It's that time of year again when people are encountering snakes just about everywhere they turn. With social media being ever so present in our lives, we're constantly seeing posts on the local Lake Area Happenings asking "What kind of snake is this? Is it dangerous?". So, this week, we thought it'd be a great opportunity to talk snakes that are local to Missouri. More specifically though, we want to cover 5 venomous snakes of Missouri.
5 Venomous Snakes of Missouri
Osage Copperhead
Adult Copperheads range between 2-3 feet in length and tend to be active between April and November. heir colors range between a blackish-brown and a light tan color, with darker crossbands that often serve as camouflage, making Copperheads difficult to spot - especially when curled up in dead leaves.
Western Cottonmouth
The length of a full-grown Cottonmouth can vary between 30 and 42 inches, and are most active between April and October. As aquatic snakes, they prefer marshy, braskish waters, and eat primarily fish. However, they also eat frogs, lizards, rodents, and other small creatures. cottonmouths can be distinguished by their black body, or dark brown body with black bands. Juvenile Cottonmouths have a yellow-green tail which they use to lure prey When threatened, a Cottonmouth will open its mouth to reveal a cotton-white lining, which is where it gets its namesake.
Timber Rattlesnake
The Timber Rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in Missouri: spanning up to five feet in length. It is a bright tan color with brown v-shaped spots that become bands near the tail, and it has a huge rattle at the end of its tail that serves as a defense mechanism. Timber Rattlesnakes are most active between April and October, and they are nocturnal during the summer.
Massasauga Rattlesnake
The Massasauga Rattlesnake eats primarily rodents and other small snakes, and measures between 18 and 30 inches long. They prefer wet, marshy habitats, including bogs and river bottom forests. Massasaugas have a thick, dark gray or gray-brown body, with darker, geometrically-shaped spots.
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake is one of the smallest species of rattlesnakes in North America - only 15 to 20 inches long - but it can pack a punch just like its fellow vipers. They are typically found in semi-shaded hillsides and tend to be active between mid-April and October. A Western Pygmy Rattlesnake are easier to spot in the wild due to its heavy contrast in coloring: a light brown body with brown and black spots. Its tail has a tiny rattle that it uses when threatened.
Contact A B Pest Control & Insulation Today!
All snakes, regardless of how dangerous they are, would prefer to be left alone by humans. If you encounter a snake while out and about, give it space. That being said, we hope that this guide will help you to properly identify a snake if you stumble upon one during an outing or in your own back yard. If you happen to notice an oddly high occurrence of run-ins in your yard, you may have a nest on your property. Make the smart and safe choice and contact A B Pest Control & Insulation to come out and remove the nest. We offer animal trapping and removal services and can safely remove those slithery pests and relocate them to a new home that's best for both you and the snake.
LAKE OF THE OZARKS
No comments:
Post a Comment