Can You Tell If A Snake Is Poisonous By Its Shed Skin

Information technology's starting to get warmer exterior and then that means ophidian season is starting. Here are some facts y'all should know that could aid if you lot have an run into.

This is the nether belly of a serpent. Detect one has a double row of scales, this means information technology is a not-venomous snake and all of our non-venomous snake scales will divide into 2 rows afterward it passes the Anal plate.

Where the other one has a single row of scales, this would mean it is a venomous serpent and all of our venomous snakes take a single row of scales down the whole

length of it's body.

(This rule as well works with a snake skin shedding if you should observe ane)

Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus atricaudatus)

Black Rat Ophidian

(Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)

All of our local venomous snakes are Pit Vipers.

Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and the Canebrake Rattlesnake.

This means they have a heat sensing pit that is located between the eye and the nose.

The eye of a Pit Viper tin as well take a slit, but this is not the all-time style to make a positive identification because it changes shape depending on the lighting.

(It works like a cats eye)

All of our local non-venomous snakes do not posses these pits and their pupil is round, it does non modify shape.

Simply once again this is not the best manner to make a positive identification.

(The best way is to follow the belly dominion above)

This is a Baby Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

(Notice the tip of the tail is a Bright Xanthous. All baby Copperheads & Cottonmouths have this)

All of our Pit Vipers give birth to live young

they do not lay eggs.

Our Local Venomous Snakes

Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus atricaudatus)

Eastern Cottonmouth

(Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

Eastern Cottonmouth

(Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

Defense mode

Northern Copperhead

(Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

Another myth to articulate upward is. Y'all can not tell a Rattlesnakes age by how many rattles it has. Rattlesnakes proceeds a new rattle on the end of it's tail every time it sheds it'south pare. Snakes tin shed 2 or more times a twelvemonth.

Some of are Not Venomous Snakes can rattle their tails too. Black Snakes, Blackness Racers, Corn Snakes, Kingsnakes, Copperheads and Cottonmouths, simply to proper noun a few. Use this as a defense mode to warn off a predator when information technology feels threatened.

Some rattles can abound so long that they just pause off. But the snake volition go along to grow new rattles throughout it'south life later on every shedding of it'southward peel.

If You Have Any Other Questions Or Concerns Please Feel Free To Contact United states of america.

757-739-4917

(Endangered in VA. / Threatened in NC.)