Venomous Snakes

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Venomous Snakes
As weather warms we extend our recreational
pursuits out-of-doors we must be aware of other
creatures that may inhabit the areas we may
travel. ORM is the best way to mitigate the risk
of crossing paths with the locals. Be aware of
your surrounding the animals that share
them. There are 3 species of venomous snakes in
VA.
Timber (canebrake) rattler
Copper head
Cotton mouth
Virginia Herpetological Society
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Timber Rattlesnake also called Canebrake

• This is sometimes called the "velvet-tail" or
  "banded" rattler.
• This snake is venomous and grows to lengths of
  36-60 in.
• There are two major color patterns
• (1) the yellow phase, there are black
  or dark brown cross
• bands on a ground color of yellow, brown, or
  gray the cross bands, which
• may be V-shaped, break up interiorly to form a
  row of darker spots down
• the back, plus a row along each side of the body.
• (2) the black phase, in which the
• head is black and there are black blotches
• and chevrons on a ground color of dark
• brown to nearly black.

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Timber Rattlesnake also called Canebrake

• It inhabits upland hardwood mixed pine-hardwood
  forests, in areas
• where there are sunny, rocky slopes ledges.
• This snake needs places to hibernate that allow
  it to stay below the
• frost line, such as large cracks in rocky
  outcroppings.
• Canebrake while being one of the most venomous
  snakes on the
• east coast is one of the most relaxed its
• first line of defense is retreat but if
• threatened or harassed may strike
• without first using its rattle as a warning.

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If bitten take action immediately

• First Aid
• 1) Get medical help immediately. Call 911. Keep
  the person calm.
• 2) Mark the place of the bite, and write the time
  of the bite on the person with a Sharpie.
• 3) Restrict movement, create a loose splint to
  help restrict movement of the area.
• 4) Keep the affected area below heart level to
  reduce the flow of venom.
• 5) Remove any rings or constricting items because
  the affected area may swell.
• 6) Monitor the person's vital signs --
  temperature, pulse, rate of breathing and for
  signs of shock (such as paleness), lay the person
  flat, raise the feet about a foot, and cover the
  person with a blanket.
• 7) If swelling occurs, mark the extent of the
  swelling with a marker, and write the time.
• 8) Apply a bandage, wrapped two to four inches
  above the bite, to help slow the venom. This
  should not cut off the flow of blood from a vein
  or artery - the band should be loose enough to
  slip a finger under it. Once a pressure bandage
  has been applied, it should not be removed until
  the patient has reached a medical professional.

Virginia Herpetological Society
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Cotton mouth or Water Moccasin

• This is a large, venomous, semi-aquatic
• snake.
• When it opens its mouth, the distinctive
• white interior is displayed.
• It grows to average lengths of 30-48 in. and may
  reach 74 in.
• The back is olive, brown or black with black
  crossbands that extend
• onto the belly.
• The belly is cream with patches or streaks of
  black. Older adults may
• be uniformly dark.
• The head is triangular and flattened on top.
  Juveniles have the same
• patterns as adults but are brighter, have more
  distinct crossbands, body
• color may be more pinkish, and the tip of the
  tail is yellow.

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Cotton mouth or Water Moccasin

• If approached, it will stand its ground,
• or crawl away very slowly. When standing
• its ground, this species will coil, slowly
• vibrate its tail, and open its mouth wide to
• show the white inside.
• Males are known to perform a combat dance. will
  not hesitate to strike if molested.
• It emits a musk from a gland at the base of the
  tail when captured.
• When the cottonmouth swims its entire body is on
  the surface of the water.

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Cotton mouth or Water Moccasin

• None have been found north or west of Colonial
  Heights. Most known populations occur south of
  the James River. This is a semi aquatic snake
  found in lowland habitats, including swamps,
  freshwater and brackish marshes, ponds, ditches,
  streams, rivers, and forested and grassland areas
  next to wet areas. It is often found in
  cultivated fields adjacent to swamp or sluggish
  streams.

Virginia Herpetological Society
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Copperhead

• Copperheads bite more people in most years than
  any
• other U.S. species, but they also have the
  mildest venom.
• Copperheads are pit vipers, poisonous snakes that
  are named for the two heat sensing pits used to
  locate prey that are positioned between the eyes
  and the nostrils.
• The copperhead's initial threat display is to
  strike. It lashes
• out at an enemy as a warning, not an attempt
• to kill, the snake injects little venom.
• "Copperhead bites are typically
• not fatal,

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Copperhead

• Their venom is hemolytic it destroys the red
  corpuscles of the blood releases the hemoglobin
  into the surrounding fluid. The resultant
  hemorrhaging destroys the snake's normal prey,
  mostly small mammals

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How to keep your home safe

• To lessen the risk of injury from these snakes,
  clean up around the yard, remove any trash.
• Be very careful when lifting old logs or other
  trash that no snakes are lurking beneath them, a
  good pair of thick gloves, boots thick jeans
  are a good precaution also.
• Keep borders of yard cut grass low. Drain off
  standing water.
• Check wood/rock piles underbrush periodically
  for evidence of snakes, such as shed skin.

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Questions?

• The Naval Safety can help contact us
  www.safetycenter_at_navy.mil

Up-dated 09 Aug 09