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How To Tell if a Snake Is Venomous or Harmless

Did you know there are only about 120 snake varieties in the United States, and of those, about 17 are venomous? In Alabama, that figure decreases to six types of venomous snakes. Knowing how to tell if a snake is venomous or harmless is helpful if you spot one on your property.

Identifying venomous snakes

There may not be a way to distinguish a venomous snake from a non-venomous snake at a glance. However, there are several identifying features to look for.

Start by checking out the shape of the snake’s head to determine if it’s venomous or harmless. Typically, venomous snakes have triangular-shaped heads. Another way to identify a venomous snake is by looking at its pupils.

Most venomous snakes have pupils similar to a cat with vertical slits. In addition to triangular heads and pupils with slits, most venomous snakes have a thicker body.

A few varieties, such as copperheads and rattlesnakes found in Alabama, are considered pit vipers. These snakes have pits just behind their noses used to sense prey. They may be hard to see at a distance, but it is another distinct feature.

Features of non-venomous snakes

Next up on how to tell if a snake is venomous or harmless are the non-venomous features. Non-venomous snake features are the opposite of venomous snakes. So, most non-venomous snakes have rounded heads, round pupils and thinner bodies than their counterparts.

However, some harmless snakes can flatten their heads to mimic the triangular shape of a venomous snake. For a closer look at the types of snakes found in Alabama, review Outdoor Alabama’s venomous and non-venomous snake guides showing pictures and offering more information about their habits and habitats.

Summary

With a basic understanding of how to tell if a snake is venomous or harmless, you can now safely act without causing harm to yourself, your family or the snake. And no matter what, if you want that pesky critter safely removed from your property, contact your local experts at Pesty Critters.

Our humane catch-and-release method is safe and effective. Wat’s more, our knowledgeable team will review preventative measures to deter snakes from returning. Keep reading our blogs to learn more about our services and common critters in Alabama.