Wildlife / There's a snake

There's a snake.

Take a breath. Most Texas snakes are nonvenomous, help control rodents, and would rather avoid you. The venomous snakes fall into four groups: copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes. You do not need a close look to make a safe choice - give any unknown snake room.

The four venomous types

Do not wait for swelling or other symptoms. A suspected venomous bite needs prompt medical care, even when the person feels all right at first.

Don't trust the old shortcuts. A triangular head, narrow pupils, a heavy body, or a color rhyme can all mislead you. The safe rule is simpler: leave any snake you cannot identify from a distance alone.

If someone is bitten

Those old "remedies" - cutting, sucking, ice, tourniquets - cause harm. Skip them and get to a hospital.

Keeping snakes away

Snakes follow food and shelter. Clear brush, woodpiles, rock piles, tall grass, and junk near the house, and watch your hands and feet around rocks, logs, and sheet metal. A snake in the yard will usually move on if you give it space; for one stuck in a garage or house, call a local wildlife removal pro. Most snakes are nongame (you'd need a hunting license to kill one, and a few species are specially protected) - and even a harmless bite can get infected, so don't handle wild snakes.