Written by Tim Pylate, Armand Bayou Nature Center Executive Director

Friends! Spring has sprung here in southeast Texas, and many of our scaly, slithering friends have woken from their long winter’s nap (also known as brumation). Yes, I’m talking about SNAKES! Often, when humans and snakes interact, it does not end well for the snake. Nothing breaks my heart more than to see a social media post in which someone has needlessly killed a harmless snake out of fear. While fear is certainly a natural and understandable reaction to snakes, with a little education, we can learn to coexist with our reptilian friends, and perhaps, even come to love them. While so many folks are currently working from home and spending more time on social media, I thought it might be fun to share a little snake knowledge to help us all get along.

Snake knowledge:
- There are 68 types of snakes in Texas. (Wow!)
- Snakes serve a valuable function in the environment. They eat rodents and OTHER snakes!
- Snakes do not prey on humans, and they will not chase you; they usually retreat or escape if given the opportunity.
- The danger comes when they are surprised or cornered.
- Most bites are from people taking unnecessary or foolish risks with venomous snakes.
- A dead snake can still envenomate!
- A squirt from a water hose will almost always move them along. (Please don’t kill snakes – even venomous ones!)

Snake bites!
- About 7,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States annually.
- Only 0.2% (1 out of 500) venomous snakebites result in death.
- On average, 1 to 2 people in Texas die each year from venomous snakebites. (You are more likely to die by lightning strike!)
- Roughly half of all venomous snakebites are “dry.” That is, the snake does not inject venom into the victim.