Spring time means that snakes are on the move again.  In my opinion, these are the four common venomous snakes found in South Texas.

1. The Copperhead is the most prevalent in South Texas. If you happen to get close enough you can notice a pit located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head. This pit pretty much give the snake a sixth sense that helps them to find and perhaps even judge the size of the small warm-blooded prey. They have a similar look to a Water Moccasin, and are sometimes referred to as the Land Moccasin. Copperheads usually are found around downed/decaying trees, rock cuts, and sheet metal lying on the ground, trash, rock or wood piles.

A copperhead snake
Corbis via Getty Images
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2. The Coral snake is sometimes  confused with the similar colored and non-venomous Milk Snake, whose red and black bands connect.  Remember "Red and Yellow kills a fellow, Red and Black is a friend to Jack." These snake spend most of their time underground in dens and burrows.  This snake has the most  potent venom out of any North American snake,  but only accounts for less than one percent  of the number of annual snake bites. Effects are severe with these snake bites.  Within an hour respiratory paralysis can occur suddenly!

Central American coral snake
De Agostini/Getty Images
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3.  The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake  has a heavy population in South Texas. Chances are you are likely hear them before you see them.  There are imposter rattlesnakes out there that beat their tails on the ground.  These snakes are a little more aggressive and will rarely back away from confrontation so it is best to always steer clear, as if we needed to tell you to keep away from snakes!

Western diamonback rattlesnake in sleeping coil Crotalus atrox Sonoran Desert, Tucson Mountains, Tucson, Arizona, USA
UIG via Getty Images
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4.  The Water Moccasin or "cotton mouth" is last on my list.  While all snakes swim at the top of the water.  Water Moccasins and other venomous snakes will keep their whole bodies at the top of the water at all times.  Non-venomous snakes will only leave their head visible. When Water Moccasins feel threatened they will stand their ground and flatten their bodies out to make themselves appear bigger. They will also hiss and gape their mouths open. My advice is just to go the other way and not get close enough for them to do this.

waterm
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Snakes are not out and about looking to attack you.   So if you are in a snake's home territory, leave it alone and move along .  If a snake is on your turf and poses an immediate threat use caution.  Otherwise  leave it alone, it want's to avoid confrontation just as much as you do!

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