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There are 21 species of snakes slithering around Pennsylvania, three
of which are poisonous.
Poisonous
 | Timber
Rattlesnake |
| Northern
Copperhead |
| Eastern
Massasauga Rattlesnake |
|
Non-Poisonous
| Black Racer |
| Black Rat
Snake |
| Eastern
Garter |
| Eastern
Hognose Snake |
| Eastern King
Snake |
| Eastern Milk
Snake |
| Eastern
Ribbon Snake |
| Eastern Worm
Snake |
| Kirtland's
Snake |
|
Non-Poisonous cont...
| Northern
Brown Snake |
| Northern
Ring-Neck Snake |
| Northern
Water Snake |
| Queen Snake |
| Red-bellied
Snake |
| Rough Green
Snake |
| Short-head
Garter |
| Smooth Earth
Snake |
| Smooth Green
Snake |
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PA Poisonous Snakes
There are only three kinds of poisonous snakes in Pennsylvania.
They are the: Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Northern Copperhead & the
Timber Rattlesnake.
Timber Rattlesnake
|
Color Phases: |
Yellow (light phase),
Black (dark phase). |
|
Mating Season:
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Primarily July & August.
|
| Birthing:
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8-12 in late August
through mid-September. |
| Maturity:
|
5
(males) - 7 (females) years. |
| Longevity:
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30+ years
(16-22 average). |
|
Size: |
Large Snake,
measuring
36in-54in.+ (record 74.5in). |
| Hibernation:
|
6 months, emerge from
hibernation in late April
to early
May. May hibernate
with other snakes including
copperheads and black rat
snakes |
| Active Season:
|
April to October (generally). |
|
Habitat: |
Large forested areas
(generally), rocks, high grass,
brushy areas, log piles, trails, roads, water, even sheds &board piles. |
| General Location:
|
Rock outcroppings
with sunny exposures, sunny areas (trails, roads, open areas, water,
etc.). |
| Shedding:
|
1-3 sheds per season
with a new rattle emerging with every shed, but a rattler may lose a
rattle every now and then. No you can not guess a rattlers age by
counting its rattles. |
| Movement Patterns:
|
Loop-like pattern
starting at the den and reaching the apex of their journey generally 1
to 2.5 miles with a maximum of 4 in July. Lastly, the rattlesnake
returns home to their den in the fall
(most rattlers live in the same den year-after-year). A mature male may travel
upwards of 6 miles to seek a mate. |
| Pathway:
|
Generally follows
the same paths/patterns year-after-year. |
| Foraging (Food):
|
Sit & wait predator (along small rodent pathways)
feeds on small mammals, sometimes small birds, amphibians & other
snakes. |
| Attack Method:
|
Ambush their prey,
use the strike, inject and release method and then waits for the venom to
do its
job. Lastly the rattler seeks out their dead prey and feasts on
it's meal. |
|
Venom Type: |
|
| Human Encounters:
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Anytime out of
hibernation, but generally peaks in July & August during mating
season. |
| Pregnant Females:
|
In June the
pregnant female remains in
basking areas near their den, which is is important for optimal
embryonic development. |
|
Gestation Period: |
4-5 months with a
new born size of about 1 foot. |
| New Born:
|
Born in late August.
The newborn sheds their skin about 10 days after birth, then forages
for several weeks prior to hibernation. |
| Characteristics:
|
Common among
all PA poisonous snakes.
a. Triangular head (due to
venom sacks)
b. Cat-type eyes
c. Pit Organ
d. Rattle on tail
* Many special features of the rattlesnake make
this reptile the most specialized reptile
in the world. Also this snake is very easy to identify in the
wilderness. |
|
Special Characteristics:
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a. Folding-fang delivery
system
b. Heat-sensing pit organs
c. Keratin warning device
(their rattle) |
Are rattlesnakes aggressive?
Rattlesnakes are generally non-aggressive and would rather get
away or rattle, then strike at you, but if cornered, threatened, touched or
surprised they will strike.
Am
I allowed to capture or kill a rattlesnake out in the wild?
Absolutely not!, rattlesnakes are a protected species. They help
to bring homeostasis (a balance) to the wilderness, just as all other
animals do. Regulations are:
v
People who hunt, capture,
possess or kill timber rattlesnakes must have and individual Timber Rattlesnake Hunter & Rattlesnake Possession
Permit.
v
Damage the denning areas is
prohibited.
v
Selling timber rattlesnakes
or parts thereof is prohibited.
v
Remember timber rattlers
are a protected species under Pa regulations.
v
Committing any of the above
acts is against the law and is punishable by law.
