Snakes

Eastern Ratsnake

National Park Service

Snakes are a diverse group of reptiles closely related to lizards. Today, there are more than 3,000 species of snakes alive. Snakes are limbless and have an elongated body covered with scales. They can range in size from 10 cm to 10 m. Instead of eyelids, snakes have a clear scale covering their eye for protection. Snakes use their unique forked tongue to sense the environment around them. They flick their tongue in the air to collect small particles which they transfer to the Jacobson’s organ, located on the roof of their mouth, which detects what the particles are.

 

Eastern Gartersnake

National Park Service

About four to 12 times a year, snakes go through a process called ecdysis. During ecdysis, snakes shed a layer of skin in one continuous piece. Snakes shed their skin to make room for growth and remove damaging parasites. Just before shedding, their eyes typically take on a cloudy or bluish appearance. This is caused by the buildup of old skin and fluid secreted beneath it in preparation for shedding. Within a few days of the eyes turning cloudy or bluish, snakes will rub against an object like a tree or rock to tear open the layer of skin. Snakes then slither out of the skinhead first, leaving the discarded skin inside out.

Snake mating and reproduction take place from spring through fall. Some snakes give birth to live young. For example, the Eastern Gartersnake may give birth to around 10 to 60 live young at a time. Other snakes lay eggs. The small Northern Ring-necked Snake lays between one to 10 eggs, with the average clutch size being around three to four eggs.

 

Northern Watersnake

National Park Service

Within the Upper Delaware Region, snakes are found in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Some snakes, like the Northern Watersnake, prefer aquatic habitats and are often found in slow-moving or standing water with places they can bask in the sun. The Northern Watersnake is commonly seen in and along the river. Others, like the Eastern Milksnake may be found in fields, wooded areas, or rocky hillsides. In addition, snakes like the Northern Red-bellied Snake may be found in the border between wooded and stream habitat.

Snake diets may vary by species, but generally, they consume insects, worms, amphibians, small mammals, birds and their eggs, and even other snakes. Some species like The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake have specialized food preferences. This snake consumes mostly toads, immune to the harmful toxins that toads produce. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake also possess large teeth in the back of their mouth called rear fangs, which help them puncture inflated toads more easily.

 

Timber Rattlesnake

National Park Service

Different snake species use different feeding strategies to consume their prey. For example, some snakes like the Eastern Gartersnake will overpower and swallow their prey whole. Others like the Eastern Ratsnake use constriction first to kill their prey and then consume it, and even occasionally climb trees to prey on birds, their eggs, and hatchlings. Venomous snakes use venom to first kill their prey before consuming it. A gland in the upper jaw secretes the venom, and muscles squeeze out the venom. Snake venom is a complex mix of proteins and other molecules that differ between and within species. Snake fangs inject the venom into the prey.

The only venomous snake likely to be encountered in the Upper Delaware Region is the Timber Rattlesnake. However, the Timber Rattlesnake is not aggressive and unlikely to bite a person unless provoked. If you encounter a snake, leave it alone. Do not attempt to harass or handle any snake and keep a safe distance.

 

Snakes found in the Upper Delaware Region include:

Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)

Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus)

Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)

Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii)

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)

Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis)

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)