'Snake Season'
Published by Christy under on 7:20 AM
Well summer is here and along with the heat and humidity come the snakes. With so much information looming about concerning these reptiles, I thought I would have a crack at dispelling some myths and perhaps cause you to give snakes a more favorable look. Alright alright, I know if you hate them now you probably aren't going to be in love with them by the time you're through reading this, but at least you'll be more informed.
#1: Snakes are slimy and live in holes.
I'm not sure who started this one, as snakes don't look a bit slimy to me even from a distance, but it's one of the most common misconceptions most people have. Snakes are reptiles, therefore they have scaly skin which tends to shine and glare in direct light. The other myth that most of us are taught religiously as children is that all the holes in your yard are 'snake holes'. So let's just look at this from a logical standpoint for a second: How would an animal with no legs, feet, or claws dig a hole? It's not going to happen. Most of the holes you see are created by rodents such as moles and chipmunks and even insects (yellow jackets have elaborate underground nests). Will a snake utilize a hole? Sometimes, but more often than not they're hanging about in trees, tall grasses, and under leaf litter - most of the time places you will NEVER come into contact with.
#2: Copperheads and rat snakes interbreed.
This is a myth common to the east coast because we have both copperheads and rat snakes inhabiting the same areas. The myth itself is genetically impossible because we're talking about two VERY different types of snakes. For one thing copperheads give birth to live young and rat snakes lay clutches of eggs. It just wouldn't work. A lot of people however are confused by young rat snake and copperhead patterns due to some similarities. Juvenile rat snakes are grayish brown with charcoal square shaped blotches on their backs with a black-gray checkered belly. A baby copperhead is tan with copper colored blotches that saddle the back and has a yellow tipped tail. A worded description may not sound similar, but to an untrained eye in the field they look the same. Bottom line: DON'T pick up or harass ANY snake period. And especially one you are not able to identify beyond a shadow of a doubt.
#3: All snakes are venomous.
Well I'd hope you'd know better than that, but unfortunately I think this myth is what drives most people's fear of snakes. This is very false, much to the snakes' demise. Many different snakes constrict (something like suffocation) their prey (rodents, birds, lizards, other snakes) and many of them simply eat insects whole. There are only a few venomous species here in North Carolina and they can be easily avoided if you are aware of your surroundings.
#4: Snakes are naturally aggressive.
This myth ties in with number three. Most people are afraid of snakes because they believe the snake is out to 'get them' which is simply not true. Wasting energy and even venom on you is NOT what the snake has in mind. Snakes bite humans in defense when we enter their territory, do not heed their warnings, and/or harass them. "Well, what about the black racer? They chase people!" Most of the time you see a racer 'racing' it's going to be AWAY from you. They are very aggressive when cornered and will readily bite and fight, but the key here is to LEAVE IT ALONE. Others believe that a tail rattle is a sign of aggressiveness which isn't true either. A lot of snakes, including rattlesnakes, rattle their tales simply as a WARNING that you are too close and to back off. It's not a display of aggression, but a courtesy they're giving you before they physically defend themselves. You can't expect a snake, or any animal really, to play the game of life on human terms. They're animals and will therefore act as animals which means defending when threatened.
#5: The only good snake is a dead snake.
Not so really. Did you know that snakes keep the rodent population under control? Kill all the snakes and you're gonna see mice on the increase. Snakes are also part of the prey end of the food chain as well. Many birds of prey, who also eat rodents, eat snakes. Snakes are also valuable aesthetically. Many people enjoy learning and observing snakes simply because they think they're interesting, and yes, even beautiful.
I hope that you've gleaned some useful information from this blurb and you'll maybe give snakes a bit more of the benefit of a doubt in the future. Next, we're going to explore some snake season tips on how you can avoid and safely co-exist with snakes.
Common Snake Myths
#1: Snakes are slimy and live in holes.
I'm not sure who started this one, as snakes don't look a bit slimy to me even from a distance, but it's one of the most common misconceptions most people have. Snakes are reptiles, therefore they have scaly skin which tends to shine and glare in direct light. The other myth that most of us are taught religiously as children is that all the holes in your yard are 'snake holes'. So let's just look at this from a logical standpoint for a second: How would an animal with no legs, feet, or claws dig a hole? It's not going to happen. Most of the holes you see are created by rodents such as moles and chipmunks and even insects (yellow jackets have elaborate underground nests). Will a snake utilize a hole? Sometimes, but more often than not they're hanging about in trees, tall grasses, and under leaf litter - most of the time places you will NEVER come into contact with.
