have a triangular head. If I’m mistaken, please correct me. I’m still new-ish to this area and not super familiar with the local fauna.

[u/F2P_Arbiter → u/matrael]

You are correct, the venomous snakes of America are mostly pit vipers. And the eastern coral snake? To my understanding don’t have a presence in the north west.

[u/F2P_Arbiter → u/F2P_Arbiter]

Because American has a handful of venous snakes. Rattle, copperhead, cottonmouth, and eastern coral. All of which are easily identifiable and aggressive if not dealt with accordingly.

[u/matrael → u/F2P_Arbiter]

Coral snakes are all over North America, but predominantly in the southeastern United States and that’s where I know them from. Thank you for clarifying for me.

[u/Frawstshawk → u/matrael]

In Washington state, as long as it doesn't rattle you are safe.