Snakes in Virginia

 

Poison or Not?

                Mention the word “snake” and many people immediately think of poisonous snakes.  In Virginia, there are 30 species of snakes, but only three of them are poisonous: Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and  Rattlers.  The Northern Copperhead is the only poisonous snake found throughout Virginia.  Eastern Cottonmouths, or water moccasins, are usually only found in the southeastern part of the state, not as far west as Richmond.  There are several common water snakes in our area, but none are poisonous.  Timber rattlesnakes are typically only found in the far western part of the state.  Looking at the snake population another way – there are 27 species of harmless snakes found in Virginia.

Characteristics

                Snakes are reptiles, meaning they are cold-blooded.  They need to warm in the sun to stay active and must hibernate in the winter.  Most snakes lay eggs but some, such as garter snakes, give birth to live young.  A snake’s skin is covered in scales.  Snakes have many vertebrae and rib bones, making them very flexible.  Snakes test the air by “smelling” with their tongues to detect chemical particles.  They have internal ears rather than external ears, but sense vibrations through their jawbones.  They have no eyelids.  A flexible lower jaw enables a snake to open wide and swallow its prey whole.

Predators and Prey

                Snakes are carnivores and eat insects, frogs, birds, small mammals, rodents, fish, lizards and more.   Snakes are good climbers, and can climb a tree to eat bird eggs.  Snakes, also part of the food chain,  are eaten by large birds, coyotes and even skunks and raccoons.  However their biggest threat is loss of habitat due to overdevelopment.

What to do

                If you see a snake in your yard, keep your distance and avoid it.  Never pick up a snake, even a harmless one can still bite.  Rest assured the snake is eating bugs, slugs, mice, moles and unwanted pests around your house.  It is unfortunate that many fearful people think that “the only good snake is a dead snake,” and aggressively kill harmless snakes.  It is actually illegal to kill a snake in Virginia, “unless it presents an imminent threat to one’s health and safety,” according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech.  Snakes are protected under state nongame regulations. 

 

Snake Quiz

Test your knowledge.  Following is a list of true/false questions about snakes. 

1.       A snake can smell with its tongue.

2.       Snakes are reptiles.

3.       Snakes cannot climb trees because they have no legs.

4.       Snakes are flexible because they have no real bones.

5.       Snakes are warm blooded.

6.       Snakes eat rodents, fish, frogs and lizards.

7.       Snakes migrate in the winter.

8.       All snakes lay eggs.

9.       Only poisonous snakes can bite.

10.   Snakes eat eggs, insects and birds.

11.   Some birds eat snakes.

12.   In Virginia it is against the law to kill snakes.

13.   Coyotes and raccoons eat snakes.

14.   There are no Copperheads in Richmond.

15.   Snakes swallow their food whole.

16.   Predators are the biggest threat to snakes.

17.   Water moccasins can be found in the creeks and rivers in Richmond.

18.   Garter snakes give birth to live snakes.

19.   There is only one kind of rattlesnake found in Richmond.

20.   Snakes are omnivores.

21.   Snakes have small external ears.

22.   Snakes don’t have eyelids.

 

Answers: 1 T,  2 T,  3 F,  4 F,  5 F,  6 T,  7 F,  8 F,  9 F,  10 T,  11 T,  12 T,  13 T,  14 F,  15 T,  16 F,  17 F,  18 T, 19 F,  20 F,  21 F,  22 T

Snakes are very good climbers.