Eastern Hognose, Loachapoka, AL (C. McDuffie)
How do you know
if a snake is "good" or "bad"? With the weather getting
hotter, snakes are on the move more trying to find a cool place to escape. You
may see one in passing, or as one of our neighbors recently experienced, the
loss of a pet to a poisonous snake. While it is not always possible to avoid
snakes, it is good to be able to identify those that are beneficial. In fact,
there are only 4 poisonous snakes in Alabama: copperhead, rattlesnake, coral
snake, and cottonmouth/water moccasin. Here are a few links to good sites that
help identify snakes in Alabama.
To avoid being
bitten by a snake, the Alabama Department of Public Health
recommends the following:
· When entering any area, use caution.
· Use a stick or some type of rod to move objects
slowly and carefully to check for anything hidden behind them.
· If possible, wear boots and heavy
gloves when clearing an area and work with someone else.
· Make noise when entering an area to alert snakes
to your presence and to cause them to make a sound or movement that will tell
you their location.
· Snakes will not usually bite unless
cornered, handled or stepped on, and most snakes are not poisonous.
· If you find a snake, it is best to leave
it alone. Snakes will return to their own environment away from humans as
quickly as they can. Snakes help keep the rodent population down, so it is best
not to kill them unless absolutely necessary.
· If you must kill a snake, one of the
most effective methods is to use a long-handled hoe to strike it in the
back of the snake's head.
· Be sure to warn children to watch out
for snakes and not to get close to them. Tell them it is best to back off
quickly and quietly from a snake to avoid making it feel threatened.
