Most snakes in the yard are not poisonous and they would prefer flight to fight in any instance where they come into contact with the pets and kids. Noteworthy for being one of North America’s largest snakes, the coachwhip snakes earned their name for their extremely long and slender bodies terminating in long and slender tails, making them appear very much like a braided bullwhip or livestock whip in appearance. SpeciesDistribution Oregon: Western Rattlesnake (or Northern Pacific Rattlesnake) Great Basin Rattlesnake . There are dozens of other potential situations where a positive ID can give you the confidence to act knowing that you are in no real danger, such as retrieving a snake that slipped into your sleeping bag, or after taking up residence at the edge of your camp. We've experienced both, despite our policy that holding is always brief and gentle. The snakes are most active during the day, taking it easy and resting during the night. Males and females are identical in coloration, and these snakes have a round eye with a round, black pupil. Red bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata). Perhaps the most magnificent of the snakes in North America, the Eastern Indigo is also the longest snake on the continent, a heavy-bodied bruiser of a snake easily reaching over 6 feet in length. When threatened, the snakes will curl up into the typical S-shaped pre strike pose common to many snakes, but rather than biting, they will thump interlopers with a closed mouth, a sort of reptilian headbutt, to ward off potential predators. It happened to me up at the edge of Bowman Lake northwest of Glacier. Some have even been known to vibrate their tails against the ground, leading onlookers to mistake them for rattlesnakes. This is another species that can expel a foul musk from their anus when threatened. The Timber Rattlesnake pictures is probably the most common species in the United States. These snakes are secretive, and not commonly seen, preferring to stay in safe refuge and during the day away, emerging during the night to hunt. Their typical coloration is a combination of light tans, toasted browns and dark grays or blacks which are arranged in an alternating, rough checker or chain-link pattern. Further provocation will lead to it to producing a foul smelling musk as well as coiling and striking at the threat. Ones that remain too long in a dry burrow will typically die in place. The Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) in the second picture is a common Colubrid species, found in most areas of the United States. You’ll also be able to tell which ones are easy sources of food in case you run low on calories far from civilization. Fortunately, the majority of snakes present in the United States are neither poisonous nor venomous. One of two boa species indigenous to the United States, the rubber boa is nonetheless one of the most interesting snakes on the continent. Snake identification skills come in handy. Though the trail travels through an urban environment, adjacent parks and natural features help diversify the landscape. Physically, water snake bodies grow anywhere from three to six feet in length. Northern Red-Bellies are notable for their striking coloration. Their body color varies from location to location, the red belly is a good identification clue. Fortunately, the answer is almost always a no. Noteworthy is the fact that these snakes are vulnerable to dehydration and desiccation, and depend heavily on a moist environment to survive. Assuming you can get close enough to one, they can be handled easily enough since they are fairly docile, but they are quick to emit excrement and a foul-smelling odor when handled. Origin: From Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Canada) southwards via eastern Montana, Wyoming and Colorado to northeastern New Mexico and Oklahoma.From there eastwards via the Great Plains to southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. Majority of Continental U.S. and east coast of Northern Mexico. They’re good swimmers, and glide across the surface of any calm body of water with ease. They may, nonetheless, be easily distinguished from rattlesnakes by the shape of their head which is still narrower than a rattlesnakes and the lack of black and white banding on their tail. The goal of this section is to provide information on each one. Also notable is its method of dispatching prey; using it strong jaws it will slam smaller prey against the ground to stun it before swallowing it whole and alive, occasionally even eating other snakes. While ring-neck snake bites are rare, touching them is not recommended. Insects & Tarantulas. And there are a few, even though they aren’t venomous and stand next to no chance against a large mammal like ourselves, will even fight back. Their body color can range from blue, prominent in Florida blue garter snakes, to the many shades of red visible in West Coast species. These snakes are harmless and non-aggressive, but if picked up or prodded it anyway they will bite repeatedly and thrash, also spraying out a foul smelling musk and feces in the bargain. Their dark, often blotched skin, helps them blend into their environment. Another small snake rarely exceeding 1 1/2 feet in length with a slender build. They are so named for their skin which appears wrinkly and misshapen, and their typical coloration of dark brown fading to tan gives them an outwardly, frankly, fake appearance like that of a rubber snake. Give this guide a gander and find out which snakes are most common in your neck of the woods. Your email address