Snakes Alive!

Each year Cooperative Extension Centers throughout the state receive phone calls from citizens about snakes on their property, often near or around their home. Though these creatures can cause great anxiety, many are nonpoisonous and are actually beneficial.

To the novice, all snakes look alike and all are bad. But that’s not true. Snakes range in size from a few inches to more than eight feet. Most are nonpoisonous. There are more than 37 species of snakes in North Carolina, but only six species are poisonous.

Copperheads are commonly found throughout the country, including North Carolina. Rattlesnakes are found in most states but are not as common as copperheads. Cottonmouths may be common in some areas, while coral snakes are less prevalent.

The pit vipers, which include the poisonous copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, are characterized by a pit between and slightly below the eye and nostril, long movable fangs, vertically elliptical pupils, undivided scales on the underside of the tail and a triangular head.

Nonpoisonous snakes have round pupils, divided scales on the underside of the tail and no pits.

Snakes are seen most often in the spring or fall as they search for food or move to and from hibernation areas. Snakes frequently are found around mammal habitats because rodents are a primary food source for many snake species. Since snakes feed on rodents, they are considered beneficial.

Even though snakes are beneficial, most of us don’t want them in our yards or close to our homes. Discourage snakes from staying in an area by cutting off their food supply and cover. Try these tips to make your yard and house unappealing to snakes.

• Mow closely around homes and outbuildings.

• Store firewood and lumber away from residences.

• Reduce mulch layers around shrubs to discourage small animals.
  

There are no chemicals registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for killing snakes. Repellents such as sulfur or mothballs have not been proven effective at keeping snakes away from residences.