Snake ID Please

[Zincoln Miner]

I walked past a snake not knowing it was there being distracted by raucous hikers in the distance. I saw it when I walked back a couple minutes later. My best guess (being that it was SE NYS) is it's a mutated color Copperhead, but it can be a an off color Corn Snake (lost it's way north), or maybe someone's escaped juvenile Python?

Thanks in advance for any help. I was nervous taking a fuzzy zoomed in pic because I passed nearly a foot from it just moments earlier. Always pay attention people. :O

Edit: It was a tinge more yellow in the lighter color than the pic represents.

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

Maybe a juvenile timber rattler

 

[dognose]

Does not look to be a copperhead. So I would agree with Back-of-the-boat

Here is a copperhead our neighbor killed. At our cabin in KY, this fella was on his concrete deck warming himself when he gave up the ghost.

 

[McKinney_5900]

The head, unless the fuzzy pic is tricky,,,the head looks totally non poisonous to me.

 

[bowwinkles]

Withe the copper colored head and stubby tail and the markings I would definitely call this a copperhead.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=coipperhead&t=h_&iax=images&ia=images

 

[T.C.]

Does not look to be a copperhead. So I would agree with Back-of-the-boat

Here is a copperhead our neighbor killed. At our cabin in KY, this fella was on his concrete deck warming himself when he gave up the ghost.

That's a good snake!

 

[smokeythecat]

I think it's a yellow phase timber rattler. Do not bring it inside to play with the children!

 

[bowwinkles]

I think it's a yellow phase timber rattler. Do not bring it inside to play with the children!

Black tail and no rattles, plus the markings are wrong for a rattler. Color pattern appears to be about the right color though, just not the rattle snake pattern. Don't leave it in the yard for the dog to play with either.

 

[smokeythecat]

I couldn't make out the tail in the pics. You should NOT have a timber rattler in Orange County.

 

[bowwinkles]

I couldn't make out the tail in the pics. You should NOT have a timber rattler in Orange County.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=new+york+copperhead&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

 

[smokeythecat]

Well, I looked at the pics. Not going outside ever again!

 

[Zincoln Miner]

Thanks for the responses. I'm still unsure what it was, but maybe it just shed it's older skin?

This was near the NY/NJ state line, and here's what's on a trailhead kiosk nearby.

 

[smokeythecat]

There goes the neighborhood! The last timber rattler seen here (northern Maryland) was in the '90s as a road kill. Of course that doesn't mean there aren't a few around somewhere.

 

[Richard Guy]

Its a Copperhead, they've been very active lately in Northern Virginia

 

[Tpmetal]

in ny the choices that fit in order of my speculation are copperhead, eastern hognose, or rattlesnake(timber fits better than than massasauga unless you are near swampland near rochester or east of syracuse)

 

[smokeythecat]

I know this sounds nuts, but could you see if it's eye was round or elliptical? In the northeast US only snakes with elliptical eyes are venomous.

 

[Louie D]

Its a Copperhead, they've been very active lately in Northern Virginia

Because of Cicada's?

 

[Phil]

My rule is simple.

If it slithers............KILL IT!

 

[billb]

I?m on the other side of the Hudson River in Dutchess County..Whenever I encounter a snake I quickly try to look at its head..If the head is triangular in shape it is venomous ..It?s time to leave for sure..This picture of yours resembles that shape

 

[Zincoln Miner]

I know this sounds nuts, but could you see if it's eye was round or elliptical? In the northeast US only snakes with elliptical eyes are venomous.

As you see from the fuzzy pic, I did not want to get that close.