Are snakes a problem in Virginia?
Virginia has 32 native snakes, and you can’t be expected the know them all. But you can take a big step toward protecting yourself and your scaly neighbors if you familiarize yourself with just six. Three are venomous — rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and copperheads. They can indeed be dangerous if you get too close.
Where are poisonous snakes in Virginia?
In Virginia, there are timber rattlesnakes, northern copperheads, and eastern cottonmouths. The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is found in the mountainous regions of Virginia as well as the Dismal Swamp. Adults range from 30 to 60 inches in length and come in a variety of color patterns.
How common are snake bites in Virginia?
That’s a rate of about one in every 37,500 Americans, according to the University of Florida’s Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Lab. There are about six fatalities each year from snake bite in this country, and less than 15 in Virginia over a 30-year period.
Where do copperheads live in Virginia?
Copperheads can be found throughout Virginia in forests, old fields, rocky outcrops, and marshes. They eat small rodents, birds, lizards, amphibians, insects, and other snakes.
What is the most deadliest snake in Virginia?
How many snakes in Virginia are dangerous? The copperhead is the most common venomous snake in Virginia. They prefer to live in places where they can hide and find lots of food, such as a forest or areas with tall grass. But copperheads have been found in urban areas, too.
Where are rattlesnakes found in Virginia?
Timber rattlesnakes are common only in the mountainous regions of western Virginia and a small area of extreme southeastern Virginia where they are known as canebrake rattlesnakes; they are a state endangered species.
What is the deadliest animal in Virginia?
The winner for the most dangerous animal in Virginia is (in our eyes) the Odocoileus virginianus. Sound familiar? It’s the White-tailed deer.
What time of year do snakes come out in Virginia?
Snakes are most active from March to October, when the weather is warmest. Most snakes come out of hibernation (called “brumation” in reptiles) in March.
Is there a snake season in Virginia?
Every year around early- to mid-spring, we receive phone calls, emails, and the occasional visitor with questions about, photos of, specimens of snakes. This is the time of year these animals begin to venture out of their hibernacula in search of food, mates, and shelter.
What time of day are copperheads most active?
Copperheads are most active from the late afternoon into the evening, and prefer cooler areas to hide. They hibernate in the winter, and emerge in the spring for mating season. Their diet consists of small rodents and other pests, so if you have a rodent problem, your property can likely attract these serpents.
What time of day are snakes the most active?
early morning
Snakes are at their most active when it’s cool out. They move around most in the early morning and around dusk. Snakes hunt in tall grass, weeds, and other sources of vegetation. Around your home, they’ll seek out shady or dark places where they can rest and cool down.
How can I keep snakes out of my yard?
How to Keep Snakes Away from Your House
- Replace grass or mulch with gravel. Snakes can’t move or hide easily on gravel and other hard surfaces.
- Remove bird feeders, birdbaths, and other sources of food and water.
- Keep pet food inside.
- Trim bushes and trees.
- Reconsider water features.
- Install snake-proof fencing.
Are there poisonous snakes in Virginia?
Believe it or not, Virginia’s snakes — even the venomous ones — are not aggressive, experts say. “Snakes are not out there waiting to ambush you,” J.D. Kleopfer, Virginia’s state herpetologist, or reptile expert, told Virginia Mercury.
Are there black snakes in Martinsville VA?
It is one of only two venomous snakes found in the Martinsville/Henry County area. Brian Williams, who had his first pet snake when he was 5 years old, does not shy away from the reptiles. Here he holds two black snakes, which are beneficial to the environment.
How rare are timber rattlesnakes in Virginia?
Timber rattlesnakes are extremely rare in this region — only likely to be found at the very top of mountains, such as Turkeycock Mountain and Fork Mountain, said Gibson, who is a member of the Virginia Herpetological Society.
Are there rattlesnakes in Henry County?
People in Henry County or Martinsville, Williams and Gibson said, only are likely to come across the copperhead, or very rarely — on mountaintops — a timber rattlesnake. The rest of the Virginia snakes are harmless to people and beneficial to the environment. The most well-known of those snakes are the black snakes.