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You think? I've never seen one like this before. We just moved and have a large pasture, with a large pond, right behind us so could just be a different variety than I'm used to seeing.
When I found a snake I didn't recognize I took a picture like you did and then google searched my state and "snake pictures" until I found a good site to help me id it.
Looks like a banded water snake. They are harmless and a neat little snake. Here is a close up pic of a head shot. You can tell better than we can from the pic.
Safe but mean, right? I had a baby in my house some time ago. Put in a 5g bucket and he tried a number of times to strike - from in the bucket - 18 inches deep. Mine, was of course in the east (Maryland) and was more greyish colored, and mean.
Well I looked at www.texassnakes.net and it appears to be a buttermilk racer (never heard of it) which is non venomous so looks like he/she can hang around as long as it wants, really a cool looking snake.
Hardly....but the um....fecal matter...left behind by a watersnake sure is....I bred a few about 10 years ago, and I still have nightmares about cleaning up after them.
Since you're in the Houston area I'd definitely say Nerodia fasciata confluens, the Broad Banded Water Snake. These are frequently mistaken for Copperheads and/or Cottonmouths (both poisonous). Like almost all Nerodia species, the Broad Banded is generally quick to bite and often liberally spreads the contents of its cloaca over anybody who is trying to handle it.
Most individuals are obnoxious but definitely non-poisonous. The one you found is a particularly pretty one.