Oh man, it is hot! Summer has officially started and though it may be a jump for joy for many, it is a groan of complaint for others. The weather forecast shows temperatures to be in the mid-80s and peaking around the low 90s over the next several days which I guess isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things but considering we are only in June, I do not doubt that triple-digit heat isn’t too far off in the distance.
Typically, we do our best to escape the unforgiving heat. We go to the lake, stay inside with the air conditioner on full blast or chug down an ice-cold drink, whatever your remedy of choice we also aren’t the only ones looking for some relief during the summer months.
Snakes are often synonymous with summer but truthfully, they don’t like the summer heat just as much as we do. If they stay out in the heat too long, they will overheat and die. They are a cold-blooded species which means that their body temperature isn’t self-regulated like ours is and so a snake’s survival depends on the environment around it.
So, when we spot them out in the yard or a field it’s due to a few reasons, one, you may just be catching them on the move from one shady spot to another. Two, their body’s need to stay moisturized so they may lay out in your front yard and take advantage of your cool topsoil, and finally, the summer months also mean mating season for them, so they are out and about competing for a mate while also trying to stay cool.
Besides your front yard snakes also like to hang out in garages, sheds, leaves, and tall grass. They will also try to slip inside your home if given the opportunity. It’s because of this that you need to be extra careful when cleaning out the garage as you may come in contact with an unpleasant surprise that’s sure to make you jump back.
Here in East Texas, we see a lot of the Copperhead, Rattlesnake, Coral snake among many others. These snakes range in color and do an excellent job of blending in with its surroundings which makes our job all that more difficult when keeping an eye out for them to avoid them.
The Copperhead snake, for example, is generally tan or brown with a pattern covering the length of its body, because of their color they can blend in with leaves and foliage and they are commonly found in wooded areas.
When we spot one, we experience one of two reactions, we either want to run away or we want to make sure it’s dead. However strong the impulse to kill a snake may be, they play an important role in the ecosystem. They help keep the rodent population in check as well as the snake population in check as well.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife department advises to leave them alone if we can. They don’t prey on humans but will strike if they feel threatened or cornered. They also advise to stay still when encountering a snake and wait for the snake to retreat first. If we must move, then we need to do so slowly with no sudden movements.
In the event of a bite the first thing to do is to call 9-1-1, then keep the bitten arm or leg below heart level and then clean the wound with soap and water. Swelling may occur so it is a good idea to remove any tight-fitting clothes or jewelry. Any anti-venom treatment is most effective within the first few hours upon receiving a bite.
Snakes aren’t always a pretty sight, especially up close or an unexpected encounter but it’s important to understand their role in the wild and our role as well when visiting the great
outdoors. So next time, instead of wanting to kill a snake, snap a picture of it and learn more about it. You may find out it kills pesky rodents around the house with little to no harm to you if left unprovoked.
