Question: Snakes in Sugar Land, Texas

 Questions posed by Abraham

Answered by Jerry Cates

Abraham Wrote:

"Hello there---I recently relocated to TX from CA. I have been looking up information about snakes in TX specifically in the city of Sugar Land , near Houston and landed up at your website. You have a lot of good information in your website!  

I have to admit---I am really scared of snakes. The house we finally found and moved into sits next to a creek.  I guess there is not too much we can do about that, but what are some of the things I need to be aware when it comes to snakes that can be commonly sighted near creeks and bayous?

I ask this also because I have 2 kids ages 5 and 2 who are boys.  That is more the reason I am trying to be informed on what are some of the snakes that can commonly 'visit us' in the backyard.

Does it help to get a pet like a good guard dog who may alert us if he sees one of the crawly creatures?  

Since you are the expert, any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks---Abraham "

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My Reply (edited and appended to after the original reply to Abraham's email): 

Abraham---Welcome to Texas!  We're happy you're here.  

You've asked several good questions, and pointed out some important issues, too.  I'll address each in the order you made them:

I have to admit---I am really scared of snakes.

You aren't alone.  Most people are intensely, often irrationally, afraid of their ophidian neighbors. Most snakes, however, are harmless. Of the seventy-two snake species found naturally in Texas, only sixteen are venomous.  Although that represents slightly more than 22% of the species, the number of actual snakes in each species is probably much lower for the venomous, versus the non-poisonous, ones.  I receive many more reports and photographs of non-poisonous snakes than of the venomous species, despite all my pleas for the latter.

Still, it is very wise to treat any snake whose identity is unknown with caution.  Look it over carefully, from a distance that is several times its length, and never approach to within striking distance (usually no more than the snake's length).  If you decide to kill a snake out of fear it might be venomous, never use a short-handled weapon like a knife or hatchet--many of the snakebites recorded in Texas involve disastrous attempts to kill venomous snakes with such things.  If a venomous snake is found, keep anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol away while the snake is being dealt with, as many of the snakebites recorded in Texas also involve disastrous confrontations between such snakes and people whose judgment has been impaired. Remember the adage, "BUI = SUI" ("Bravery under the Influence is simply Stupidity under the Influence").

The house we finally found and moved into sits next to a creek.  I guess there is not too much we can do about that...

That's not exactly true. You can take important, effective steps to mitigate the risks attending proximity to a creek, a watercourse, or a body of water.  One thing you can do, for example, is to use a snake repellent around the perimeter of your yard and around the perimeter of your home.  Another is to insure your yard is free of debris, like rock piles, loose lumber, sheets of siding or similar materials that afford snakes a good place to hide. Along with the aforementioned things directed at snakes in particular, it is equally important to take steps to limit the availability of animals that snakes prey upon, such as toads, frogs, and various kinds of rodents.  Any perennially moist environments around your home will attract toads and frogs, and they (and their feces) will, in turn, attract snakes that feed on them.  Clutter, high grass, seed piles under bird feeders, solid dog food supplies in unsecured containers, and similar items in a yard, garage, or on a porch, attract mice and rats and they (and their urine and fecal droppings), in turn, attract snakes that feed on them.

I ask this also because I have 2 kids ages 5 and 2 who are boys.  That is more the reason I am trying to be informed on what are some of the snakes that can commonly 'visit us' in the backyard.

Your boys are at perfect ages to learn about, and overcome their fear of, snakes.  I say overcome, because they may already have a natural fear of snakes. Such a fear is perfectly normal, but is based on an innate, almost instinctive response rather than on fact.  I encourage you to help train them to become informed on the kinds of snakes that are found in Texas.  Once they can properly identify them, when they later sight a snake they will know whether it is one to be avoided or merely appreciated for the beneficial way it keeps certain other animals and insects in check.  Imagine one day in the future, when one of your boys correctly tells an adult "No, that's not a western cottonmouth, because the cottonmouth doesn't have those crisscross marks on its back --it's a non-poisonous diamond-backed water snake that will probably will bite if you pick it up, but the bite won't poison you.  It is better to let it go..."  or, perhaps, "Hey, see the the hour-glass markings on the sides of that snake that are pinched at the spine?  That's a copperhead!"

Reading through all the snake encounters on www.bugsinthenews.com will help get you tuned in on the snakes we have in Texas.  Tell your boys to read through the pages, too, so when they see a snake they will have some idea whether it is poisonous or not.  

Does it help to get a pet like a good guard dog who may alert us if he sees one of the crawly creatures?

Having a yard pet as the first line of defense against snakes may work when everything else fails.  It is sort of like taking a canary into a coalmine.  Hey, a lot of canaries have given their lives to protect miners, simply because their tolerance to poisonous gases is less than that of humans, and they succumb early, warning the unsuspecting miners that the air they are breathing isn't safe.  Still, when Lassie gets bitten by a rattlesnake or copperhead to protect the kids, the death of the family pet is hard to take.  There are other ways to keep snakes away--I still prefer using other means of protection first, like regular applications of snake repellent, mowing the lawn often, keeping clutter and moist habitats out of the yard, and securing birdseed and dog food so that rodents won't stick around.

That said, however, it remains true that even after taking all those other  steps, snakes may still drop by once in a while. Furthermore, you may accidentally get lax for a short time and voila! the snakes may suddenly find your yard inviting again.  If your yard pet is there to alert you to the snake's presence, that's a good thing.

Since you are the expert, any help is greatly appreciated.

An expert I'm not, Abraham, and I say that in all modesty, as I know what an expert is...

Keep me posted on things, and take good digital photos to send me when you see a snake or an interesting  spider---Jerry