Be Careful; Snakes Are Out In East Texas
Brian Triplett
The past couple of weeks at the office seem to have contained more than their fair share of spring time snake calls. We’ve had the usual snakes in the flower bed, snakes on the back porch and snakes in the garage.
The client story that gave me a case of “the willies” last week was the nearly 3-foot-long shed skin that someone brought into the office for me to identify.
It was found hanging from a shoe rack on the inside of a bedroom closet. Fortunately, the shed keyed out to be from a non-venomous snake; unfortunately, as far as I know, the snake has yet to reveal itself to the homeowner.
Odds are, if you do encounter a snake around the home, it will be a non-venomous snake. Texas only has four species of venomous snakes (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes).
Of these four, the venomous snake you are most likely to encounter around the home in East Texas is the southern copperhead. According to Texas Monthly’s “A Field Guide to Texas Snakes,” the southern copperhead is generally the most numerous venomous snake in the eastern one-third of the state.
The snake that I most often have brought into the office for identification is the Texas rat snake. “A Field Guide to Texas Snakes” lists the Texas rat snake as the most common long, dark, brown-mottled snake occurring in suburban areas throughout the eastern one-half of the state. These snakes are very aggressive and will strike or bite without much provocation. Rat snakes are also good climbers. On more than one occasion, I have been brought dead rat snakes that surprised homeowners had found hanging from wreaths or other items on their home’s front door.
Being able to tell the difference between a venomous and non-venomous snake can ease some of the fears associated with a close snake encounter. A quick examination of the snake’s eyes can rule out whether it is a venomous snake in all but one instance.
Rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and copperheads are all members of a group of snakes called pit vipers. Pit vipers have elliptical (cat-like) pupils while non-venomous snakes have round (human-like) pupils. Pit vipers also have a loreal pit (small hole) located between the eye and the nostril. Non-venomous snakes do not have this pit.
Coral snakes, the fourth type of venomous snake found in Texas, have round pupils and lack loreal pits. However, coral snakes can be easily identified by their vibrant and specific coloration and pattern. Coral snakes possess red, yellow, and black bands of color. The red and yellow bands touch each other on Coral snakes. Remember the saying, “Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, venom lack,” and you should do fine in trying to identify this snake.
You are not very likely to be bitten by a snake. However, it does happen on a rare occasion. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that nationwide about 7,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes annually (one to two people in Texas die each year from venomous snake bites). If you are bitten by a snake, seek medical attention immediately.
Bites from venomous snakes should be treated very quickly and seriously. Bites from non-venomous snakes can lead to infection and should be cleaned and inspected by a medical professional. For more information on treating a person visit a Web site like this one from the University of Maryland’s Medical Center, http://www.umm.edu/non_trauma/snake.htm.
If you are with someone who is bitten, it would be very helpful if you could assist in identifying the snake. If the snake is dead, try to safely place it in a sturdy container and bring it with you. If it is alive, do not place yourself in danger trying to capture or kill the snake. A digital picture taken on your cell phone may be all that you need for making a positive identification later.
For more information on snakes, visit “Blogging with Brian” at http://tceblogs.tamu.edu and read the entry on snakes from this past week. It contains links to some online publications and other information sources on Texas snakes.
Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980, via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu, or on the web at http://smith-tx.tamu.edu.
FAQ
Search Forums
Log in
Register
