Snakes in North Texas: The Low-Down

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Let’s talk about snakes for a minute, shall we? I know. You’d prefer a more pleasant topic, but it is snake season in Texas. The creatures are out and about, soaking up the sun, and (like the rest of us) seeking dry ground. This means you’re more likely to encounter them these days. Today, I’m covering basic information about how to recognize the snakes common to our area, how to avoid them, what to do in case of a bite, and educational resources for the family.

What You Need to Know About Snakes in North Texas

Though some of us hate to admit it, non-venomous and venomous snakes play a part in a healthy ecosystem. We have both types in North Texas. The venomous are the ones with which we mamas need to become familiar. There are four types: Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Coral Snakes. With a little effort, we can learn to recognize them.

While venomous snakes are no joke, it’s important to keep perspective. Death by snakebite is rare. You are far more likely to die from a television falling on your head, than you are from snakebite. (I find this comforting and sobering all at once.)

The vast majority of snakes in our area are non-venomous and harmless, though they still give me the heebie-jeebies. The following are great tips from our local nature centers on how to avoid snakes.

Snake Encounters: How to Prevent Them

Like most living things, snakes need three things: food, shelter, and water. If you remove one or more of these, your home will be less appealing to “friends in low places.” Of these, the easiest to tackle is shelter. Copperheads blend in especially well and like to hide–don’t give them a place to do so.

Broad-Banded Copperhead. Photo courtesy of Brandi Nickerson of Nature's Edge Wildlife Rescue
Broad-Banded Copperhead. Photo courtesy of Brandi Nickerson of Nature’s Edge Wildlife Rescue.

Some dos and don’ts:

  • Mow your grass.
  • Trim shrubs 6-8 inches from the ground.
  • Leave room for visibility. Don’t over-cluster plants.
  • Remove piles of wood, leaves, trash, etc.
  • Shallow-mulch (instead of deep-mulch) your flower beds, because snakes burrow.
  • Rake out flower beds before working on them.
  • Wear appropriate clothes outdoors: closed-toed shoes and gardening gloves. Save flip-flops for the beach and pool.
  • Snakes eat rodents–and, I’m so glad they do. They also like lizards, fish, birds, and other small prey. Take steps to address mice and rodent problems because if there’s good eatin’ to be had, snakes will come around.

Doing what you can to prevent snakes will give you peace of mind and decrease your odds of meeting one. But, what do you do if you see a snake anyway? Or, your children see a snake? 

The important thing to teach children about snakes is simple caution. Teach them not to approach or touch unfamiliar animals, period. Remind them to keep their distance and tell an adult when they see one. Also, teach kids not to stick hands and/or feet into places they can’t see: crevices of rock, hollows of logs, piles of leaves, etc. Snakes hide and will defend themselves.

Should you (or your husband) try to kill that snake? You are the Mama, after all. It’s part of  your job to protect your children . . . right? Before you act, consider that 80-90 percent of snakebites occur while people attempt to move or kill them. (In some of those cases, alcohol is involved. Sheesh.)

You have options, Mama. You can simply keep your distance, and let the snake go on its way. You can try to scare it. A broom is good for that, or you could spray water in front of it. You can call someone to responsibly remove it. Start with groups such as the Dallas-Fort Worth Herpetological Society and/or Nature’s Edge Wildlife Rescue. These non-profits are knowledgeable about native reptiles and may provide/recommend services.

Snake Bite: Your Worst Nightmare

Let’s talk worst-case scenarios. You or your loved one is struck by a snake. It all happened fast. Here’s what to do. 

  • Circle the bite with a pen or marker, and write down the time. This is to gauge swelling.
  • Stay calm.
  • If the strike is non-venomous, simply wash the wound well with soap and water.
  • If the strike is venomous, seek immediate medical attention. A venomous bite will result in pain, swelling, nausea, blurry vision, etc.
  • If possible, snap a picture of the snake for identification.
  • Stay calm. If you take these steps, you are likely to be okay.

Do not draw from your Hollywood movie-watching experience at a time like this. Don’t try to suck out the venom, don’t apply a tourniquet, don’t take an aspirin, don’t take swigs of whiskey. Just stay calm, and go to the doctor.

Snakes must use their venom sparingly–preferably for their next meal (and that’s not you, you’re too big.) Sometimes, venomous snakes “dry bite” in which they don’t present fangs to release venom. Take heart? There’s always that possibility.

Educational Resources: Websites, Local Nature Centers, and Organizations

Texas Snake ID (bookmark this site!)

What Kind of Snake Is This? North Texas. If you join this Facebook group, don’t say I didn’t warn you that your feed will blow up with snake images; however, you are sure to learn a thing or two.

River Legacy Park in Arlington will offer a family-friendly Animal Exploration on Saturday June 13 on the topic of snakes. They are also offering a reptile-themed summer camp for 3-year-olds, “Scales and Tails.” See website for details.

The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge will offer a non-venomous snake education event and hike on Sunday June 14. See website for more details.

These centers, as well as the Bob Jones Nature Center in Southlake, offer a variety of nature-themed classes for preschool and elementary kids. Our family loves them!

This snake field guide is waterproof and easy to throw in a backpack for outdoor adventures.

Your kids (or you?) might enjoy this coloring book, and learn useful identification in the process.

Snakes are part of life in Texas. They help keep things in balance, and for that we are grateful. We can learn to recognize who we’re dealing with. We can minimize our chances of bumping into one another. If we do? We’ll deal with it, because that’s what mamas do.

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