Snake season in North Texas is here. Do you know what to do if you come across one?
As summer approaches with warmer weather on the horizon, there’s one thing Texans should be wary of when stepping outside: snakes.
The slippery serpents come out of hibernation in early March and snake season can run all the way until December, said Randall Kennedy, owner of Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control. Kennedy’s company is all about taking care of wildlife, including snake removal.
A large rat or bull snake dubbed “Snake-ius Maximus” startled a hiker in Keller last summer after they looked up and saw the serpent in a tree. Since the snake was non-venomous, Keller police let the snake be.
With over 100 species native to Texas alone, here’s what to know about the snake season:
How many types of snakes are found in Texas?
Texas is home to 105 species of snakes, with 15 being venomous.
Pit vipers and North American cobras are the two species of venomous snakes found in the Lone Star State. With an opening on each side of their head between the eye and nostril, pit vipers are broken into three groups: copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
- Cottonmouths- Dark brown, olive green or completely black.
Southern copperhead- Pale brown to light tan.
Broadband copperhead- Light tan to dark brown.
Trans-pecos copperhead- Light tan to reddish brown.
- Western massasauga rattlesnake- Light gray with brown oval spots.
Desert massasauga rattlesnake- Lighter in color than the western and smaller.
Western diamondback- Brown with diamond shaped markings.
Timber rattlesnake- Brown or tan and large.
Mottled Rock rattlesnake- Light gray, sometimes pink hue with dark cross brands.
Banded Rock rattlesnake- Similar to mottled rock with darker green color.
Black-tailed rattlesnake- Gray to olive green with a black tail.
Mojave rattlesnake- Similar color to western diamond back but smaller.
Prairie rattlesnake- Green or gray with round blotches.
Western pygmy rattlesnake- Light brownish gray with dark blotches.
The North American cobras Texans have to lookout for are coral snakes, which are red and black with yellow rings around its body.
Non-venomous serpents include rat, garter, bull and water snakes.
What snakes are found in North Texas?
North Texas is home to both venomous and non-venomous snakes.
The most common venomous snakes across the Metroplex are cottonmouths, copperheads and the western diamond rattlesnake, Kennedy said. Among the common non-venomous snakes found around here are garter, rat and bull snakes.
What should you do if you come across a snake?
Kennedy recommends people not to try and get closer to the snake to identify it. Instead, snap a picture of the snake.
Photos work better than videos in helping identify snakes, since its a clearer and still image, Kennedy said. As soon as someone sees a snake, snap a photo and text it over to Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control to identity the creature.
While taking a picture of the snake, people should remain a safe distance away and keep and eye on it, Kennedy said.
“There’s not much we can do if we get there and the snake is not there,” Kennedy said. “But if it is a venomous snake, we’re gonna want that snake off the property.”
What should you do if you’re bitten by a snake?
No matter what kind of snake, Kennedy recommends seeking medical attention immediately after getting bit.
Even if people don’t know what species of snake bit them, calling 911 and getting immediate care is important, Kennedy said.
“Better safe than sorry,” he said.
Can you ‘snakeproof’ your property?
The company does exclusion work, which helps deter snakes from properties.
In the process, gaps and cracks in the property are filled up and back covers are built. Most homes across the country are not built to keep animals out, Kennedy said.
A majority of the time when they get a snake call, its because the property has roof rats, Kennedy said. These rats live in roofs and can cause major attic damage to homes.
“[They’re] a massive food source for snakes,” Kennedy said. “Usually if you’re seeing big snakes in the yard, a good place to look is up in the attic.”
How often do people report snake encounters?
Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control gets around two to ten calls a day reporting snakes during the season.
Since snake season starts in early March and ends around December, they stay busy, Kennedy said. January and February are the slow times for snakes.
Are snakes good for the environment?
Despite their venomous brethren, there are so-called “good” snakes, Kennedy said.
Most of the call’s Kennedy gets are for non-venomous and he doesn’t recommend killing snakes even if they’re deadly. The good non-venomous snakes are around to eat little critters, while the bad ones need to be relocated to a more suitable place.
Once a snake is killed, there’s a gap in nature and something’s going to fill it, whether that be good or bad.
“Now you’re at a flip of a coin because you kill a rat snake,” Kennedy said. “Now it can be replaced with a copperhead, rattlesnake, anything like that. Nature is always going to balance itself out.”
