Pygmy Rattlesnake
(Sistrutus miliarius)

The Definitive Guide to Poisonous and Non-Poisonous snake Control
and Where to Find a Wildlife Control Professional!

Are you frustrated and tired of dealing with the Damage caused by WILDLIFE. This site deals with WILDLIFE DAMAGE and steps the "Do it yourselfer" can take to protecting your property from the damage caused by Wildlife in your area.

Don't want to do it yourself? No Problem, we have Wildlife Professionals to help you solve all your wildlife control needs.

Identification

There are four different species of poisonous snakes in North America. These species are Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth Moccasin, Copperhead and Coral Snake. Click here for Non-Poisonous Snakes.

Not all of the various sub-species are shown; there are just too many of them. Unfortunately, coloration and markings can vary greatly between the various sub-species, which can make identification difficult. We have provided the known range of many of the venomous snakes found in North America below!

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

The Copperhead is a stout-bodied snake that feeds on cicadas, caterpillars, mice, birds, frogs and lizards. It prefers to live in wooded areas, among rocks, or near streams or ponds because prey are more plentiful in such locations. Favorite hiding places include stone walls, sawdust, mulch or compost piles, and and under decaying stumps, in wood piles, under abandoned building debris, and under large flat stones. This snake will be seen basking during the day when weather is cool but not cold. During summer heat, it will stay hidden during the day and become active at night. In October the Copperhead retreats to its underground den to hibernate until late February or early March. Dens are most often in rocky hillsides with southern or eastern exposure to the sun. These "snake dens" will be returned to year after year and may contain a large number of snakes. In late summer through mid-October, between 1 and 14 young are born alive rather than hatched from eggs.

Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Cottonmouths are large, aquatic, venomous snakes. They are generally dark above: olive, brown, or black. A lighter/darker cross banding pattern may be seen, especially on the sides. They are heavy bodied with keeled scales. Adult size is considered to be in the range of 30 to 48 inches. The young are more distinctly patterned, resembling a very dark Copperhead Snake, without the reddish tint.

Many times non-venomous water snakes are mistaken for Cottonmouths. Cottonmouths get their name from their defensive habit of gaping their mouths open to expose the white lining of the mouth. This is their way of warning potential aggressors to stay away.

Cottonmouths can be aggressive. Unlike their Copperhead cousins, they will often stand their ground. Their venom is stronger and they tend to be larger snakes, making them very dangerous.

Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius tenere)

There are more than 50 kinds of Coral snakes in North and South America alone. These snakes belong to the Elipade family. Most coral snakes are about two to four feet long, and all have brightly colored bands of red, yellow, and black encircling them. Coral snakes often hide their head in their bodies when they sense danger. These snakes rarely bite humans.

Coral snakes are carnivores. Most Coral snakes eat other lizards and small snakes. Some also eat small mice and birds. Like other snakes, coral snakes swallow their victim whole. During the day, Coral snakes spend their time in holes dug out by other animals. They also live in logs, tree stumps, and rotting leaves. They live in the Southern United Sates, Central and South America. Some also live in Asia, Africa, and Australia. The two species that live in the United States are the Eastern and Western Coral snake. Different species of Coral snakes mate at different times throughout the year. They usually lay two to eighteen eggs and the young hatch in two months.

Coral snakes rarely bite humans, but they are still among the most venomous snakes in the world. They obtained their name from the North American Explorers. The explorers thought that they looked like ocean coral, a brightly colored group of underwater animals.

Coral snakes belong to the family Elapidae and have a pair of short fangs at the roof of their mouth. They all have neurotoxic poison in their venom which paralyzes the victim and stops the respiratory system from working properly.

Timber rattle Snake (Crotalus horridus)

There are approximately thirty species of rattlesnake, with numerous subspecies. They receive their name for the rattle located at the tip of their tails. The rattle is used as a warning device when threatened.

Rattlesnakes consume mice, rats, small birds and other small animals. They subdue their prey quickly with a venomous bite as opposed to constricting. The venom will immediately stun or kill typical prey. Rattlesnake venom can kill in 20 seconds, but a rattlesnake will follow prey that does not quickly succumb to the venom and attempts to escape. Rattlers are known to strike at distances up to two-thirds their body length.

Different species of rattlesnake vary significantly in size, territory, markings, and temperament. If the rattlesnake is not cornered or imminently threatened, it will usually attempt to flee from encounters with humans, but will not always do so. Bites often occur when humans startle the snake or provoke it. Those bitten while provoking rattlesnakes have usually underestimated the range (roughly two-thirds of its total length) and speed with which a coiled snake can strike (literally faster than the human eye can follow). This can be particularly surprising since the snakes can strike without pulling their body back. This reflex hasn't been recorded in any other species. Heavy boots and long pants reinforced with leather or canvas are recommended for hikers in areas known to harbor rattlesnakes.

Range

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake - Commonly found in the SE U.S. in lower coastal plains; SE North Carolina to Florida Keys, W to S Mississippi and E Louisiana. Attains a maximum length of 96", which makes it our largest rattlesnake. Has a reputation for being the most dangerous snake in North America. Found from sea level to 500'.

Timber Rattlesnake - Commonly found in most of the eastern US, except the extreme northern regions. Attains a maximum length of about 75". Prefers remote wooded hillsides with rock outcrops, swampy areas and floodplains. Found from sea level to 6,600'.