#2: Copperheads and rat snakes interbreed.
This is a myth common to the east coast because we have both copperheads and rat snakes inhabiting the same areas. The myth itself is genetically impossible because we're talking about two VERY different types of snakes. For one thing copperheads give birth to live young and rat snakes lay clutches of eggs. It just wouldn't work. A lot of people however are confused by young rat snake and copperhead patterns due to some similarities. Juvenile rat snakes are grayish brown with charcoal square shaped blotches on their backs with a black-gray checkered belly. A baby copperhead is tan with copper colored blotches that saddle the back and has a yellow tipped tail. A worded description may not sound similar, but to an untrained eye in the field they look the same. Bottom line: DON'T pick up or harass ANY snake period. And especially one you are not able to identify beyond a shadow of a doubt.
#3: All snakes are venomous.
Well I'd hope you'd know better than that, but unfortunately I think this myth is what drives most people's fear of snakes. This is very false, much to the snakes' demise. Many different snakes constrict (something like suffocation) their prey (rodents, birds, lizards, other snakes) and many of them simply eat insects whole. There are only a few venomous species here in North Carolina and they can be easily avoided if you are aware of your surroundings.
#4: Snakes are naturally aggressive.
This myth ties in with number three. Most people are afraid of snakes because they believe the snake is out to 'get them' which is simply not true. Wasting energy and even venom on you is NOT what the snake has in mind. Snakes bite humans in defense when we enter their territory, do not heed their warnings, and/or harass them. "Well, what about the black racer? They chase people!" Most of the time you see a racer 'racing' it's going to be AWAY from you. They are very aggressive when cornered and will readily bite and fight, but the key here is to LEAVE IT ALONE. Others believe that a tail rattle is a sign of aggressiveness which isn't true either. A lot of snakes, including rattlesnakes, rattle their tales simply as a WARNING that you are too close and to back off. It's not a display of aggression, but a courtesy they're giving you before they physically defend themselves. You can't expect a snake, or any animal really, to play the game of life on human terms. They're animals and will therefore act as animals which means defending when threatened.
#5: The only good snake is a dead snake.
Not so really. Did you know that snakes keep the rodent population under control? Kill all the snakes and you're gonna see mice on the increase. Snakes are also part of the prey end of the food chain as well. Many birds of prey, who also eat rodents, eat snakes. Snakes are also valuable aesthetically. Many people enjoy learning and observing snakes simply because they think they're interesting, and yes, even beautiful.
I hope that you've gleaned some useful information from this blurb and you'll maybe give snakes a bit more of the benefit of a doubt in the future. Next, we're going to explore some snake season tips on how you can avoid and safely co-exist with snakes.
3 comments:
For sure, Chris! Great information.
I don't even like garter snakes. They are prolific in my garden.
Do black snakes and rattle snakes interbreed? Today my husband and I were startled by the rattling of a 3 foot black snake on the path that we walk. We live in South-Central Pennsylvania. The snake was curled and rose up to smell the air, giving us time to stare at it and see that it WAS a black snake that was rattling like a rattle snake. It had no marking and had a regular black snake shaped head. I told my husband that it's Grandmother had to have been a hussey that mated with another NON black snake in the area. Could this be true??
Thank You,
Denise :)
Hey Denise,
Thanks for your question! The answer is no. Rat snakes are colubrids and rattlers are pit vipers, just like the common copperhead. They're two very different types of snake and don't interbreed. Oddly enough A LOT of snakes will utilize a tail 'rattle' in order to make someone aware of their presence and as a warning NOT to come any closer. Usually they are in leaves and that makes the rattle sound even more disconcerting, but it's simply a warning, nothing more. Sounds as if the snake you came across could have been a racer, they tend to 'hunt' with their heads up in the air. I'm not sure if ya'll have those in PA though. If it had a white belly it was definately a black rat snake. Just be careful as a timber rattler could look like a dark colored snake in the right lighting. :) Happy Summer!!!
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