Pinesnake and its skin?

NewSchoolPiney

Explorer
Jun 16, 2003
138
0
Boston, MA
www.pinemind.com
On an overnight hike yesterday into today along the Mullica River Trail in Wharton State Forest, we came upon a snake in our path:

Pine snake?

I assume that it is a pine snake but I wasn't sure. It was about 5+ ft. long.

About 10 ft. down the trail, I noticed a snake skin in the brush:

Snake skin

Can someone confirm that this was a pine snake? I didn't want to get too close. Not a big fan of giant snakes.

Justin
 

Bobbleton

Explorer
Mar 12, 2004
466
46
NJ
Justin-

It sure was a pinesnake . . . totally harmless and really amazing. An easy way to tell those guys from the rattlesnakes (other than the rattle) is their heads. Pinesnakes have circular pupils and the heads are sort of straight-ish . . . with nothing particular about them.

Rattlesnakes, however have vertical pupils (like a cat's eyes) and their heads are distinctively shaped like an arrow. Also if you look close (though it may be TOO close) you can notice its heat sensing pits between the nostril and eye.

Cool pictures--that was a nice find.

-Bob
 
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