![]() Snakes really don’t have any interest in you and if left alone will move on their way.įICTION: Copperhead populations are increasing. Many snake bites can be avoided by following a very simple rule: J ust Leave Them Alone. These species are relatively docile and will only strike when provoked.įACT: Taking matters into your own hands puts you at greater risk of being bitten. If you happen to be standing in the path of its escape route, it may appear that it is “attacking” or “chasing” you.įICTION: Rattlesnakes and Copperheads become more aggressive and territorial during the mating season. At top speed, Virginia’s fastest snake is the harmless Black Racer and it can only crawl at about 4 mph, which is the pace of a very brisk walk. But with all of these benefits, the persecution and killing of snakes continues and is mostly driven by a misunderstanding of their behavior and misinformed beliefs. Some nonvenomous snakes (Eastern Milksnakes, Black Kingsnakes and Black Racers) actually prey on other snakes, including venomous species. farmers losing millions of dollars every year from crop damage caused by rodents, snakes are invaluable in controlling these types of pests. A single Timber Rattlesnake may indirectly remove 2,000-2,500 ticks annually from the wild through the rodents it eats, which is important when considering the ever increasing prevalence of Lyme's disease and other tick related diseases. As many species of snake are predators of rodents, they are also highly beneficial to humans. Snakes play a critical role in our ecosystems eating a wide variety of prey items. Some of the more commonly encountered harmless (nonvenomous) snakes in Southwest Virginia include the Eastern Milksnake, Northern Ring-necked Snake, Eastern Ratsnake (aka Blacksnake), Black Racer, and Northern Watersnake, which is often misidentified as a Cottonmouth. Cottonmouths (aka water-moccasins) are primarily found in southeastern Virginia. Of these, only the Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake occur in Southwest Virginia. There are 32 species of snake in Virginia, but only three are venomous (Cottonmouth, Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake). How many species of snakes live in Virginia? A common reaction to snakes is “the only good snake, is a dead snake,” but nothing could be further from the truth. Regardless of their source, misconceptions about snakes have made them among the most persecuted of all animals. Others are deeply rooted in folktales and myths that give snakes extraordinary powers and abilities. Many of these responses occur because snakes appear and behave unlike any other animal we know. It may be wonder, exhilaration, shock, or even fear. “SNAKE!” The mere mention of the word evokes an emotional response. The new regulations prohibit the taking and possessing of 26 salamander species, 13 frog and toad species, six lizard species, 23 snake species and 12 turtle species.Information provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. But these animals call West Virginia home, so we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to protect them so they can continue to serve their ecological function in the environment.” Prohibited Native West Virginia Amphibian and Reptile Species “When it comes to the illegal wildlife trade, people don’t think about turtles, snakes and salamanders. “Reptiles and amphibians are a valuable wildlife resource and unfortunately we’ve had several large poaching cases involving these animals,” said Kevin Oxenrider, amphibian and reptile program leader for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. New regulations making it unlawful to take or possess most native reptiles and amphibians for any reason are now in effect in West Virginia, Division of Natural Resources officials announced.
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