You are one brave man! I don't think I would have been as nice. If that was me in the boat, you would be looking a dead snake pictures.

That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time!! I am still laughing from that comment!! Nice one Mudshark!

Thanks Crash...the problem is I had two of my young boys with me and they told my wife about it....I think they all respect me a little less after this little incedent.

a bullsnake is a separate species from the rat snake, and the one in the pic is a bullsnake

Neither one is out to hurt you..... But they still don't make good First Mates

Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) is the correct answer. I'm not an expert but I did take herpetology at A&M and worked at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection and have kept many species of snake over the years.

Some bull snakes do have similar markings but this one is definitely a texas rat.

that is crazy

You know, looking at peej's photo, I figured out what it is with snakes. They have such a mean expression. That snake he is holding is a MEAN-LOOKING animal! You would think that by now, as long as they have been on the planet, they would have evolved faces like puppies and kittens; speaking from a public relations perspective.

On the other hand, a rattlesnake is doing us a favor by NOT looking like a puppy. A rattlesnake's expression clearly says "Don't pet me."

Never mind.

Such fear of one of God's industrious and beneficial creatures!

Good pics, pretty color and patterns on that critter!

Glad to hear it had a happy ending for all parties involved.

Rudy

Yea, it's a boat constrictor. They especially like to eat bass fishermen for breakfast. Don't let one of them buggers in your bass boat or you've had it. They migrated up Cental America from Panama about ten years ago by hitching a ride up in a Peacock fishermans rig. The Dept. of Fish & Wildlife says that they will overpopulate the state 'cause they have no known predators in Texas, but they're wrong! They haven't seen a bad ars Texan with a boat paddle yet!!!

The snake I am holding in my picture is the same as the one that started this topic. Texas Gray Rat Snake. Gray because the head is mostly all Gray & Texas because if you look at my pic, there is orange coloring between the scales.

I did not say it was a Bull snake, I said what most people call them. Most animals have several slang names, the proper name is Gray Rat Snake, Both Pictures. Working with snakes is what pays my bills!

We've had quite a few want to get in the boat with us (if they did not fall off an overhanging limb 1st) here in the swamp. They usually are following a scent trail laid down from a livewell overflow or a stringer of fish over the side...Sometimes they're mighty hungry