Originally Posted by
unterhausen
We have eastern timber rattlers. Some of them are a beautiful yellow color. We also have non-poisonous snakes that are exactly the same color. You can tell the difference because the non-poisonous snakes will run, the rattlesnakes won't.
What about the shape of their heads? You probably don't have time to examine them but venomous snakes have "pits" behind the jaw.