Northern Copperhead
|
Color Phase: |
No Change, except
for new
born colors tend to display
more vibrantly. |
|
Mating Season: |
Two seasons, August to October
(late spring)
or February to May
(early fall). |
|
Birthing: |
3-10 in September
to October. |
|
Maturity: |
4 years for sexual
maturity. |
|
Longevity: |
18 years roughly. |
|
Size: |
Medium Snake,
26in.-42in.. |
|
Hibernation: |
Winter Months or
early fall
to late spring. They tend to
hibernate with other snakes
including rattlesnakes and
black rat snakes. |
|
Active Season: |
February to October
or late
spring to early Fall. |
|
Habitat: |
Generally
terrestrial to
semi-aquatic areas. They are also found in large forested
areas, and sometimes suburban
and urban areas. |
|
General
Location: |
(Similar to the
rattlesnake)
Rock outcroppings with sunny
exposures, sunny areas, old
fence rows, water, abandoned farms, auto junkyard, foundations of
barns old homesteads & brushy areas. |
|
Shedding: |
1-2 sheds per year. |
|
Movement
Patterns: |
Upwards of 2 miles. |
|
Pathway: |
|
|
Most Active: |
Diurnal: Spring &
Fall (generally)
Nocturnal: Summer (generally) |
|
Foraging (Food): |
Feeds on small mammals. reptiles
&hibians
such as: frogs, salamanders and even insects |
|
Attack Method: |
Ambush predator,
similar to the rattlesnakes method |
|
Venom Type: |
Hemolytic - breaks
down and destroys red blood cells. |
|
Human
Encounters: |
Anytime out of
hibernation, but peak during mating season (late spring & early fall)
More active on a humid night after a rain (small mammals are most
active, plus the snakes metabolism is at its best due to the warm
temperatures) |
|
Pregnant Females: |
In the warm sun of
summer the pregnant female remains in
basking areas near their den, which is is important for optimal
embryonic development. These snakes are also ovoviviparous, which
means the eggs develop in the body of the female and hatch within or
immediately after being expelled. |
|
Gestation Period: |
4-5 months with a
new born size of about 8-10in. |
|
New Born: |
Born in September
to October, shed their skin a few days after birth, may be able to eat
1-2 meals prior to hibernation. Also are born with a yellow-tipped
tail, believed to be used to lure potential prey (tail color changes
when they reach maturity) |
|
Characteristics: |
Common among PA
poisonous snakes
a. Triangular head (due to the venom sacks location)
b. Cat-type eyes
c. Single-banded row of scales that extends from the head all
the way to the tail |
|
Special
Characteristics: |
a.
Folding-fang delivery system
b. Heat-sensing pit organ
c. hourglass-like banding pattern (copper color with black on
the body & bronze colored head) |
|
Mistaken Identity |
a. Eastern
Mike Snake
b. Eastern Hognose Snake
c. Northern Water Snake |
Are copperheads aggressive?
Copperheads, like
any other snake, would rather get away then stay and fight, but this snake
tends to be be more aggressive than its counter-partner the rattlesnake.
With this in mind, the copperhead has bitten more people than any other
poisonous snake in the U.S. and with strike several times if it must to
subdue its enemy.
Myths about the copperhead
#1: You can
tell if a copperhead is nearby, because the area will smell like cucumbers.
The truth is all snakes emit a musk when endangered to ward off any
predators. This smell can be unpleasant, but does not smell like cucumbers.
#2:
Copperheads are interbreeding with black rat snakes! Totally not true, this
is impossible because the black rat snake gives birth to eggs. The female
copperhead are ovoviparous, which means they gives birth to live young that
are encased in a membrane.
Eastern Massasauga
Rattlesnake
Coming Soon...
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Color Phase: |
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Mating Season: |
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Birthing: |
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Maturity: |
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Longevity: |
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Size: |
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Hibernation: |
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Active Season: |
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Habitat: |
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General
Location: |
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Shedding: |
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Movement
Patterns: |
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Pathway: |
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Most Active: |
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Foraging (Food): |
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Attack Method: |
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Human
Encounters: |
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Pregnant Females: |
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Gestation Period: |
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New Born: |
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Characteristics: |
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Special
Characteristics: |
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Aliases: |
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Additional
Information
What are some general precautions I should take when traveling in snake
country?
a.
Wear loose-fitting clothing
b.
Full-length pants
c.
Boots (preferably 8”
leather boots)
d.
Walk at a normal pace
e.
Use walking sticks or a
stick if you have one
f.
Look & listen to the area
where you walking, sitting, reaching, touching, etc.
g.
Be aware of the
rattlesnake, its movement, environment, and habitat.
h.
Never pick one up,
antagonize it or play with it.
What
do I do if I get bit?
Although rare, (rattlesnakes are generally secretive and
docile reptiles) remain calm! Remember rattlesnake bites very rarely kill a
person. If with another person have them seek help immediately. It is vital
you stay calm, apply a light constricting band (you should be able to fit 1
finger between the band and your skin) above the bite area to slow the
venom, immobilize the bite and possibly yourself.
Why?
The
venom moves through your bloodstream, so the faster your heart beats, the
faster the venom travels through your system. If you must move,
move slowly. Do not attempt to treat the bite. Most though of first-aid
methods are not recommended, never cut, suck, apply a tourniquet, alcohol or
drugs. The only possibly recommended snakebite kit is the “The Extractor,”
but some experts say, "it does work in extracting some venom" and some say,
"it doesn't work, the venom disperses too rapidly." I recommend you talk to a
professional rattlesnake Rangler or your local DCNR Ranger or Game
Commission Officer to find out further information.
Why do snakes sun themselves?
a.
Ward off parasites &
infection
b.
Restore vital function upon
emergence from hibernation (Sometimes emergence basking can last for
several days or weeks depending on the rattlesnakes
needs, the previous winter and the conditions
around them.
c.
Restore body temperatures
to functioning level (cold-blooded animals)
d.
Help with digestion
of prey after feeding
How
do I know if the snake is Venomous or Not?
*
For more information contact: your local DCNR office or PA Game Commission.
PA Fish & Boat
Commissions -
Snakes of Pennsylvania
*Disclaimer: Is found on the main page & applies to this page as well as
all other pages.
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