There are more than 30 types of snakes in Virginia, but only three are venomous: northern copperheads, rattlesnakes and eastern cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins). The chances that youll be able to spot the 8 black snakes in Virginia on our list in the wild are slim. In fact, its illegal in Virginia to kill a snake unless its a threat to livestock or a person. Its also called a water moccasin because of its mostly aquatic lifestyle. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He was within his rights to do so because it was threatening his property. A watersnake keeps its head above water, but most or all of its body lies below the surface. Snakes in the Yard: If you see a snake in your yard, the best thing to do is let it go on its way. It is also worth mentioning that, even if it is legal to kill a snake, it is not always the best course of action. Dip nets shall not be more than 6 feet square. However, these restrictions do not prohibit the use of a hand-landing net to land fish legally hooked. If the snake is non-venomous and you are comfortable with snake handling, put on leather gloves and pick up the snake directly by the end head, while supporting its body with your other hand. Cottonmouths are large, stout, aquatic snakes that are found in the southeastern corner of Virginia. Snakes play an important role in controlling rodent populations, and killing them can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem. Nongame Fish, Reptile, Amphibian and Aquatic Invertebrate Regulations, 1 native or naturalized (reptile or amphibian) per residency that is not listed in Virginias 2015, 20 Nongame Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates. Ive had an encounter in my home, inside the home, in a bathroom," said Taylor. This includes species such as the black rat snake, the northern copperhead, and the timber rattlesnake. As adults, both are totally or nearly all black, and shiny. Collectors will no longer be able to take as many as they want; the regulations set the annual bag limit at one snake at least 42 inches in length. As long as you do physical contact with the snake, St. Clair says. Chill out, swimmers. Theyre constrictors that like to eat rodents, birds, and lizards. While the Plott hound is the state dog of North Carolina, it is a very rare breed and not well-known in other states. You can be fined up to $1,000 or receive 6 months of jail time if you're caught killing snakes. Anglers must ensure all harvested Alabama bass are dead if they plan to transport them away from the body of water from which they were captured. Snakes can only be killed when their presence represents an immediate human health hazard or they are creating some other type of nuisance issue. Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. He said with more snakes, there are more people trying to kill them, which is illegal to do in Virginia unless the snake poses a threat. According to Georgia law, it is illegal to possess or kill any non-venomous snake. The most common species the Center is asked to identify are: There are a number of resources to help you learn basic snake identification skills, including an online resource compiled by the Virginia Herpetological Society and the printed snake identification book sold by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. All rights reserved. Have your house checked for rodent problems. Cottonmouths are large, stout, aquatic snakes that are found in the southeastern corner of Virginia. A fishing spear is defined as an implement with a shaft and sharp point or tines designed to be thrusted or thrown by hand. Snake myths abound. It is illegal to use SCUBA (Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) gear to take or attempt to take fish. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Using venom for defense is a last resort for snakes; while it may save their life, they are effectively wasting their venom on something that they cant eat. Grass carp may be legally harvested from public inland waters (rivers and streams), except from department-owned or department-controlled lakes. It is illegal to kill a snake in Virginia. They have shiny black scales on their back and a light colored belly, and their throat and chin are white. Theyre called cottonmouths because of the characteristic white interior of their mouths which they show when threatened. Must comply with creel limits on fish. They eat small rodents, birds, lizards, amphibians, insects, and other snakes. The Virginia Herpetological Society has good resources to help compare and correctly identify snakes. This is in the hopes that the threat will get scared and retreat. These fishes may not be disposed of on property abutting the body of water of capture. They are the ones you are more likely to meet in the park or yard. If you take snakes out of their environment, you are committing an offence under the National Parks and Wildlfe Act, which carries an upper limit of ten thousand dollars and a fourteen hundred dollar fine. What is the most venomous snake in Virginia? - KnowledgeBurrow You pass them when you hike in the mountains or along the James River. There, the black rat snake may have 4 long black stripes on its back against a grey body. The canebrake rattlesnake inhabits swampy southeastern Virginia. In Virginia, the consequences for killing snakes without a valid permit can include fines and other penalties. It is actually illegal to kill snakes in Virginia as long as the snake is capable of killing a person or livestock and it poses a threat. 