Do baby rattlesnakes have an orange stripe down their back?

[skygazer]

I saw the cutest baby snake on the trail where I walk today - he was all of about 5 inches long and when I stopped to look at him, he coiled up and tried to strike at me! It was adorable - he thought he was all that.

I took a picture with my phone but it's tough to see him - he's well camouflaged for one thing and it's just a camera phone.

Calling SallyMander!

[TZ]

1. Could be a garter or rat snake

They will do that if they feel threatened as well..

[Critters2]

2. Hard to tell from the pic, but I think it's a garter.

Completely harmless. I used to have a friendly garter that would hang out on my office steps. Until someone killed it.

[Lyric]

3. Looks like a common garter snake

No danger.

:hi:

[skygazer]

4. I wasn't worried about danger - I love snakes

We have rattlers around here but I've never seen a tiny baby so I didn't know if he might be one. It was the behavior that made me wonder.

At any rate, he was adorable - I wish I'd had my good camera.

[3.14158675309]

6. Baby rattlers are born with a rattle and will use it. Looks to me like a garter!

Some NA snakes will shake the tips of their tails in mimicry of rattlesnakes, but in fact, are harmless.

[skygazer]

7. Ah, that answers the question then

This little guy did not have a rattle. I didn't realize that garters would coil and strike - I've handled garters a lot and never had one do that.

I knew the Lounge would have an answer for me. :)

[3.14158675309]

9. Oh yeah they will! Their temperaments vary greatly.

I caught dozens growing up as a kid. The size of the garter snake did not matter-- I caught very calm large garters, and feisty aggressive youngsters, and visa versa. And then there were the ones who would flail their tails wildly while ejecting musk and fecal matter. They were no fun to catch.... :P Most times, though, they would calm down and allow subsequent handling.

[skygazer]

10. A group of boys on the playground tried to scare me with a garter in 3rd grade

I took the snake away from them, let it go and beat them up. Those were good days. :)

[3.14158675309]

11. OMG! That is frekkin highlarious!

Great story! :rofl: :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. maybe a baby garter snake?

[Noodleboy13]

8. Obviously a baby Chupacabra n/t