How to Identify Snakes in Texas

There are various kinds of snakes all over the state of Texas. Most are not deadly but there are a few that are. All snakes will bite if they feel threatened and about half of them are not aggressive. It is best to know about which snakes to watch out for, especially when going camping or traveling in wooded areas.

Instructions

1. Search near swamps, ponds, rivers, creeks, and anywhere there is a stream or body of water you will find many snakes in Texas. The yellow belly water snake is one that lives near water and is an aggressive snake but it's not venomous. Yellow belly is dark green with a yellow belly. Other snakes to look for are the blotched water snake, which is also aggressive but not venomous, and are dark grey with white stripes, The broad-banded water snake are silver with brown and tan spots. They all live towards the eastern part of Texas.

2. Look in your flowerbeds, gardens, trash, old pile of leaves, or even through high grass and you will find some snakes. The Texas brown snake is a combination of light and dark brown and can be seen mostly in Eastern Texas among gardens and trash. They are not dangerous and can grow as big as 13 inches. The checkered garter snake is found throughout residential areas and on lawns and flowerbeds in mostly Western Texas. Rough earth snakes are located in Eastern Texas and remain underground for the most part, but can be found above ground when there is heavy rain.

3. Beware of venomous snakes. They can be found mostly near water. In particular beware of the diamondback rattlesnake located in lowlands, prairies, desert, cliffs and canyons and anywhere there is water. They are easy to recognize since they have black and white rings on their tail and diamond shapes on their body. The Southern copperhead is mostly found in Eastern Texas and can be very dangerous as well. They are a pale pinkish brown or tan with an hourglass-shaped cross bands and can get as big as 36 inches long. They live in decaying areas in particularly but also near water. Where there are rotting tree stumps or rotting logs they can be found. The Western cottonmouth or water moccasin can be seen in north-central Texas, near water mostly.

4. Search in West Texas in the mountains to find some snakes. The bull snake is one of the largest snakes in Texas getting as big as 5 feet. They live in mountains as well as fields. They are dark and light brown. You can also find the big bend milk snake in West Texas, which is dark orange with white and black stripes.

5. Be careful of snakes in the desert. One in particular to look for is the Texas lyre snake. They are venomous but they are not deadly. Their venom is not enough to harm humans, only prey. They are brown, tan, or grey with dark brown markings down their backs. They can get as big as 48 inches long and can be found under rocks and in grasslands as well.

6. Look under logs or debris in order to find a snake that eats venomous snakes. The desert king snake can grow to be 45 inches long and feed off of other deadly snakes. They are immune to the venom and are able to leave harmful snakes defenseless. They are black with white patterns and are considered one of the most beautiful snakes in Texas. They travel throughout central to southern Texas.

Tips & Warnings

• Beware of all of the snakes even though not all are venomous. They all bite and can hurt.