Herps in the News: Warm Spring Brings Out the Snakes!

(4/2/2012) 

 

     Due to a warm Spring and mild Winter, snakes are making an appearance earlier than usual this year.  According to McNeely Pest Control of Winston-Salem, more than a dozen phone calls came in from worried home owners about snakes in their house in the past week.

     In the article, McNeely clarifies differences between copperheads and rat snakes saying "the most common snakes being found are young black rat snakes that often look like copperheads." He continues, "while they resemble a copperhead, their skin pattern is slightly different, and they are greyish in color–not copper or brown." I find this description to be quite accurate, although both snakes are poisonous and should be dealt with care or by a professional. 

   The article ends with simple notes on how to keep rat snakes and copperheads out of the house:

1. Any hole around the house larger than one-quarter of an inch needs to be filled in
2. Make sure no trees are touching the house, rat snakes are good climbers
3. Rodent proof the house. The house will be a less attractive place for snakes if their aren't rodents running around

     This article was short but very informative.  It's important that people know how to keep themselves safe from venomous snakes, especially if they have a family.  With summer approaching faster this year than the last, spring has almost been skipped and the snakes are out!  This story interested me because venom and danger get my blood flowing (even though the article claims that most of the snakes found had very little fangs, like in the picture above). The reporting was OK.  It was clear that the reporter just asked a local pet control company some questions.  There were no biases, snakes are out and that it that! 

Source: http://myfox8.com/2012/04/02/an-early-warm-spring-is-bringing-out-snakes/