What type of snake ended up in my pump?

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09-10-2014 12:54 PM
s-one

What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Found this in our pool pump.. was curious as to what type of snake it was. (SoCal)

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/63...912/tjhS9F.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/63...913/2AaaUR.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/63...540/0O7Rl3.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/63...538/Ppnw9S.jpg
09-10-2014 02:13 PM
CarlD

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Poor critter! Clearly he wasn't a Plumber's Snake!
09-10-2014 03:34 PM
Watermom

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

EEWWWWW! Will make me look carefully before I open my pump basket!
09-11-2014 01:22 PM
s-one

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

I have little kiddies.. imagine if they had saw that swimming amongst them when it decided to drop in. lol.
09-11-2014 08:33 PM
nefretrameses

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Looks like a "racer". Google "snake identification in California" and you will find site that will walk you through the identification process. Depends on where you are. As long as it doesn't have a rattle . . . We killed every snake we encountered until we figured out which ones were dangerous and which were beneficial.
09-11-2014 09:35 PM
CarlD

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

King snakes aren't venomous, and eat other snakes ( including venomous ones), as well as rats and other vermin.
09-12-2014 10:22 PM
JimK

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlD

King snakes aren't venomous, and eat other snakes ( including venomous ones), as well as rats and other vermin.

I was also thinking a King snake. I'm more familiar with the local species here in VA. I can tell you that one is non-venomous. All venomous species in the US have triangular heads except for the coral snake, which looks very different from that one. Also, I don't think coral snakes are native to CA.

Edit: took a quick look online, not a King snake. Looks like a racer as mentioned in the earlier post or a juvenile rat snake.
09-13-2014 12:18 AM
FormerBromineUser

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Hey, Jim. Hijacking here. No need to be specific, but in what part of VA do you live? I am SO a fan of VA!
09-13-2014 12:43 AM
CarlD

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

I didn't mean to imply it was a king snake, only that king snakes are beneficial, not pests.
09-13-2014 11:21 AM
JimK

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerBromineUser

Hey, Jim. Hijacking here. No need to be specific, but in what part of VA do you live? I am SO a fan of VA!

Tidewater/Hampton Roads :)
09-13-2014 11:24 AM
JimK

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlD

I didn't mean to imply it was a king snake, only that king snakes are beneficial, not pests.

As are most snakes. ;)
09-13-2014 02:10 PM
CarlD

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Tidewater/Hampton Roads :)

Nice! We lived up in Alexandria for a number of years.
09-13-2014 05:21 PM
nefretrameses

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

The king snake is banded although the pattern is variable. It doesn't look like the one in the pics are banded.
09-19-2014 04:33 PM
s-one

Re: What type of snake ended up in my pump?

Thanks for all the suggestions. I looked it up and I'm thinking its a Gopher snake. I may be wrong but the patterns look close.