Among Southeast Missouri’s diverse wildlife are the planets most infamous reptiles: snakes. But do they deserve their creepy crawly reputation? The Missouri Department of Conservation says they do not, and kids attending the Army Corp of Engineers’ Snake Informative agree.
Speaker Wendy Lott of the Missouri Department of Conservation explained Missouri has 49 native snakes with six of them being venomous, and four out of the six are native to Southeast Missouri. The largest is the 6-foot bull snake. The smallest snake in Missouri is the flatheaded snake at 7-8 inches. Both are nonvenomous.
The four venomous snakes found in our area are copperheads, water moccasins, timber rattlesnakes and pigmy rattlesnakes. The copperhead is the least venomous, and the most common to see in everyday life.
Many people believe the can tell the age rattlesnake by the number of buttons on their rattles. However, that information is false as they produce buttons each time they shed, and they can shed three to five times a year depending on their diet. Rattlesnakes that are still growing will have a smaller button at the end of their rattle, and buttons of fully-grown rattles will be all one size. Many people also believe that the rattles on the snakes have something in them that make the noise heard when they shake their tails, however, their rattles are hollow and what is heard are the buttons rubbing against each other.
One snake, the speckled king snake or salt and pepper snake, is a public favorite because they actually eat venomous snakes. So, if you have them in your yard, feel safe and secure knowing there are no venomous snakes around.
Another interesting snake is the rough and smooth green snake, whose body will turn pale blue upon death, often causing people to mistake them for a different snake breed.
__Snake facts__
As children and adult attendees interacted with snakes during the snake informative, they learned several key facts about them.
Snakes are reptiles, meaning they are cold-blooded. They cannot generate their own body heat, so they rely on the sun to warm them, or a basking lamp if in captivity.
Snakes are generally not out to bite humans. They will hide before biting unless they feel they are in danger.
Snakes shed their scales multiple times a year and the process can take a while. If you see a snake with milky eyes that means they are starting to shed, which also means you should stay clear as they cannot see very well during this process and will bite if threatened. The milky eye is caused because the scale over the eye sheds too. Snakes don’t blink, so as they shed, the eye scale layer sheds too.
Snakes have elongated bodies; therefore, all their organs are too. This leaves little room for organs, so over time the left lung disappears. It’s technically still there, but it’s so small that it does nothing to benefit the snake.
Snakes have 200-400 vertebras, meaning they are flexible and can basically curl up into a perfect ball.
Snakes walk using their ribs which is why they make an S. They can also climb by using their scales which can protrude at a 90-degree angle to wedge for support. All snakes can swim as well as bite underwater.
Venomous snakes have a flatter body that allows them to float on the top of the water, whereas nonvenomous snakes are slenderer and cannot float, so their head is usually above water while their body is moving underneath.
Snakes use their tongues to smell and hunt.
Venomous snakes strike their prey and inject venom to kill. Nonvenomous snakes will constrict to kill their prey and unhinge their jaws to swallow their prey whole. Their teeth are pointed backwards towards the throat to help get food down.
__Venemous vs. nonvenemous__
To determine a venomous snake or a nonvenomous snake, you can look at the snake’s head, eyes, mouth, and/or underside.
A venomous snake’s head is flatter and triangular, a nonvenomous snake’s head is rounder. However, some nonvenomous snakes like the rat snake and garter snake will mimic a venomous snake’s head shape to deter predators.
A venomous snake’s pupils look catlike, a nonvenomous snake’s eyes are rounder.
A venomous snake has fangs and a nonvenomous snake will not.
The underside of a venomous snake has a single layer of scales going down all the way to the tip of the tail, whereas a nonvenomous snake has a single layer of scales down to the beginning of their tail and then the scales will form a zipper pattern to the tip.
__Snake safety__
All snakes native to Missouri are protected by law. You can only kill a snake if you, your children, pets or livestock are in danger of being bitten. You can contact legal personnel to remove any snakes from your yard.
To protect yourself from being bitten while out in nature or hiking, make noise to alert snakes that you’re there, wear snake boots, carry a walking stick. Don’t step over a log, but step on top of it and then away. Don’t stick your hand in holes or under logs and rocks.
If bitten, immediately remove any restrictive items such as jewelry, watches, socks and shoes. Then, stay calm and make your way to the hospital. Local hospitals have antivenom for all the native snakes in Missouri so even if you cannot identify the snake, all is still taken care of. Snakes do carry salmonella so if you handle a snake, please be sure to sanitize and avoid touching your face.
The Snake Informative was held Aug. 27 at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center in Wappapello.