What to photograph

  • The whole snake if you can, from the side, so the body proportions and pattern are visible.
  • The head, from above or the side, without getting closer: use zoom.
  • Something for scale in the frame, or a note of the length against a step, a fence post or a shoe.
  • The place: sun on rocks, long grass, water's edge. Habitat narrows the candidates.

The features that actually separate species

Pattern (bands, blotches, stripes, plain), the shape and color of the head and neck, the texture of the scales (keeled or smooth), body thickness for its length, and where you are. Together those decide the species. Single folk rules, such as a triangular head or a slit pupil meaning venomous, have too many exceptions in either direction to act on, and acting on them is how people get close to the wrong snake.

If it is in the house, the garage or the yard

Give it a way out and time to take it. Most snakes found around homes are hunting rodents and will leave. If one must be moved, the local wildlife agency or a licensed removal service does it safely; a broom and a bucket do not.

Questions people ask

Can an app identify a snake from a photo?

Yes, from a clear photo taken at a safe distance: the head shape, the pattern, the scale texture and the body proportions are what the identification reads, and Animal Identifier returns the species with a match score. It is a fast first answer; a low score means the photo was not clear enough to trust.

Is a triangular head a sign of a venomous snake?

Not reliably. Many harmless snakes flatten their heads into a triangle when threatened, and some venomous species have narrow heads. Pupil shape and head shape are folk rules with too many exceptions to act on; the species is what matters, and range and pattern together decide it.

What should I do if I cannot identify it?

Leave it alone. Every snake, venomous or not, would rather be left; almost all bites happen when someone tries to catch, kill or move one. Photograph from a distance, keep pets and children back, and contact your local wildlife agency if it needs to be moved.