Texas has its share of snakes and one thing is for sure; all snakes will bite if they feel threatened. Luckily, about half of the snakes in Texas are non aggressive. That’s why it is always good to know which snakes to watch out for, especially when going camping or traveling in wooded areas.
Texas is home to 15 venomous snakes:
1 species of coral snake (Texas Coral Snake)
1 species of water moccasin or cottonmouth (Western Cottonmouth)
3 species of copperheads (Southern, Broadband and Trans-Pecos Copperhead)
10 species of rattlesnakes (Western Diamondback, Timber, Mottled Rock, Banded Rock, Northern Black-Tailed, Mojave, Prairie, Desert Massasauga, Western Massasauga and Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes).
Texas Coral Snake:
The brightly colored Texas coral snake is the state’s only member of the Elapidae family, which includes the cobras of Asia and Africa. The coral snake is slender with a small indistinctive head and round pupils, and is usually is 2-1/2 feet or shorter. Shy and rarely seen, its distinctive pattern is a broad black ring, a narrow yellow ring and a broad red ring, with the red rings always bordered by the yellow rings. Several harmless snakes are similarly marked, but never with the red and yellow touching.
“Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, won’t kill Jack” – Words to live by.
The old saying “red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, won’t kill Jack” come in handy as a way to distinguish the highly venomous coral snake from non venomous ringed species. The coral snake has a small mouth, and is usually non-aggressive. Its bites are dangerous, but extremely rare. Coral snakes are found in the southeastern half of Texas in woodlands, canyons and coastal plains.
The list of nonvenomous snakes includes over 100 species and subspecies. Depending where in Texas you live, you could have all four types of the venomous snakes living in your area (e.g., Southeast Texas has up to 60 nonvenomous snakes).
The Texas Brown Snake: (non venomous)
This snake is a combination of light and dark brown and can be seen mostly in Eastern Texas among gardens and trash. They are not dangerous and can grow as big as 13 inches. The checkered garter snake is found throughout residential areas and on lawns and flowerbeds in western Texas.
The Texas Rat Snake: (non-venomous)
The Rat snake is one of the most commonly encountered species of non-venomous snakes in North Texas, this is especially true for the Dallas Fort Worth area. These are large snakes capable of growing more than 77 inches (2 m) in total body length. The largest Rat snake recorded measured 86 inches (2.18 m). Despite their size, Texas rat snakes are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans. This species is highly adaptable to a wide range of environments including forest, grasslands, suburban areas, and even locations within an urban setting.
The presence of this snake in any setting near human habitation is a strong indicator that rodents such as rats and mice are also in the vicinity. These snakes are effective and efficient predators of disease spreading rodents.
Texas rat snakes are excellent climbers and there have been occasional reports of climbing the sides of brick walls on buildings. This can be the result of the snake detecting the presence of rodents, which often seek shelter in attics. This species will also climb trees in pursuit of eggs, birds, and squirrels. In many rural areas where poultry are maintained this snake has earned the common name “chicken snake”. This is due to the snake’s appetite freshly laid chicken eggs and chicks.
![Venomous Snakes of Texas - Texas Parks and Wildlife [Official]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qz2TBbl_01A/hqdefault.jpg)
