Season 4 - Episode 78: When Venturing Outside - Watch Your Step! Venomous Snakes are a Real Threat - a podcast by Heidi Lyn Rao

Venomous snakes can be found in almost every state in the continental U.S.  

            To make things more complicated, many non-venomous snakes mimic venomous snakes in appearance and movement.  For example, non-venomous rat snakes and non-venomous bull snakes have similar markings as venomous rattlesnakes.  Non-venomous king snakes and non-venomous milk snakes mimic the coloration of venomous coral snakes.  When startled, some non-venomous snakes even vibrate the tips of their tails so fast against leaves and rocks, that it sounds like the rattling sounds of rattlesnakes.  

            As outdoors men and women, we need to know the types of snakes in the area we will be entering and how to safely remove them if necessary.  There are two types of venom found in the venomous snakes of North America.  The first is hemotoxin and the second is neurotoxin.  Hemotoxins are found in the pit vipers which include rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins.  Neurotoxin venomous snakes are found in the coral snakes.   Hemotoxic pit vipers have the classic triangle- shaped head, and the venom of these snakes are delivered by hinged fangs that inject their venom into their prey, similar to hypodermic needles.   Neurotoxic venoms are injected by a primitive delivery system consisting of fixed fangs equipped with grooves running down the back of the fangs in which the venom flows.

There are 4 types of venomous snakes in North America, and Texas has all four!

The key thing to remember if you encounter a snake, venomous or non-venomous, is to leave it alone and give it plenty of room.  Stay aware, watch your step, and never put your boots on too fast in the morning!  

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