TEXAS RAT SNAKE
The Texas Rat Snake is the largest snake found in Polk County, and can reach lengths over six feet. When newly hatched, they are about 9 to 11 inches long and have a light gray background with brown saddle-shaped blotches running down the back and an arrowhead shaped pattern on top of the head. They change color as they grow, however, and the pattern of adults is much more subdued. The background color of an adult Texas Rat Snake will range from shades of brown to yellow and even orange, and the blotches are much less distinguishable in adults. The top of the head also changes color - adult's heads are slate gray to black on top and white underneath. This color scheme is an accurate identification method to use, because they are the only large snake in the Polk County area that has a head that is gray-black on top and a lighter colored body that had dark saddle-shaped blotches on the back.
Texas Rat Snakes are an ill-tempered snake if encountered in the wild, and will readily defend themselves. This usually involves coiling up, raising the head, striking out repeatedly at anything that gets too close and vibrating the tail. This vibrating of the tail often causes it to be mistaken for a rattlesnake; however, they do not have rattles and are NOT rattlesnakes.
As the name implies, the Texas Rat Snake's primary diet is mice and rats, causing them to be commonly seen in any place inhabited by rodents. If bitten by a Texas Rat snake, you are in no medical danger. Simply wash the area well with soap and water, and apply an antimicrobial topical agent - they can hardly break the skin.
Texas Rat Snakes are sometimes referred to as "chicken snakes," because they are occasionally seen in or around chicken coops. Although they are often thought to eat chickens and eggs, this is not the case if adequate rodents are around.
YELLOW BELLIED WATER SNAKE
The Yellowbelly Water Snake is the harmless snake most often incorrectly confused with a Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin). This is because of it's generally dark coloration and it's irritable disposition. When threatened, they will coil up and flatten out their head, making it look arrowhead shaped. They also vibrate their tail, let out large amounts of foul smelling musk which smells like a skunk, and strikes out repeatedly at whatever is threatening them. A bite from a Yellowbellied Water Snake involves no more than soap and water and a bandaid.
One way of differentiating this snake from the deadly Cottonmouth, is that water snakes do not have the wide, dark "raccoon mask" facial stripe seen on the Cottonmouth.
Yellowbellied Water Snakes are often found in meadows and will seek cool, dark places when attempting to find new water sources. They will also be found where there are lots of frogs and toads, as this is their preferred meal.
TEXAS BROWN SNAKE
The Texas Brown Snake is a very common snake found throughout East Texas, and is highly variable in color, ranging from browns to tans and even brick reds. The color of the Texas Brown Snake is fairly even, though, with the exception of a faint lighter stripe down the middle of the back. Additionally, the top of the head and the corners of the mouth are darker in color. These "dark spots" on the sides of the head can resemble large eyes when the head if flattened out. This makes these small harmless snakes seem larger and more dangerous than they really are, since hatchlings are the size of an earthworm, and even adults are no more than 13 inches long.
Texas Brown Snakes are completely harmless if encountered, but will readily feign aggressiveness to defend themselves. This usually involves coiling up, raising the head, striking out repeatedly at anything that gets too close and vibrating the tail. This is just an act to get larger animals to leave them alone, however, since they generally strike with their mouths closed, and their mouths aren't large enough to grab human skin even if they tried.
Texas Brown Snakes can be found just about anywhere there is a cool dark moist bit of soil. They eat a wide variety of suitably sized insects and other invertebrates, including snails and slugs, making them a gardner's friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment