Snakes - Living with Wildlife. Snakes are among the most misunderstood of all animals. As a result, many harmless, beneficial snakes have met untimely deaths at the hands of shovel- wielding humans. Of the dozen or so species of snakes found in Washington (Table 1), only the Western rattlesnake is capable of inflicting a venomous bite, which it seldom does.

Don’t attempt to capture them, and don’t keep wild ones as pets. Besides their ecological value, snakes offer the careful wildlife viewer a chance to watch one of nature’s most efficient predators. Other prey items include insects, bird eggs and nestlings, fish, frogs, and lizards.

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Even so, what a snake eats depends on its size; generally, larger snakes eat larger food items. Shelter and Hibernation Sites. Snakes in Washington hibernate during winter, either alone or in a group site called a hibernaculum. Snakes may temporarily emerge from hibernation to feed and bask during warm periods in mild areas. Reproduction. Courtship and mating occurs shortly after snakes emerge from hibernation. All other Washington snakes lay eggs in protected areas where the eggs receive enough external heat to hatch. Mortality and Longevity.

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Snakes are preyed upon by badgers, coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons, skunks, weasels, great blue herons, hawks, eagles, and owls. Such ages might be exceptional for wild snakes, but little is known on this subject. Three species of garter snakes occur in Washington. Small garter snakes eat earthworms and slugs; larger snakes include amphibians, small rodents, nestling birds, and fish in their diet. Garter snakes survive in suburbia and towns because they give birth to live young, and so do not require safe places for their eggs. Their name comes from their alleged resemblance to the garters once worn by men to hold up their socks.

When disturbed, garter snakes will try to escape, but if threatened they may strike, bite, and smear foul- smelling anal secretions on your hands. A bite from one of these nonvenomous snakes may be alarming, but will rarely break the skin.

The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis, Fig. Next to the Northwestern garter snake, this species is the most frequently encountered snake. It has brightly colored stripes (yellow, green, blue) that run lengthwise along its body, and a grayish- blue underside. It grows to 2 to 3 feet. The Western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) occurs in a wide variety of habitats and, despite its name, it spends a lot of time in water.

This garter snake is usually gray- brown or black, with a dark, checkered pattern between yellow stripes. Identification difficult because there are four subspecies, all varying in coloration. Nearly black forms occur in some areas. It can grow to a length of 4. The Northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) is somewhat less widespread than its two cousins, preferring coastal and mountain forest habitats.

However, it is commonly found in suburban areas and city parks. It’s more slender than other garter snakes, reaching 2 feet at maturity.

It is dark above and has stripes of varying colors, often red and orange. The gopher snake (Pituophis catenfe, Fig. It’s a robust snake, measuring 3 to 4 feet in length, with dark blotches against tan along its back. The gopher snake is often mistaken for a rattlesnake, owing to its coloration and its impressive display of coiling, striking, and loud hissing.

It will also vibrate the tip of its tail in dry grass and leaves, further mimicking a rattlesnake. However, it is not venomous. It is a constrictor, killing prey—mostly small rodents—by squeezing them until the prey suffocates. The similar looking but rarely seen night snake (Hypsiglena torquata) occurs in similar habitats in eastern Washington.

The racer (Coluber constrictor) occurs in warm, dry, open or brushy country where it is often observed streaking across roads. It is about 3 feet long, plain brown or olive above, with a pale yellow belly. It is thinner than a garter snake of comparable size. The racer is well named because it can move extremely fast. It holds its head and neck above the ground when hunting, and may climb into shrubs. The Western rattlesnake (Croatus viridis, Fig.

Washington. It is distinguished by its broad, triangular head that is much wider than its neck, the diamond- shaped pattern along the middle of its back, and the rattles on the tip of its tail. Overall color patterns differ with habitat, ranging from olive to brown to gray. Black and white crossbars may occur on the tail.

Western rattlesnakes measure 1. Although many people talk of seeing “timber rattlers,” “diamondbacks,” and “sidewinders,” none of these occur in Washington.

The number of segments on the rattle does not indicate the true age of the snake, since rattlesnakes lose portions of their rattles as they age. Rattlesnakes are most common near their den areas, which are generally in rock crevices exposed to sunshine. Rattlesnake fangs are hollow and are used to inject the snakes’ venom in order to stun or kill their prey—mice, woodrats, ground squirrels, and young rabbits and marmots. Rattlesnakes cannot spit venom; however, venom may be squirted out when the snake strikes an object such as a wire fence. This venom is only dangerous if it gets into an open wound and has been used in the development of several human medications. Rattlesnakes do not view humans as prey, and will not bite unless threatened.

A rattlesnake bite seldom delivers enough venom to kill a human, although painful swelling and discoloration may occur. However, our local species only measures 1.

It is olive- green, reddish- brown, or tan to chocolate- brown. It looks rubbery and has a short, broad snout and a short, blunt tail, giving it a two- headed appearance. The rubber boa is found in damp wooded areas, large grassy areas, and moist sandy areas along rocky streams, being particularly fond of rotting stumps and logs.

Although seldom encountered, this snake can be common in appropriate habitat. All snakes tend to be inconspicuous, preferring to move away and hide or lie still in the hope of being overlooked. Most encounters are momentary.

Although snakes are often seen as threatening, they will hiss, strike, or bite only if they are cornered or restrained. Most of the time, snakes are slow moving, but they can make short dashes to chase prey or escape from predators. They are unable to sustain long- distance movement. Because snakes are particularly active and less wary during the breeding season, begin to be on the lookout for them in spring. Snakes are often inactive during the hottest part of the day, especially in mid- to late summer, and seek shelter or crawl underground to avoid overheating.

In desert areas, snakes may become active at night when the air cools, and while the ground remains warm. It is environmentally unsound to capture snakes and try to relocate them on your property, or keep them as pets. Due to their well- developed homing instincts, most snakes will soon leave an unfamiliar area, which usually results in their being killed on the roads or by predators. Basking Sites. Most snakes reach their preferred body temperature by basking on surfaces exposed to sun. They control their body temperature by moving in and out of the sunlight, and by changing their orientation to it (facing the sun, back to the sun, etc.). They also derive body heat by lying on or under warm surfaces.

In hot areas, look for snakes basking in the morning sun on asphalt, concrete, rocks, and wooden fences. In cooler regions, they can be seen basking throughout the day. Snakes tend to bask on sun- warmed roads in the evening, a fact that often leads to them being run over.

Trails. Snakes trails are most easily seen in sandy or dusty areas in their preferred habitats. Snake tracks may be wavy or straight lines (Fig. Surface material is usually pushed up at the outside of each curve.

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