Living out in the country may, indeed, expose us more often to snakes than living in the city would. I have decided to do some much delayed research on these valuable members of the Oakridge Ranch environment. I hope I haven’t missed one, but did you know that there are 21 Colorado County snakes species? Only four on this list is poisonous.
That four includes the Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix, Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus, Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus and Texas Coralsnake Micrurus tener. Being familiar with their habitat and life cycle should go a long way toward shielding you. Reiterating that being aware and being educated about these beneficial creatures as they make a living on the ranch, perhaps allows a little more co-existence. We must take precautions around our homes. No question. But, the environmental impact of the old adage: “the only good snake is a dead snake”, can be very detrimental and I submit is overdoing it.
The citizen scientists among us might want to check out: http://www.herpsoftexas.org/view/snakes and look for Eastern Racer, Red-Bellied Mudsnake, Plains Hog-Nosed, Eastern Hog-Nosed, Prairie Kingsnake, Common Kingsnake, Coachwhip, Plain-Bellied Watersnake, Southern Watersnake, Diamond-Backed Watersnake, Rough Greensnake, Eastern Ratsnake, DeKay’s Brownsnake, Checkered Gartersnake, Western Ribbonsnake, Rough Earthsnake, and Plains Threadsnake – – all common names from this website, with scientific names shown there, along with pictures, descriptions of habitat, etc.
If you find a fascinating snake you are unsure of, take a picture and send it in. (use the zoom lens, right?)