How can I tell if a snake is poisonous?

Snakes come in all shapes and sizes. In Texas, coral snakes and all types of pit vipers, including copperheads, cottonmouth and several species of rattlesnakes are poisonous. Pit vipers are very fat with big heads and slits for pupils. Rattlesnakes are easy to identify because they have rattles on the end of their tail. Snakes that are smaller and skinny are typically non-venomous and harmless.

Coral snakes can be trickier to identify because they look very similar to the scarlet king snake, which is non-venomous. There is an old rhyme that can be used to tell the difference: “red touch yellow, kills a fellow – red touch black, friend of Jack”. With coral snakes, the red bands and yellow bands always touch. The coral snake has a black nose too, so keep these identifiers in mind when you see a snake nearby.

How do I prevent snakes from nesting on my property?

Snakes are drawn to places they fee are safe to hide, live in and hunt. There are certain things you can do to make your property uninviting to them, such as:

• Remove any piles of debris, like dead wood or rocks
• Cut your grass regularly so snakes can’t hide in it
• Regularly trim hedges & bushes
• Make sure there are no gaps under doors, windows, decks or patios

By keeping your property cleaned and well maintained, you are less likely to come into contact with snakes or any other unwanted creatures.