Watch out!  Venomous snakes are waking from their winter slumber as the weather warms and will remain a potential encounter throughout the Spring season. 

Virginia is home to 30 species of snakes. Of those, only three are venomous: the copperhead, the timber rattlesnake and the water moccasin, also known as the cottonmouth. The copperhead far outnumbers the others in the Old Dominion.

If you see a copperhead, give it some space. Copperheads are not aggressive but will strike in self-defense if they feel threatened. Bites are rarely life-threatening, but if bitten you should always seek medical attention.

Snakes usually prefer to retreat when encountered but can become defensive if threatened. Most snake bites are received by people who try to capture or kill a snake.  When left alone, snakes present little or no danger to people

Snakes are a sign of a healthy, happy ecosystem.

Snakes are truly intriguing creatures that inspire both fascination and fear.  Long and legless, covered in a skin of lithe, living scales with staring eyes that never blink, a flickering forked tongue and fangs that sometimes dispense deadly venom, these much-maligned animals may have a bad reputation, but the reality is they are a vital ecological partner. 

Effective hunters and ambush predators, these slithering reptiles use their highly-developed senses of sight, taste, hearing and touch to locate and track their prey. Some snakes use a lethal dose of venom, a modified saliva, to paralyze and kill their prey while others use their powerful muscular bodies to squeeze their prey to death.

Ecologically, snakes are both predator and prey providing a food source for birds, mammals and other reptiles while feeding on birds, mammals, amphibians, fish and insects. Snakes eat many species of small pests, such as rodents and slugs.  Without this “balance of nature,” most pest species could overpopulate the landscape and cause considerable damage to homes, gardens and farms. In Virginia it is illegal to kill any species of snake, unless that snake represents an immediate threat to one’s personal health or safety.

Maintaining a high level of biodiversity is important to all life on Earth, including humans, and snakes are an important part of that biodiversity.  Despite their importance to our ecosystems, snake populations are declining, mostly from habitat loss, disease and parasites, and perhaps the most shameful, human persecution. Many people choose to kill any and all snakes they meet, regardless of location.

Road mortalities are critical causes of population decline for many species of reptiles. In one study, 8-out-of-10 drivers admitted they would swerve their vehicle in an attempt to run over an object they thought was a snake.

You don’t have to be a fan of snakes in order to respect their value to nature and mankind.  The more you learn about these slithering, scaly neighbors the more you learn they are incredible creatures worthy of our respect and protection. 

Stay Snake Safe.

The Virginia Herpetological Society offers the following advice on how to stay snake safe while enjoying the great outdoors this Spring.

Around the home:

• Keep vegetation thinned and trimmed.
• Remove piles of brush and leaves well away from walkways and play areas.
• Be alert when working around stacks of firewood and lumber.
• Use heavy work gloves when handling firewood and building supplies.
• Wear shoes or boots when walking outside.
• Use a flashlight at night in warm weather. Shine before you step.
• Use a flashlight when working in a dark shed, garage, or barn.
• Remove spilled bird seed that might attract rodents (favorite copperhead prey).

When roaming outdoors:

• Always stay alert!
• A hiking staff or trekking pole can be a useful safety tool.
• Wear hiking boots rather than sneakers.
• Walk on established trails as much as possible.
• Be careful when stepping over logs; first look on the far side.
• Be cautious in rocky terrain.
• Don’t put your hands or feet in places where you can’t see.
• Avoid thick vegetation that limits your vision.

If you will follow these guidelines, you will significantly reduce the already low chance of being bitten by a copperhead or other venomous snake.

A helpful website for information on Virginia snakes and other wildlife is www.dgif.virginia.gov.