Slithering Baby Snakes

Blog Category
Discover Nature Notes
Published Display Date
Sep 28, 2015
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During late August, September and early October, young snakes are moving around, looking for hiding places, food or spots to hole up for the winter. The majority of baby snakes people find are newly-hatched prairie king snakes, water snakes and black rat snakes, which most people call “black snakes.” Black rat snakes and prairie king snakes hatch from eggs during late summer. All of these snakes look somewhat alike. They are gray, tan or cream with numerous dark cross bands along the length of their bodies.

Most snakes found around homes are not only harmless; they’re beneficial. Many eat mice. The king snakes eat other snakes. Often, these young snakes are misidentified as copperheads and are needlessly killed. Learning to identify common snakes and their young can help protect these valuable animals.

Most people won’t fall in love with snakes–even baby snakes. But it is possible to appreciate the role they play in nature.

Snakes don’t need much from us humans–just a little tolerance.

Venomous or Not?

There are a few ways you can tell if a snake is venomous:

  • All venomous snakes native to Missouri are members of the pit viper family. Pit vipers have a characteristic pit located between the eye and nostril on each side of the head. They also have a pair of well-developed fangs.
  • Note the shape of the pupil. The pupils of venomous snakes appear as vertical slits within the iris.
  • Our venomous species all have a single row of scales along the underside of the tail.
  • Harmless snakes have round pupils and a double row of scales along the undersides of their tails.
  • A triangle-shaped head doesn’t necessarily mean danger. Although the venomous snakes have a somewhat triangle-shaped head, several harmless species, such as watersnakes, gartersnakes, and hog-nosed snakes, can and do flatten their heads, which can cause them to appear triangular.

Find out more about snakes with the MDC’s Field Guide.

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