How to Identify a Venomous Snake
Know the snakes., Cottonmouths., Rattlesnakes., Copperheads., Coral snakes., Look at the color patterns., Check out their head shape., Look for a rattle., Look for the heat sensor., Watch out for mimics., A water moccasin will have elliptical pupils...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Know the snakes.
There are four different types of venomous snakes in the United States: cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, copperheads and coral snakes. -
Step 2: Cottonmouths.
The cottonmouths have elliptical pupils and range in color from black to green.
They have a white stripe along the side of their heads.
They are often found in or around water, but have also adapted to live well on land.
Young snakes have a bright yellow tail.
They are often loners, so if you see multiple snakes coexisting peacefully, it is probably not a cottonmouth. , Look for the rattle on the tail.
Some harmless snakes imitate the rattle by brushing their tails through leaves, but only rattle snakes have the button-like rattle at the end of the tail.
If you can't see the rattle, they also have a heavy triangular head and elliptical eyes like a cat's. , These beauties have a similar body shape to cottonmouths but are much brighter, ranging from coppery brown to bright orange, silver-pink and peach.
The young have yellow tails as well. , Another beautiful but deadly snake is the Coral snake—so beautiful that other snakes—not-venomous ones such as the Milk snake—look just like them.
They have distinctive coloring, though, with a black, yellow and red bands, a yellow head, and a black band over their nose.
One rhyme to help distinguish coral snakes from king snakes is 'Red to yellow, kill a fellow.
Red to black, friend of Jack.' Another variation is 'Red on black, venom lack; red on yellow, deadly fellow'.
However, most of the time coral snakes will not bite
- they are very shy.
There are no known deaths from the Arizona coral snake and only a few from the Eastern Coral snake. , Venomous Snakes in the U.S. tend to have varying colors.
Most snakes that are one solid color are completely harmless.
However, cottonmouths are also venomous so this is not a foolproof way to tell them apart.
Also, beware of venomous escaped pets. , Non-venomous snakes have a spoon-shaped rounded head and venomous snakes will have a more triangular head. this is because of the venom glands (this is less noticeable on the coral snake). , If the snake has a rattle on its tail it is a rattlesnake, and therefore venomous.
However, some non-venomous snakes do mimic the rattle by rattling their tails, but lack the rattle "buttons" that sound like little salt shakers. , Some venomous snakes in the U.S. will have a small depression between the eye and the nostril.
This is called a pit (hence "pit viper"), which is used by the snake to sense heat in their prey.
Coral snakes are not pit vipers, and lack this feature. , Some non-venomous snakes mimic the patterns and behaviors of venomous snakes.
Rat snakes can look like Rattlers, and harmless Milk and King snakes can look like Coral snakes.
Always treat any snake as a venomous snake if you are uncertain whether it is venomous or non-venomous.
And though you should remain cautious, do not kill any snake—it could be illegal to do so, and killing non-venomous snakes allows venomous snake and vermin populations to grow. , Either way, leave it alone and allow it to leave the area. -
Step 3: Rattlesnakes.
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Step 4: Copperheads.
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Step 5: Coral snakes.
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Step 6: Look at the color patterns.
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Step 7: Check out their head shape.
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Step 8: Look for a rattle.
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Step 9: Look for the heat sensor.
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Step 10: Watch out for mimics.
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Step 11: A water moccasin will have elliptical pupils and the harmless water snake will have round pupils.
Detailed Guide
There are four different types of venomous snakes in the United States: cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, copperheads and coral snakes.
The cottonmouths have elliptical pupils and range in color from black to green.
They have a white stripe along the side of their heads.
They are often found in or around water, but have also adapted to live well on land.
Young snakes have a bright yellow tail.
They are often loners, so if you see multiple snakes coexisting peacefully, it is probably not a cottonmouth. , Look for the rattle on the tail.
Some harmless snakes imitate the rattle by brushing their tails through leaves, but only rattle snakes have the button-like rattle at the end of the tail.
If you can't see the rattle, they also have a heavy triangular head and elliptical eyes like a cat's. , These beauties have a similar body shape to cottonmouths but are much brighter, ranging from coppery brown to bright orange, silver-pink and peach.
The young have yellow tails as well. , Another beautiful but deadly snake is the Coral snake—so beautiful that other snakes—not-venomous ones such as the Milk snake—look just like them.
They have distinctive coloring, though, with a black, yellow and red bands, a yellow head, and a black band over their nose.
One rhyme to help distinguish coral snakes from king snakes is 'Red to yellow, kill a fellow.
Red to black, friend of Jack.' Another variation is 'Red on black, venom lack; red on yellow, deadly fellow'.
However, most of the time coral snakes will not bite
- they are very shy.
There are no known deaths from the Arizona coral snake and only a few from the Eastern Coral snake. , Venomous Snakes in the U.S. tend to have varying colors.
Most snakes that are one solid color are completely harmless.
However, cottonmouths are also venomous so this is not a foolproof way to tell them apart.
Also, beware of venomous escaped pets. , Non-venomous snakes have a spoon-shaped rounded head and venomous snakes will have a more triangular head. this is because of the venom glands (this is less noticeable on the coral snake). , If the snake has a rattle on its tail it is a rattlesnake, and therefore venomous.
However, some non-venomous snakes do mimic the rattle by rattling their tails, but lack the rattle "buttons" that sound like little salt shakers. , Some venomous snakes in the U.S. will have a small depression between the eye and the nostril.
This is called a pit (hence "pit viper"), which is used by the snake to sense heat in their prey.
Coral snakes are not pit vipers, and lack this feature. , Some non-venomous snakes mimic the patterns and behaviors of venomous snakes.
Rat snakes can look like Rattlers, and harmless Milk and King snakes can look like Coral snakes.
Always treat any snake as a venomous snake if you are uncertain whether it is venomous or non-venomous.
And though you should remain cautious, do not kill any snake—it could be illegal to do so, and killing non-venomous snakes allows venomous snake and vermin populations to grow. , Either way, leave it alone and allow it to leave the area.
About the Author
Isabella Fox
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