Love them or not, there are all kinds of snakes slithering around Delaware.

Despite its small size, the First State has 19 different species. According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, you’re really only likely to encounter four: the eastern rat snake, black racer, common garter snake and common watersnake.

Most of the others are uncommon or secretive. The red corn snake, scarletsnake and plain-bellied watersnake are state-listed as endangered due to limited habitat. Meanwhile, the ring-necked snake and Dekay’s brownsnake are small, reaching no more than 15 inches in length as adults. Others, such as the eastern hog-nosed snake and smooth earthsnake, are burrowers and spend much of their time concealed in loose soil or leaf litter.

Only one of these 19 species — the eastern copperhead — poses a danger to humans. Remember that snakes are more scared of you than you are of them!

Eastern Rat Snake

This snake will grow to be about 5 feet long as an adult. It’s mostly black with white around its mouth and chin, which continues down the throat and onto the belly. Juveniles look considerably different — they are gray to gray-white with dark, square-ish blotches down the back.

They feed primarily on warm-blooded prey like mice, small birds and bird eggs.

Rat snakes are excellent climbers and can scale trees or poles to access bird nests, or even climb a brick wall of a house. They are harmless, although they will rear back in a strike position and may vibrate their tails if they feel threatened. When the tail vibrates in dry leaf litter, it may produce a sound similar to a rattlesnake’s rattle.

Black Racer

The black racer resembles the rat snake both in size and coloration. They are jet black with white on their chins. Hatchlings and yearlings are grayish with dark blotches on their backs, but they turn solid black in their second year of life.

Racers feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals and birds, frogs and even other snakes.

As the name implies, they can move fast, slithering away at great speeds when startled. However, a cold or threatened racer may rear back in a striking position, strike aggressively and vigorously vibrate its tail.

Common Garter Snake

The common garter snake is greenish-brown, usually with a central yellow stripe flanked by a checkered pattern on the back. Adults are about 2.5 feet long. Although they are associated with aquatic habitats, they may also be found far from water.

Common garter snakes feed primarily on frogs, fish and even garden slugs.

This species is harmless and typically flees when encountered but will aggressively bite if handled.

Common Watersnake

The common watersnake is about 3 feet long. It’s a brownish snake with dark crossbands across the back. These bands are widest along their backs and taper somewhat closer to the belly.

The snake is usually found near water, including ponds, streams, rivers, ditches and other wetlands. It feeds primarily on fish and frogs.

The species is harmless and flees into water or a nearby hole when encountered but will bite aggressively when captured.

Danger! Eastern Copperhead

Delaware only has one species of snake that is venomous – the eastern copperhead. Although often reported throughout the state, this species is found only in southern Sussex County and near Wilmington. Reports from other localities, when supported with photographs, have turned out to be misidentifications most often of young rat snakes, watersnakes and eastern hog-nosed snakes.

Despite people’s common identification errors, copperheads are one of the easiest snakes to identify in Delaware. In addition to their copper-colored head and cat-like vertical pupils, the copperhead is the only species of snake in Delaware that has dark hourglass shaped crossbands that are narrowest at the center of the back and wider at the belly.

Copperheads rely on their venom to capture prey and as a defense. Because their venom is essential to feeding, a snake may choose not to use its venom on a defensive bite. A bite from a venomous species that does not inject any venom is referred to as a “dry bite.” Dry bites represent about 25% of defensive bites.

Bites from copperheads are uncommon, and although the venom can cause severe tissue damage to the bite area, death from a copperhead bite is extremely rare. Regardless, anyone who suspects they were bitten by a copperhead should seek medical attention immediately.

If you are bitten by any snake, try to get a photo of the snake so the species can be identified and proper treatment can be administered.

Quick Tips to Keep Snakes Away

• Snakes are found in areas that provide food, shelter and areas where they find it easy to regulate their body temperatures, so reducing these opportunities on your property will reduce the likelihood of encountering a snake there.
• If you encounter a snake, you can use spray from a garden hose to safely encourage it to move on.
• Trim branches of shrubs one foot off the ground to eliminate cover.
• Do not allow leaves to collect in piles along the house foundation or around the air conditioner, or under the deck.
• Do not pile sticks.
• Wood piles should be kept neat and stacked off the ground and away from the house.
• Clean up debris piles of lumber or other building material, or items that that may be lying in the yard.
• Keep your lawn and yard tidy — mow the grass low and frequently and do not allow weeds to take over flowerbeds. Snakes are less likely to move through low grass or sparsely vegetated areas because they feel exposed to avian predators like hawks and owls.
• Avoid feeding pets outside or storing birdseed in a shed that could attract mice.
• Rocks or railroad ties that snakes can get in, under, or in between should not be used in landscaping.
• Seal cracks and crevices in and under concrete slabs and along the foundation of your house.
• Ensure siding is tightly attached to the house along the bottom edge.
• Need help with snake removal? Contact a professional at https://wildlifehelp.org/find-a-professional?field_nwco_geofield_proximity%5Bvalue%5D=0&field_nwco_geofield_proximity%5Bsource_configuration%5D%5Borigin_address%5D=Delaware.

Related Topics:  animals, conservation, copperhead, education, health, nature, science, snakes