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different species of snake and only one of them is venomous
and that is the Eastern Copperhead. Our snakes range
from 6 feet to quite small, the largest snake that we have
is the Eastern Rat Snake and one of the smallest is the
DeKay Snake. Snakes prefer many different habitats, some
prefer living in the edge of the water, some prefer
meadows, some prefer deep in the forest and some prefer
even right in your own back yard. Snakes serve as
important roles as predator and prey in our ecosystems and
they provide a very valuable service in our community in
terms of pest control. People are most likely to encounter a
snake when a snake is just kind of crossing their
backyards or other transient habitats, when snakes are
crossing roads, when it is breeding season and snakes are
out looking for mates or when they are basking on edges of
habitats such as water bodies or forest edges. The top 5
snake calls I get will probably be in no particular
order, but certainly we will start off with the Eastern Rat
Snake because of its size and also that is the snake that
really likes to visit your bird feeders and also even in
your bluebird boxes. Sometimes, when you are
working in your garden, you will bump into some small
species, probably the Eastern Garter Snake which is really
pretty, black with some yellow stripes going down and he is
really good at pest control in your garden. And then you have
a real small snake called the DeKay snake which is a huge
benefit because it eats slugs and we know slugs will
definitely do damage to your garden. Again, probably the
Northern Water Snake, we have a lot of great fishing spots
in Fairfax County and usually they are misidentified as
Water Moccasins which do not get above Richmond, Virginia.
Another snake that is really common that we see in our rock
walls is probably the Northern Ring neck which has a
beautiful yellow ring on its neck. And also, let us finish
with another snake that kind of scares people and that is
the Eastern Worm Snake, it looks just like a worm, it has
a got a beautiful pink belly and he will be in your garden
doing insect control. Our only venomous snake we have here is
the Eastern Copperhead and probably the easiest way to
identify a copperhead is by its large, triangular head,
now a lot of non venomous snakes will spread their heads
out when they are scared but copperheads have a very narrow
neck behind their head, they also have a really unique
pattern. Many of our non venomous species are
frequently misidentified as copperheads due to
similarities in their coloration or species that
have cross bands or blotches on their back, some of the
more common species that are misidentified as copperheads
include juvenile Eastern Rat Snakes which look very
different from the adults, DeKay's Brown Snakes which are
sometimes referred to as Northern Brown Snakes and also
Northern Water Snakes. If there is a snake within the
living quarters of a home or you find a snake that appears
sick or injured, you can contact Animal Protection
Police through the Police non emergency number, our officers
do not remove snakes that are outside in yards, in attics or
are in unfinished basements. Most snakes snakes do not pose
a threat to humans but if you are bitten by a snake that you
believe could be venomous, seek medical attention
immediately. Additionally, the keeping of venomous snakes is
prohibited in Fairfax County. I would say that the most
common areas you are going to find snakes are in our parks,
generally people that run into snakes are either leaving the
trail in the park or else people who handle snakes.
Snakes rely on mimicry and camouflage and when you are
off trail you are not going to see them and that is when you
can run into a negative situation. Any the other ways,
you just do not want to pick up snakes, you want to give
them their space, you want to respect them, they serve a
really important role in the ecosystem that we are part of.
There are a few simple tips that you can use to stay safe
in the outdoors when snakes may be present. The first is,
if you do encounter a snake is to stop, step back and give it
space and it will move on its own. Never attempt to handle
or capture a snake, especially if you are not sure of the
species as any snake may bite if they are provoked. When
walking or hiking it is best to stay on established trails
or pathways that are clear, you can bring a walking stick
with you and make some noise or tap it to alert snakes to
your presence. When recreating outdoors, it is best to wear
long pants and closed toe shoes such as boots and when
working outdoors such as a garden or especially areas
around debris, we recommend wearing protective gloves. If
you are walking at night, in areas where snakes may be
present, we recommend carrying a flashlight. If you are
walking your dogs , we recommend keeping them on leashes and
not letting cats free roam, this reduces any encounters
that your pets may have by wandering off into natural
areas. Snakes live here in Fairfax County, they live with
us and I really think that once we learn about these
important animals and we learn how to react with them and
interact with them then I think it will serve both of
us, humans and snakes better.