By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor

During the summer months, the odds of seeing a snake while working or playing outdoors increases.

Although many dread an interaction with the slithery reptiles, humans don’t have to be afraid of snake sightings, said Dr. Maureen Frank, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist.

“When you encounter a snake, it’s best to just leave it alone,” Frank said. “Most bites occur when a person is trying to handle the snake or trying to kill it. It’s best to give them plenty of room and let them go on their way.”

Taking basic precautions and watching where you walk or reach is the best way to avoid getting snakebit, she noted.

“Never put your hands or feet somewhere you can’t see and use tools like hoes or a shovel to move debris or turn it over, so you can see that it’s safe to handle,” she told AgriLife Today.

Since they do not generate their own body heat, the cold-blooded animals sun themselves on rocks, pavement and other heat-absorbing materials when temperatures are cooler. But when it’s very hot outside, they seek shade.

So, take those environmental conditions into account. Frank said people may find snakes sunning on rocks or sidewalks on a cool morning and under brush or hidden behind woodpiles when it’s hot.

Use common sense if you do spot a snake, she said. Step away and wait for it to leave the area. Snakes are typically not aggressive to humans and will leave quickly if given the chance, according to Frank.

Although most of the roughly 75 snake species in Texas are non-venomous, there are a dozen that can cause serious harm or death in humans.

Non-venomous species in Texas include garter or garden snakes, rat snakes, bull snakes and in South Texas, indigo snakes. Common venomous species are rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins or cottonmouths.

Venomous snakes generally don’t want to strike or bite, according to Frank, so they will usually give a warning—like a rattlesnake rattling its tail—before doing so.

“A snake strikes because it views you as a threat. Producing venom is an energetically costly process, and they only have so much,” she said. “If they use it, they must make more to hunt for food, and they have to work for every single meal, so striking to defend themselves is something they would rather avoid.”

Most bites happen around the ankles, and about 99% of all bites occur below the knee, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Frank recommends wearing leather boots at least 10 inches high or snake-proof boots or leggings to help prevent injury if a snake does strike. She noted while work gloves may not fully prevent a snake from biting, the extra layer of protection can reduce the severity.

If someone is bitten by a venomous snake, remain calm and take them to a hospital immediately. Remove clothing and jewelry from the extremity, like socks from a foot or rings from a hand, because swelling can soon set in. Frank said torniquets and suction devices may do more harm than good, so it’s best to focus on transporting the victim to a hospital as quickly and safely as possible.

It is helpful to identify the snake so medical personnel know how to treat the bite.

“Do not try to kill it. The emergency room doctors don’t need [the snake],” she said. “They just need a decent description of the snake or take a photo of it with your cell phone if it’s safe to do so. If someone else tries to get the snake, you run the risk that the doctor may be dealing with two snake bite victims.”

Although it’s tempting to kill a snake upon sighting, Frank said most are harmless and beneficial to humans. Snakes are predators of a variety of insects, amphibians, fish, other reptiles, birds and small mammals, helping to control populations that might otherwise reach nuisance levels.

But there are steps people can take to reduce the chances snakes will stick around homes, barns and properties.

“It’s best to take the habitat approach and remove the things that attract snakes,” she said. “Cutting the grass, removing brush and debris and trimming the lower branches on bushes and trees will go a long way in reducing the places a snake might want to hide.”

Cleaning up around buildings and picking up plywood, sheet metal and other debris offers fewer places for snakes to hide. Picking up trash and storing animal feed properly reduces rodent populations and, therefore, snakes.

For more information on Texas snake species, read Frank’s publication, Identifying Venomous and Nonvenomous Snakes in Texas.