Posted by Phil Hunt on May 9, 2007

Q: My dad recently killed a large 5 foot snake while I was at work. we live in northern mississippi right on the Miss.-Tenn. Border in Olive Branch, Miss. according to both my dad and my mom they said the snake was 5 ft. had diamond shapes and was dark brown with yellow color to it, although my dad added it looked like this snake had teeth instead of fangs. Sounded to me like it was an eastern diamonback rattlesnake but I wasn't sure and in the region I am in which is near two or three smaller lakes. I was told it couldnt be a eastern diamondback so I am confused a bit. could this be a non poisonous snake or does my description sound like a rattlesnake? We live in suburb area so not alot of farming area here houses close together not rural like farmland . Please let me know thank you so much . Phil

State: Mississippi

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: Although I understand why you might think the snake was a rattlesnake, since your dad killed it and had a good look at it, he certainly wouldn't have missed seeing the buttons on its tail IF it had been a rattlesnake. So...don't think this is what he killed. Keep in mind too that just because a snake coils up and hisses in self defense when threatened doesn't mean it's poisonous.

Snakes can vary quite a bit in color and pattern so making an identification can be quite difficult. From your description and location, it could be one of the water snakes like the Mississippi Green Water Snake (Nerodia cyclopion) or Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer) although these don't get up to 5 feet in length. So, I'm leaning to the Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) as the snake in question. This snake gets up to 66" long and certainly will hiss loudly when threatened. Pine Snakes are really good ratters and harmless - not poisonous. Too bad your dad killed this snake as it would help keep rodent populations down around your home. Take a look online to see if one of the snakes I've mentioned matches what your dad killed and then you'll know. Thanks for asking.

John Wiessinger ( May 10, 2007)