Snakes of North America
When we first went camping I was very much afraid of seeing a snake. I looked everywhere before I stepped just to make sure the coast was clear.
Nick (my husband) kept telling me that the snake was more afraid of me then I was of it (yea, right). If he only knew how afraid I was!
Over the years Nick and Steve have had a good chuckle about my fears and liked telling me how much of a girl I am.
They say that knowledge can help to remove fear. I have now decided that it's time that I face this fear with some good information.
Recently I have read just about everything I can find on snakes. I still want to pull my feet up onto the chair as I am writing this article but I have developed a very healthy respect of snakes venomous and non venomous.
I guess Nick was right that they want to get away from me a much as I do them. But I still won't walk through the Snake House at the zoo.
Habitat
Snakes live on the land and in the sea, they are cold blooded which means they can't raise their body temperature and they have to stay active in the cold.
That is why you will see them lying in the sun like a lizard which is also cold blooded. They like the temperature to be 77-90F.
When they are not lying in the sun you can find them in tall grass, woodpiles and rocks. They like to hide in warm places.
Eating Habits
All Snakes are meat eaters. They will eat insects, birds, reptiles, small mammals and sometimes other snakes. They do all of this to my amazement without arms and legs!
I always thought that they crushed their prey but they don't, they suffocate them.
Some snakes catch their prey with their teeth and eat them whole.
The cottonmouth has the most potential to be a problem for people because they are so aggressive, they don't really like one another. If you see two cottonmouths together they will either be fighting or mating.
Cottonmouths can be found most often in or near water, but they are very comfortable on dry land.
They can adapt well to eating mice and rats but prefer fish. They can become a problem for people involved in water sports such as fishing because they like to eat fish even if you cought it fare and square. They are always hungry and can follow after your string of fish.
Types of Venomous Snakes
I always thought that there were many types of venomous snakes in North America but there are only two families. The elapid family and the viper family.
The elapid family contains the Western Coral Snake, Eastern Coral Snake and the Yellowbelly Sea Snake. The Cobra is also a part of this family but is not found in North America.
The viper family which includes the rattlesnake, cottonmouth (water moccasin) and copperhead snakes.
Coral Snake
The Eastern Coral Snake is found from Texas to North Carolina. The Arizona Coral Snake in southern Arizona and the extreme southwestern New Mexico.
The Coral Snake can be identify with bold colors of red, yellow and black. It can get mixed up with non poisonous snakes with similar colors if you don't know this easy to remember rhyme:
Red on yellow/Will kill a fellow.
The Pit Viper
The Pit Viper of which there are seventeen species is found throughout most of the United States. The Pit Vipers share two characteristics these are:
1. Their Cat-eye black pupil taht is shaped like the cross section of a vertically positioned convex lens.
2. The pit (hole), which is between the snake's eyes and it nostril. It is heat sensitive so that the snake can locate warm blooded prey in the darkness.
Snake Bites
The fangs of the coral snake are small but the venom is extremely toxic. The coral snake prefers living underground and lives mostly off of other snakes.
Venom from a coral snake or sea snake can affect the nervous system directly. It starts with vision, speaking and breathing difficulty and then numbness.
Vipers have a very sophisticated venom delivery system. They have large fangs that are in the front of their mouth that are hinged and fold back when not in use.
Bites by these snakes can range from simple puncture wounds to life threatening illness and death. You can have no symptoms and suddenly be having breathing problems and go into shock.
Any snakebite should be seen by a physician. Even the bit of a non-venomous snake can cause infection as the snake has parasites. So please seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Prevention
It is recommended that you become familiar with the types of venomous snakes in the area before you go camping or hiking.
Treatment of a bite depends on identifying the snake and misidentification can be a fatal error.
Snakes can bite repeatedly until the venom gland is empty so trying to identify the snake after you are bitten can cause you to get bitten again or a second person to get bit.
Snakebites can mostly be prevented. Don't try to handle the snake (you don't have to tell me twice). Especially if you can't identify what type of snake it is.
It is said that 60-80% of bites happen because someone tries to kill or catch the snake. Most snakes even the aggressive cottonmouth with escape if you give them the chance.
The only snake that tends to strike without warning when it is frightened is the copperhead. The good news is that the venom of the copperhead is mild.
The bite of all snakes is very painful and need medical attention as soon as possible. I know that I have said this earlier but I can't stress it enough!!!
When you are hiking or camping wear boots and long pants. Long pants will reduce the severity of a bite.
When you are gathering firewood watch where you are reaching and stepping.
NEVER walk barefoot in snake country.
Please remember that hiking and camping is a time for friends and family to get together and have a great time.
When you go out for firewood or looking for berries look before you reach, watch where you are walking, and look before you sit down.
We are temporarily in the wildlife's neighborhood and they are not expecting us. So with a few precautions we can all get along.
I have enjoyed camping for many years in spite of my attitude towards the snake. I hope this article will only help you in your enjoyment of all that Mother Nature offers.
Here is a list of snakes so you can get more familiar with them.
Vipers (rattlesnakes, moccasin, lance headed)
Copperhead
Cottonmouth
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Sidewinder
Lower California Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlesnake
Rock Rattlesnake
Speckled Rattlesnake
Black tail Rattlesnake
Twin-spotted Rattlesnake
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Mojave Rattlesnake
Tiger Rattlesnake
Western Rattlesnake
Ridge nose Rattlesnake
Massasauga
Pigmy Rattlesnake
Elapid (coral)
Western Coral Snake
Eastern Coral Snake
Yellowbelly Sea Snake