WASHINGTON — Although May was the height of snake season, nobody is out of the woods yet.
With the warm weather, more people are spending more time outdoors. But snakes also are out enjoying the warmer weather and basking in the sun.
Kory Steele, a snake expert and past president of the Virginia Herpetological Society, says snakes will really come out in the morning to bask. Steele says there are roughly 32 snake species that are native to Virginia but only three of those are venomous.
Northern Copperheads are found statewide. He says they are the least venomous of venomous snakes in the world.
“There’s no way that a copperhead will ever kill you,” he said. That is unless you are really young or old, have an autoimmune disease or don’t get medical attention.
But if they do bite you, it will hurt. Steele says you could end up losing a finger.
His advice: If you’re out walking your dog and come across a snake, back up a couple of steps and find another way around the snake. It’s a myth that snakes will chase you.
Steele also says it’s frustrating because when a person sees a snake, he always thinks it’s a copperhead, even if they don’t look like a copperhead and is only a snake.
But the Northern Water Snake does look a lot more like a copperhead than other snakes, says Steele, but they are not venomous.
He says the Northern Water Snake is a very common snake that’s found statewide in Virginia.
“They are a water snake that likes to be around ponds and lakes and streams. They vaguely have a pattern that resembles a copperhead.”
But they will strike repeatedly if bothered.
He says the Eastern Ratsnake doesn’t seem to mind being around people. It’s nonvenomous and eats rodents. Although this snake is a gentle giant — growing larger than 6 feet, Steele says sometimes you can handle it and it won’t bite you.
Steele feels that snakes just get a bad rap.
When he talks to people about their fear of snakes, it turns out that, they don’t have a basis for their fear, other than they’ve been told they should be afraid of snakes.
Tips to reduce the chances of snake bites from the Fairfax County Police Department
- Don’t try to handle a snake; it will bite if provoked.
- When walking or hiking, stay on trails, sidewalks or cleared pathways.
- Wear boots or closed-toe shoes and long pants when walking in wooded areas or working outdoors.
- Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris
- Keep dogs on a leash and cats indoors to cut down on the chances of them meeting up with a snake.
- Use a flashlight at night if you are walking in areas where snakes could be.
- Call Fairfax County police on the nonemergency number 703-691-2131 if you find a sick or injured snake.
- You can also contact the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline toll-free 855-571-9003 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Learn more about the different types of snakes and see photos on the Virginia Herpetological Society’s website.
