“Rattlesnakes are some of the most unique and diverse American reptiles. There are currently 32 different species of rattlesnakes, with approximately 83 subspecies that are broken down into the two general Crotalus and Sistrurus.
People are bitten trying to kill, catch or handle rattlesnakes, and approximately 7,000 to 8,000 snake envenomations occur within the United States and Canada annually, with a large percentage caused by rattlesnakes. Medical attention should be sought immediately if envenomation is suspected.
Any rattlesnake bite could be life threatening, and the person who has been bitten should be transported to a hospital by paramedics to establish initial therapeutics. Delaying the pursuit of treatment for a rattlesnake envenomation is irresponsible. No one should ever hesitate to seek medical attention for a rattlesnake envenomation, even if the person bitten is keeping rattlesnakes illegally (though doing so is not recommended, of course). Your life is more important than worrying whether or not your animals get confiscated,” according to Reptiles Magazine.
6 Venomous snakes in Georgia
AJC Atlanta Journal Constitution states that “the 6 venomous snakes that are native to Georgia are the:
Canebrake / Timber Rattlesnake
The canebrake or timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is a big, heavy-bodied snake that can grow to 6 feet in length. Canebrakes are usually gray, may have a pink hue and may have a pink, yellow, orange or brown stripe running along its back. Timber rattlers, according to the UGA Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Herpetology Program, “are typically more brown or yellowish and may even be black. Both forms have solid black tails that appear almost velvet and black chevrons on the back and sides with the point of the (V) pointing forward.”
Copperhead
The copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is much more common in the metro Atlanta area compared to the others on this list. They’re fairly big, heavy-bodied snakes with large triangular heads, tan/brown bodies showing dark hourglass-like crossbands along their length. An average adult copperhead grows to 24 to 40 inches. The snakes range throughout the eastern and central U.S. and can be found in a wide variety of habitats, proving as comfortable in dry, rocky areas as they are in cool, forested areas or wetlands. Populations also often persist in suburban neighborhoods with patches of forest. Copperheads are responsible for the majority of snakebites in the Southeast each year.
Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
Water moccasins/cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivoruscan) can be active day or night, but typically feed in the dark when it’s hot. Their range is the entire Southeast, but in Georgia, they’re typically found in the southern Coastal Plain area. That doesn’t mean you won’t come across them in metro Atlanta, though. The species can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats but are most common in cypress swamps, river floodplains and heavily-vegetated wetlands.
Eastern Coral Snake
The Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) is highly venomous, its venom potentially causing death. They are slender, mid-sized snakes with a smooth appearance and notable bright red, yellow and black rings.
According to UGA, “the eastern coral snake is found in scattered localities in the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including all of Florida, where they are most prevalent.” Although rarely seen in their habitats, they are most often encountered in spring and fall. Coral snakes are not in any way limited to rural areas. “Perhaps because of their secretive habits, coral snakes often persist in suburban areas,” UGA noted.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
According to UGA, the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is the largest of all known rattlesnake species. These rare snakes have “large, heavy [bodies] with large, broad heads with two light lines on the face. The background color is brown, tan, or yellowish and covered with the namesake diamonds, which are brown and surrounded by lighter scales.” They can reach seven feet in length but typically measure 3-5 feet in total length.
Pigmy Rattlesnake
The pigmy rattlesnake is small and has a tiny rattle. UGA noted that these snakes “have a row of mid-dorsal spots and a bar than runs from the eye to the base of the mouth, but the color of this bar can vary from black to brownish red. An orange or reddish brown dorsal stripe is also present” in the two subspecies found in Georgia. The species have reached a maximum length of 31 inches, but pigmy rattlesnakes are typically 16-23 inches long. Additionally, “the Carolina pigmy rattler can be gray, tan, or lavender. Some specimens from northern Georgia and eastern North Carolina are orange or red,” UGA said. They’re found in northeast, northwest and central Georgia and throughout South Carolina. Pigmy rattlers live in a variety of habitats, both wet and dry, including creeks, swamps, mixed forests and even sandhills. They mostly hide “in leaf litter and can be hard to spot,” according to UGA. They are active throughout the day.
According to the UGA Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Herpetology Program, these snakes are semi-aquatic (found on both land and in water), have triangular heads, are heavy-bodied, vary in coloration and have large jowls”.
How to tell the difference between a venomous snake and a non-venomous snake?
11 North American rattlesnakes
Here are 11 of North American rattlers:
- Timber / Canebrake Rattlesnake
- Eastern Diamondback
- Western Diamondback
- Mojave Rattlesnake
- Western Rattlesnake
- Pygmy Rattlesnake
- Eastern Massasauga
- Sidewinder
- Banded Rock Rattlesnake
- Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
- Twin-Spotted Rattlesnake
If you have any signs of snakes, call a professional to help you deal with it?
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