Texas is home to 4 venomous snake groups. Here's what to look out for when you see one

Ryan Maxin, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·3 min read
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As scorching summer days turn into cooler summer nights, snakes, like people, choose to get out and about, making you more likely to come across one. If you see a snake, remember these tips experts recommend to keep everyone happy and healthy:

Most snakes are harmless, but watch out for these four venomous groups in Texas

More than 105 snake species or subspecies can be found in Texas, though these four groups are venomous and pose potential threats to human health, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

  • Copperheads have light-colored bodies with reddish-brown circular bands. They tend to live in rocky areas and wooded bottomlands that have ample moisture. They grow to be about 2 feet long, and their bites don't normally kill humans because of their short fangs and minimal venom.

Venomous pit vipers derive their name from the heat-sensitive pit between the nostril and the eye, as seen on this copperhead.
Venomous pit vipers derive their name from the heat-sensitive pit between the nostril and the eye, as seen on this copperhead.

  • Coral snakes have red, yellow and black rings around their bodies, a color combination so popular that rhymes have been created to help people differentiate between species. "Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack" — if the red and yellow rings touch each other, the snake is venomous, but you're fine if the red and black rings touch each other. They grow to about 2½ feet and live in woodlands and canyons. Their bites deliver one of the most lethal types of venom in North America.

Coral snakes have one of the deadliest types of venom in North America.
Coral snakes have one of the deadliest types of venom in North America.

  • Cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins because they tend to live in swamps, lakes and rivers, are usually dark brown, olive green or black, with wide, dark bands along their bodies. They grow to about 3½ feet long. If threatened, cottonmouths will display white tissue inside their mouths, from which they get their name. Their bites account for 7% of all Texas snakebite cases.

A cottonmouth shows its classic pose, which features a cotton-white inner mouth. These native snakes can sometimes be confused with Burmese pythons.
A cottonmouth shows its classic pose, which features a cotton-white inner mouth. These native snakes can sometimes be confused with Burmese pythons.

  • Rattlesnakes come in various forms, though you're most likely to encounter western diamondback rattlesnakes, which have brown bodies with dark brown, diamond-shaped markings down the middle of their backs and black and white alternating rings near their rattles. They grow to about 4 feet in length, but they can reach 7 feet. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are the most common venomous snake in Texas.

Jason Rose of the Sweetwater Jaycees holds a western diamondback rattlesnake for visitors on a bus tour.
Jason Rose of the Sweetwater Jaycees holds a western diamondback rattlesnake for visitors on a bus tour.

It's more dangerous to kill a snake than let it be

Snake experts urge people not to kill snakes — even venomous ones — for a variety of reasons. First, snakes serve valuable functions in several ecosystems, according to Living with Snakes, a snake advocacy group. They help prevent various diseases by eating insects and other carriers, and they also prey on rodents that cause damage to gardens and structures.

Second, most bites occur when people try to kill or eradicate snakes. Because snakes don't prey on humans and won't attack unless surprised or provoked, there's no reason to put yourself in harm's way by trying to kill one, experts say.

If a snake slithers across your path, or you walk into its path, freeze until you can decide how to avoid provoking it. Once you've decided your best path, slowly make your way in that direction. The snake will also probably retreat.

A cottonmouth whips its tongue in an exhibit at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama.
A cottonmouth whips its tongue in an exhibit at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama.

For homeowners who don't want snakes in their yard or near their house, Living with Snakes recommends not providing food or water to other wildlife and eliminating debris piles or anything else that could act as shelter.

Seek medical treatment if bitten by a venomous snake

If you are bitten by a venomous snake, Austin-Travis County EMS recommends several methods to try to keep the bite from becoming fatal.

  • Do not apply tourniquets to snakebites or attempt to “suck” the venom out.

  • If possible, take a picture or get a good description of the snake, but do not try to capture it.

  • Keep the injured area at or below the level of the heart.

  • Apply ice or cold packs to the injured area to help reduce swelling.

EMS also recommends contacting your doctor or calling the poison help line at 800-222-1222 for assistance. Call 911 immediately if the bite is obviously affecting your well-being, if you can't breathe or if you develop a full-body rash.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 4 types of venomous snakes in Texas and what to do if you're bitten