CALIFORNIA SNAKES

Here is your one-stop guide to Virginia snakes!

 Did you know that 20 species of snakes have been recognized in West Virginia?

Did you know that of these Virginia snakes, only two are venomous and potentially harmful to humans? So while most people recoil at the sight of a coiled snake, the truth is that most Virginia snakes can’t hurt you. And that’s good news, since Virginia snakes can be found all over – in the woods, in neighborhoods… even in backyards!

 Some of the more commonly seen Virginia snakes include the Eastern Gartersnake and the Black Ratsnake, while the Cornsnake and Northern Pinesnake are spotted more rarely. Virginia snakes have varying body forms and come in an array of colors. Each has its own habitat preference, from land to trees to streams. In terms of size, some Virginia snakes are small and hidden to the eye, hiding under rocks or logs. Other Virginia snakes grow much larger.

 What do Virginia snakes eat? All Virginia snakes are carnivores, or flesh-eating animals. They prey upon insects, spiders, worms, amphibians, fish, rodents, birds, lizards, and even other snakes! In fact, larger Virginia snakes use constriction to capture their prey.

 Now, here is important information about the two venomous Virginia snakes, the Timber Rattlesnake and Northern Copperhead. Both belong to the Pit Viper family, since they have heat-sensitive pits between the eye and the nostril that allow them to sense their prey.  Pit viper snake venoms are hemotoxic (attacking tissue and blood). However, these snakes are not aggressive, and they will not bother you unless you try to hurt or bother them.

 Unfortunately, many Virginia snakes are needlessly killed every year due to mistaken identity! Here is a helpful hint on how to identify a venomous Virginia snake: Look at the snake’s eyes. Round eyes, like those of a human, indicate that the snake is non-venomous. But if your Virginia snake has slanted eyes, shaped like a cat or an oblong football, it could be a Rattlesnake or a Copperhead. However, while close inspection of a snake’s face is great way to tell if it can hurt you or not, you don’t want to get too close to any potentially dangerous specimen, so keep your distance!

 Finally, did you know that Virginia snakes play an important role in our ecosystem? In fact, Copperheads and Black Ratsnakes are essential in controlling rodent populations and rodent-spread diseases, and farmers rely upon them to kill rodents that eat crops and damage food. So although snakes instill fear in many individuals, reading these facts about Virginia snakes will hopefully help people appreciate the “upside” of lowly snakes!