I think I would pass out if a snake that size bit me, regardless of how friendly or non-poisonous. YEEEE...IKES!

That is one beautiful corn snake! Been quite a while since I've seen one in my "neck of the woods"....

Gorgeous!!! Glad you were able to save him from Sissy.

~Betsy

Definitely a red rat snake, aka corn snake, and a real beauty. Yes, like any wild animal, they can bite, but I notice the man with the "nice big ???" is wearing gloves, and so not as likely to get nailed. But you still have to be pretty quick to catch a rat snake this large without getting bitten. An absolute BEAUTY, Lisa! I'm so glad he was saved from the dogs, big shovels, car wheels and all the other things that happen to our lovely snakes.

Thanks for sharing the pics! I've never come across one of these any larger than this one, that's for sure.

And yes, totally non-venomous. These are often sold in the pet trade, though I personally hate that. They tame down nicely, I believe.

One of our most beautiful native snakes!

Marcia

Just re-read your post and realized you DID get nailed. Hope you have used some peroxide and neosporin on the bite, as snake bites, like any bite wound, human or animal, can get infected.

They ARE very fast. And quite capable of putting up a good defense when they feel threatened. A pity he didn't know you had his best interests at heart.

Marcia

One day I sat on my wicker rocker enjoying the shade of my porch when I decided the cushions needed fluffed .I stood up and lifted the cushion I had been sitting on and there all coiled up was a rat snake I had been sitting on.SCARED the dickens out of me but once I got my composure I moved him to the back property and told him to get out there and eat rats.

THAT would have scarred me for life!
And I would never ever sit down again.
ever.
anywhere.
until I died.
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

I hope you're OK!
I'd have permanent heebie-jeebies if a snake ever bit me...LOLAM

Funny...this evening I was out watering my Plumies when I spied this pretty snake...about 3' long...never saw one here before, but it sure resembles the beauty you found!
Is it the same kind?
This baby was very docile...and a bit chubby...either it just ate or its pregnant, I reckon.

Wow - that's a beautiful corn snake. The size of that animal is impressive.

There's a ladu by the name of Cathy Love who breeds corn snakes. Her place is called corn-utopia. I think she's in or near Ft Meyers. These snakes have tremendous natural color variability and are bred for all kinds of "designer" color variations. They generally have a mild disposition and are easy to care for.

I had a cornsnake as a pet when I was a kid. It creeped my mother out, but in the end, she had to admit that it was a very low maintenance pet.

Beatrice

Here is a link that might be useful:

Lellie, yours is a red rat snake, also. Very pretty! I really think these guys are beautiful, and they don't seem to be as common as the much larger yellow rat snake. (Maybe that's just my perception. I don't really have figures on this.)

And I've been bitten by several snakes, but always when I tried to capture them. I learned I am NOT as fast as a yellow ratsnake, for sure, so I don't even try to catch those any more. I do fine with ringnecks, garter snakes and a couple of others, but I don't try for the rat snakes or black racers. They are fast and the black racers, especially, can be ornery when threatened.

Wish I had a red rat snake here. I had one at my last house that would often curl up inside our grill, so I had to learned to check inside before lighting it.

Marcia

Beautiful Lisa!
I always called them corn snakes too.
Haven't seen one that big around here though.
I love them.
But I'm kinda glad I didn't come across him when I was visiting you last week. I was beating the grass ahead of us as we worked!
Would have distracted us as we admired him.
Actually I was more concerned with digging up a coral snake.

I found a pretty ringneck today nestled between some pots.
Does that count in this post?

Tree, for MY money, ringnecked snakes count in ANY post! As do all the rest of 'em! I'm never bored by snakes of any sort, anywhere. Always that brief moment of "zero to the bone," and then the thrill of watching something so beautiful, especially if it is winding its way through my garden. Makes me happy for the rest of the day!

I grew up calling them corn snakes, too, but either one will do, I think. They are closely related to the yellow rat snakes, hence the other name.

Marcia

I didn't even know that corn snakes grew that big! And it's such a beautiful snake, they both are! I've only seen a corn snake in the yard once and that one was living in a stack of empty flower pots that I had out back. When seperating some of the pots to use one day I found a smallish corn snake curled up in one about midway down the stack. It was probably eating all the hyper little frogs that like to live in my empty flower pots. I wish I saw more of them!

I love corn snakes. Snake people say they should be your first snake if you're thinking of raising snakes, because they're really pretty easy to raise, and not aggressive.

They are fun to watch. Very beautiful color.

-Cliff