Mojave Rattlesnake - Commonly found in southeastern US; S Nevada, S California and SW Utah. Attains maximum length of about 51". Prefers upland desert flatland supporting mesquite, creosote bush and cacti; also arid lowland with sparse vegetation, grassy plains, Joshua tree forests, and rock hills. Found from sea level to 8,300'.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Commonly found in the southwestern US, from SE California eastward to central Arkansas. Attains a maximum length of about 84". Prefers arid and semiarid areas; brush desert, rocky canyons, bluffs along rivers and rocky foothills. Found from sea level to 7,000'.

Speckled Rattlesnake - Commonly found in the desert areas of the southwestern U.S. Attains maximum length of about 52". Prefers rugged rocky terrain, rock outcrops, deep canyons, talus and chapparal amid rock piles and boulders. Can be found from sea level to 8,000'. Active during the day in spring and fall, at night in summer.

Pygmy Rattlesnake - Usually 15 - 31" long and ranges from eastern North Carolina to the Florida Keys west to eastern Oklahoma and east Texas. It prefers mixed pine-hardwood forest, sandhills, marshes and the areas near ponds.

Massasauga - This rattlesnake is usually 18 - 39" long. Unlike other rattlers, it has 9 enlarged scales on top of its head. It ranges from northwest Pennsylvania west to eastern Iowa and southwest into Texas. Its habitat ranges from dry woodlands to rocky hillsides to bogs and swamps.

Sidewinder - Commonly found in the desert areas of the southwestern U.S. Attains maximum length of about 33". Prefers arid desert flatland with sandy washes or mesquite-crowned sand hammocks. Can be found from below sea level to 5,000'. Travels over shifting surfaces by "sidewinding", a process by which the snake makes use of static friction to keep from slipping when crossing soft sandy areas. It leaves a trail of parallel J-shaped markings behind it. Primarily nocturnal, it is usually encountered crossing roads (and trails) between sundown and midnight in spring. During the day, it occupies mammal burrows or hides beneath bushes.

Black-tailed Rattlesnake - Usually 28 – 49 inches in length. Likes rocky mountainous areas; among rimrock and limestone outcrops, wooded stony canyons, chaparral, rocky streambeds; found near sea level to about 9,000'. Ranges from Arizona east to central Texas, south through central Mexico.

Tiger Rattlesnake - Usually 20 – 36 inches long. Prefers arid rocky foothills and canyons, primarily in ocotilla-mesquite-creosote bush and saguaro-paloverde associations; sea level to 4,800'. Ranges from Central Arizona south to S Sonora, Mexico.

Cottonmouth - Commonly found in most parts of SE U.S. and in S Missouri to south-central Oklahoma and central Texas. Attains maximum length of about 75". A very dangerous and aggressive snake. Prefers lowland swamps, lakes, rivers, bayheads, sloughs, irrigation ditches and small clear rocky streams. Found from sea level to 1,500'.

Copperhead - The Eastern Copperhead is commonly found in the southeastern U.S. and also in E Texas and E Oklahoma. The Northern Copperhead is found from SW Massachusetts to SW Illinois, south to NE Mississippi, N Alabama, N and central Georgia and piedmont of South Carolina. Attains maximum length of 53". Prefers wooded hillsides with rock outcrops above streams or ponds; edges of swamps. Found from sea level to 5,000'.

Western Coral Snake - Prefers rocky areas, plains to lower mountain slopes; rocky upland desert in arroyos and river bottoms. Found from sea level to 5,900'. Habitat ranges from central Arizona to sw New Mexico south to Mexico. Do not confuse this poisonous snake with other species that are harmless, such as the Milk Snake. The Coral snake has red and yellow bands that are adjacent, the non venomous species have red and black bands that are adjacent. Remember the jingle, "Red and yellow kill a fellow, but red and black is a friend of Jack".

Eastern Coral Snake - This beautiful snake is commonly found from SE North Carolina to S Florida (and the Florida Keys) west to S Texas. Attains a maximum length of about 48". Prefers moist, densely vegetated hammocks near ponds or streams in hardwood forests; pine flatwoods; rocky hillsides and canyons. Note that the red and yellow bands are adjacent. Do not confuse this poisonous snake with other species that are harmless, such as the Scarlet Snake and Scarlet Kingsnake. For these non-poisonous species, the red and black bands are adjacent. Remember the jingle, "Red and black, friend of Jack; red and yellow kill a fellow".

Texas Coral Snake - Usually 22 – 47 inches long. Prefers ponds or streams in hardwood forests; pine flatwoods; rocky hillsides and canyons. Ranges from Southern Arkansas, W Louisiana, S Texas into NE Mexico. Like other species of Coral snake, the red and yellow bands are adjacent. For the non-poisonous look-alikes, the red and black bands are adjacent.

Damage Caused by Snakes

Normally their presence is just unwanted as they accidentally wander into our living areas.

Control Methods

There are a few things you can do to reduce their presence around your property. First, keep the lawn low cut and clean. Snakes need cover to hunt in and protect themselves. If they don't have places to hide they are less likely to be around. Don't leave wood or brush piles sit in one spot for years on end. Cut grass short and keep leaves and other debris picked up.

Second, repair cracks along your foundation and fill holes around pipes. Snakes only need about a inch crack to get inside. Fill the hole before they decide to set up a brood nest there.

Snakes do not need to be killed, they can be easily controlled with traps and removed. This is best done by a professional. If you want to do it yourself, check out our store HERE for baits, traps and books.