TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM (Texas) 08 April 08 Learn what’s slithering about (Jeanne Williams)
Cameron: Texas is home to some 72 species of snakes and “learning to identify them, and knowing which are venomous, can save a lot of headache and heartache,” said Mike Mitchell, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden for Milam County.
Perhaps the most common snakes appearing this time of year are copperheads, which are difficult to see because their skin is patterned to mix in with leaf litter. Copperheads prefer habitats that are forested, and though they are not thought to be an aggressive pit viper, they will vigorously defend themselves from danger when threatened or startled. The snake is poisonous.
“These snakes are active in the morning and afternoon, then as it gets warmer they are more nocturnal,” said Dr. Toby Hibbitts, Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection’s curator of herpetology.
Another venomous snake common to the area is the cottonmouth or water moccasin. This snake is stockier, wider and has a distinctive scent originating in its musk glands. Cottonmouths rarely are found far from their preferred habitat, a permanent water source, such as a slow-moving stream, edge of a lake, pond or swamp.
Perhaps the most discussed poisonous snake is the diamondback rattlesnake, a large pit viper that grows to more than four feet long, and “will strike even if not rattling first,” Hibbitts said. About seven to 10 people are killed annually by this snake’s venom.
Another large poisonous snake found in this area is a threatened species, the timber rattlesnake. Highly venomous but the least common, they are sometimes slow to defend themselves and rely on their ability to blend into their surroundings to avoid confrontation. Timber rattlers seek to escape rather than risking danger, will remain silent, and if possible, will hide before revealing their position to a predator, Hibbitts said.
In spite of their large size (up to five feet long) and reputation, timber rattlesnakes are difficult to provoke into rattling or biting.
Still, it does happen, Mitchell said. It is best not to take any chances with such a potentially deadly snake. If someone is bitten, seek immediate medical attention.
Other common snakes in the area include the Texas ratsnake, hognose snake, Louisiana milk snake, coral snake and water snake, Mitchell said.
“For the most part, snakes are an important part of the ecosystem. It is important for residents, especially those in rural areas, to be able to tell which kind of snake they see and know whether or not they are venomous,” Hibbitts said. “You’re not going to be able to get rid of them so learning as much as you can about them is important.”
Because snakes come and go as they please, residents can take a few steps to discourage them from visiting where they might endanger people.
“Keep their prey, such as mice, away from your house,” Mitchell said. “If you have a bad problem, you want to think about making some exclusion device around your yard, like having a galvanized sheet of aluminum flashing around your exterior fences.”
Regardless, snakes are something to learn about and respect, Mitchell said. For information about snakes or any other Texas wildlife, see the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Learn what’s slithering about