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Snake skin identification #839348

Asked July 06, 2023, 5:01 PM EDT

This snake skin is hanging out of my dryer vent. I'm assuming it is now in my house. Can you tell if poisonous?

Spartanburg County South Carolina

Expert Response

shed skins do not carry the pigments and patterns so it is hard to say. If I had to guess it would probably be a rat snake which are not poisonous. 

Aside from coral snakes, which would not be that large, nor occur in Spartanburg County, all the rest of the venomous snakes would have much fatter bodies in the middle tapering at both ends. non-venomous would be the same width for most of their length., only tapering close to each end.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 06, 2023, 5:21 PM EDT
This one does taper but I'm guessing only at the end of tail. Would any other pictures help? I have several. 

On Thu, Jul 6, 2023, 5:21 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 06, 2023, 5:27 PM EDT

Is the head area still intact? That would be helpful. Rat snakes are so named because that is one creature they are prone to hunt which means crawling into holes to find prey. If your dryer vent is connected, then I doubt it could possibly be in your house. 

Copperheads are the most common venomous snake in the upstate of SC. They still have a pattern visible on the skin. https://www.reptilefact.com/copperhead-snake.html

3 species of rattlesnakes can be found in the state, but they are usually not found in populated areas. The tail of the skin would be blunt where it ended at the rattles.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 07, 2023, 8:14 AM EDT
Thank you for answering my questions. 

On Fri, Jul 7, 2023, 8:14 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 09, 2023, 5:30 PM EDT

I learned something new watching a recording of a recent Making it Grow episode where a naturalist was on the show with two snake skins. Near the tail on the underside behind the "anus" non-venomous snakes will have split ventral scales venomous snakes will have single ventral scales. You can watch this episode S2023 Ep14 | June 27, 2023 found here. https://www.scetv.org/watch/making-it-grow. The segment showing actual snake skins and telling the difference starts at about the 46:20 minute mark in the show which is near the end. 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 11, 2023, 1:07 PM EDT

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