will not be published. There are 10 snake species in Montana, and only the prairie rattlesnake is venomous. Eastern racers, oftentimes called black racers for one typical and common coloration (though they may appear as brown, tan or even blue) are curious snakes that are also excellent climbers, often seen scaling trees in search of prey waiting inside a bird’s nest. One of the many subspecies of snake that make up the genus containing red-belly snakes as a whole, the Northern Red-Bellied snake is commonly found in moist, loosely packed environments, its favorites being flower beds, dewy woodlands, wetlands and gardens. The plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) is a species of garter snake native to most of the Central United States stretching as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas. That makes for difficult species identification. Large and powerfully built snakes that are commonly mistaken for rattlers, gopher snakes are a subspecies of bull snake, so named because their hoarse, brassy hissing sounds similar to that emitted by bulls and cattle. As the most common snakes, they also are the focus of the snake identification guide. Is it a poisonous snake? However, during the day they will bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature. Eastern Wormsnakes are also very small and thin snake that inhabits forested areas in most parts of the Eastern United States. Predominately Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, U.S. North America is host to over a dozen different species packing potent poison, all of them can seriously injure you, and a few of them can kill you with ease. Aside from that, snakes are comparatively easy to catch for the protein that they yield compared to other sources, so you should not discount them. Occasionally, you can find them leaving their burrows in the late evening to begin their nightly search for food. While garter snakes can act as a natural pest control, most people who discover snakes in their home find it to be a frightening experience. Central U.S. through New England and Deep South. One of the many subspecies of snake that make up the genus containing red-belly snakes as a whole, the Northern Red-Bellied snake is commonly found in moist, loosely packed environments, its favorites being flower beds, dewy woodlands, wetlands and gardens. They are primarily active in the middle of the night, but can also be found moving around during dawn and dusk. Commonly encountered in farm lands, forests and thickets adjacent to tall fields, they are excellent climbers, ones that regularly and to considerable distress invade human residences. The most distinctive physical feature is the black cap that adorns the top of their heads. There are an awful lot of snakes on the North American continent, and most of them are non-venomous. Corn snakes can commonly be found overgrown fields, undeveloped grass lots, openings in forests and abandoned or scarcely traveled areas in cities. Their diet consists primarily of rodents in their territory, and unless directly disturbed, they are not known to be particularly aggressive in the presence of humans. These snakes do not take on their characteristic green color until after the first time they shed their skin. These snakes can easily top 6 feet in length and one record-breaking specimen was just a hair over 9 ft long. Tortoises Turtles. When frightened, they will attempt to flee at all costs, usually retreating towards water or into heavy brush. A handful of snakes common in most areas of the East might vie for the title. Their pattern can vary from striped to checked, but they all have round pupils and labial lines. The Arizona State Reptile is the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi). The family covers around one hundred species, including the most common types of snakes such as garter snakes, kingsnakes, rat snakes and coachwhips. The undersides of these snakes may be gray, yellow or off white in color. So long as they are cleaned properly and cooked well, snake meat is generally safe to consume. They can easily blend into the grounds of pine woods, glades and marshlands. Wildlife officials often recommend that boaters avoid drifting under low hanging branches (their favorite basking places) in order to decrease the possibility that the snakes drop in for a ride. Live Food. Some examples have a distinctly orange stripe running the length of their bodies along their sides. The picture highlights the snake’s blue hue, making snake identification in this instance also easy. Even more remarkable is that these snakes are incredibly docile, and have a reputation for never biting people under any circumstances. The presentation below provides a run down of some common and rare colubrid snake species along with an overview of the Pit Vipers (Cottonmouths, Copperheads and Rattlesnakes). The most dangerous part about procuring snake meat to eat is often actually capturing the snake. Jamie Harrison has lived in Montana with her family for almost 30 years. Butler's Garter Snake Thamnophis couchii Western Aquatic Garter Snake... Thamnophis cyrtopsis Western Blackneck Garter Snake... Thamnophis elegans Mountain Garter Snake... Thamnophis eques Northern Mexican Garter Snake... Thamnophis gigas Giant Garter Snake Thamnophis hammondii Two-striped Garter Snake These snakes are not aggressive, and will typically freeze when threatened. Montana: Western Rattlesnake (or Prairie Rattlesnake) The picture highlights the snake’s characteristic ring neck mark. 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