With the warming weather, snakes will be emerging from their dens and making a general pest of themselves again. Some snakes are beneficial, of course and those we want to encourage. Yes, even if we don't like them. Oak snakes, rat snakes and other non venomous varieties help control other pests. The venomous ones are just as helpful with pest control, but are a bit too dangerous to have around the kids and pets. I lost count of how many rattlers I had to deal with last year.
So, today, I'm going to talk about two types to worry about. Venomous, and endangered. You should be familiar with the kinds of snakes in your area, so that you can identify them properly.
Venomous.
Here in South Georgia, we have a few species that are venomous, and pairly easy to spot. With the exception of the Coral Snake, they are all Pit Vipers. When looking at the snake to identify it, look at the shape of it's head, and just between the eyes and nostrils. (Don't get too close.) If the head is triangular and you see what looks like two sets of nostrils, you've got a pit viper. And if you aren't sure of these two details, take no chances and treat the snake as if it is venomous. In the case of the Coral Snake, identification is simple. All the different types of corals display a banded pattern with red scales adjacent to yellow scales.
Endangered/Threatened.
The only endangered snake in our area, is the Eastern Indigo. It is easily identified by it's coloration, and length. The eastern indigo being the longest native snake species in the US. This species is harmless to humans, and is a boon to have around, as they eat rats, moles, insects, and venomous snake species. While it is illegal to keep indigos as pets, it is perfectly fine to let them live out their lives near your home, where they will help keep your house and family safe.
Below is a list of the venomous snakes here in South Georgia, along with pictures and descriptions of each. Please keep in mind that snake patterns and colors can vary quite a bit.
Southern Copperhead
The copperheads we have around here tend to be non aggressive, and their venom is fairly weak when compared to other vipers. This should not be an excuse to be reckless, however, as they can kill. Their diet is mainly insects and small rodents, which can be found around chicken coops, pump houses and gardens. They are easy to spot if you keep your lawn clear of the fallen foliage their pattern is meant to hide them in.
Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
The example in the picture is just one of the very wide variation of colors and patterns a Cottonmouth may have. This leads to a lot of confusion when trying to identify them. The gaping of the mouth showing the bright white lining is the easiest identifier. This behavior is not common in other watersnake species. While they do prefer wet, swampy areas, they are by no means restricted to that habitat, and will venture out.
Rattlesnakes
That picture up there is the main thing you need to remember about rattlers. The babies lack it until their first molting, and some snakes do lose their rattles, they all have the "rattle" display when threatened. Colors and patterns vary so widely within the rattlesnake family, and indeed within the species themselves, it can be nearly impossibly to remember them all. So, look for the rattle. Look for the behavior. Look at the head for the telltale viper signs.
Coral Snake
Ok, these things are the only non pit viper we have in the venomous snake variety. At least here in South Georgia. And when you see a banded snake with yellow, red and black, just remember "Red touch Yellow, Kill a Fellow". This simple mnemonic will remind you to look at the order of the band, and only works in North America. The colors, and the widths of the bands can vary a lot across the coral snake family, but they are pretty easy to identify. Many people think that the Coral snake has no fangs, and must chew it's venom in. This is not true. Coral snakes do have fangs, though smaller than viper fangs. Some of them have rearward facing fangs. Though coral snakes can and will bite, they do not strike and recoil as vipers do. They tend to hang on and chew. It should be remembered, however, that coral snakes are not aggressive.
Dealing with venomous snakes.
Gun. Simple, effective, loud, sorta messy. Some folks don't like this for personal or political reasons.
Noose stick. Takes practice, but are pretty simple to build and use.
Axe/Machete. That snake is faster than you.
If you can't bring yourself to shoot a snake that poses a threat to your family, the safest thing to do is to call in a pro. They are not very expensive, and will be happy to give you extra safety tips, and advice on how to prevent the snakes from returning.
