Many people have a fear of
snakes. Some people will even go
so far as to kill any snake they encounter.
Even though they may look
slithery and creepy, snakes are very beneficial to have around. They are an important part of our
ecosystems, and they even keep pests such as rodents under control. In fact, snakes are so important that
they are protected by law! In the
state of Missouri, The Wildlife Code of Missouri treats snakes as a protected non-game species.
This means that there is no open season to hunt snakes, and it is against the
law to kill them.
Pictured is a harmless ring-necked
snake, a beautifully marked native in Missouri. (photo: Paige Davis)
Even though snakes spark
fear in many people, they are much more afraid of you than you are of
them! Snakebites are not common,
and most snakes would rather slither away then confront you. Bites tend to occur when people
accidentally make contact with a snake such as stepping on one. If you are mindful of snakes and give
them their space and respect, you will be able to appreciate these creatures
safely.
Whether you are afraid of
snakes or you love them, it is important to recognize which snakes are venomous
and which are harmless. All
venomous snakes in Missouri are members of the pit viper family, and they share
some recognizable characteristics.
These include:
1. A pit between the eye and nose on each side
2. Vertically shaped cat-like pupils
3. A single row of scales along the underside of the tail
A copperhead, Missouri’s most
common venomous snake—note the pit below the eye and the vertical pupil (photo:
Paige Davis)
By comparison,
non-venomous snakes lack pits, have a circular pupil, and have a zipper-like
pattern of scales along the tail.
Venomous snakes in the
state of Missouri include: the copperhead, cottonmouth, Western pygmy
rattlesnake, Massasauga rattlesnake, and timber rattlesnake. The copperhead is
Missouri’s most common venomous snake.
It is often confused for harmless water snakes such as the northern
water snake. Many harmless snakes
are killed because they are thought to be dangerous.
This non-venomous water snake is
harmless, but is often mistaken for a copperhead—notice
the lack of a pit below the eye and the round pupil (photo: Paige Davis)
Snakes can be beautiful to
observe in the wild. But, if you
are unsure of what species a snake is, never attempt to handle it. Just leave it alone. It is better to be safe than sorry when
enjoying these fascinating creatures.
To learn more about snakes
be sure to visit the World Bird Sanctuary Nature Center where we have several
non-venomous snakes on display.
Our Naturalists will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Submitted by Paige Davis,
World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
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