10 things to know about snakes in Virginia. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. They like hunt rats in old buildings. A two-year jail sentence and a $10,000 fine for killing snakes is what Mr. Jones said it would cost to kill them. Hecht Group | Can I Kill A Snake On My Property In Va? And no, snakes won't chase you. Works may be shared publicly with full attribution to WCV. Don't believe it when you hear that a skier fell into a "nest" of venomous cottonmouths (they don't "nest" together). If caught killing one of these protected species without a permit or violating any hunting regulations or local ordinances while attempting to do so, you could face criminal charges and hefty fines up to $2500 per violation. The only rattlesnake that is legal to kill in Kansas is the Prairie Rattlesnake and people wishing to do so must purchase a $22.50 permit if they don't already hold a hunting license. It shall be unlawful to take mussels from any inland waters in Virginia. Adults are typically 30 - 48 inches, but can grow up to 61 inches long. It is recommended to check with state and local laws regarding snake ownership before acquiring one. "For example, if a blacksnake is found in your chicken coop, you have the legal right to kill it; or if a copperhead is found in your garage, you have the legal right to kill it. Rex Springston was a reporter for the Richmond News Leader and The Times-Dispatch for 36 years. Perry recommended to make sure your grass is cut low and all debris is cleared from your yard, as snakes like to use those areas to nest. There are only three species of venomous snakes in Virginia. They range in color from dark green to black and have several darker hourglass bands across their backs. Theyre ubiquitous and live almost anywhere. Texas Boys Catch a Hog the Size of a Grizzly Bear, 8 Black Snakes in Virginia: Most Are Harmless. Certain types of snakes will even eat venomous snakes. Remember, venom is an important hunting tool for the snake its how they catch and kill their food. The charge is a misdemeanor, but it can be punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in jail. It grows up to 6 feet long and is the only snake in Virginia that reaches the 6-foot mark. Helpfully, the copperhead is distinctive, with a copper-colored or pinkish body marked by dark-brown blotches that lie across its back and sides like saddles. Illegally killing a snake is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. A northern water snake on a rock on Belle Isle in the James River. (O.C.G.A . Threatened and endangered species, freshwater mussels, candy darter, eastern hellbender, diamondback terrapin, and spotted turtle. Cottonmouths are often confused with harmless watersnakes, but here is a key difference: A cottonmouth swims with its head and much of its body out of the water much like a floating inner tube. Some of these animals are frogs, fish, crayfish, and salamanders. Cottonmouths get their name from the white color of their mouths; when threatened, cottonmouths will open their mouth wide in an attempt to dissuade would-be attackers from coming closer. In conclusion, while there are no laws specifically prohibiting the killing of snakes in Virginia, there are certain protected species that cannot be killed without a permit from DGIF and local ordinances may also apply depending on where you live. That urban legend even occurs in states where cottonmouths dont occur.. Yet, we understand that seeing a black snake can cause concern, especially if it's in your yard. I'm a fact-driven creative with a love of history and an eye for detail. Killing removes a vital apex predator from the immediate habitat. You find them mainly south and southeast of Richmond. They like to hang out on the ground and in trees. Most snakes, even venomous ones, are reluctant to bite because they use their energy or their venom to acquire food, and they don't view humans as a food source. In fact, the presence of snakes around your property or in your house may indicate a rodent problem. A snakes purpose is to remain unseen while it hunts or relaxes. Animals that demonstrate symptoms of disease or illness or that have sustained injury during their captivity may not be released. The rattler prefers to lie quietly on the ground, awaiting a tasty mouse or other rodent. Most snake bites occur when people attempt to kill or capture snake. The snake is typically tan to pinkish, with dark brown hourglass bands across the back. PO Box 1557 If youre dealing with a snake in your yard thats taken up residence in an unwanted place, try to hire a professional to relocate the animal. The fine for this offense can be severe and may include a jail term as well. Click the "submit your photo" button below. Seasons and local restrictions governing the use of nets and seines are complex. Anglers may possess live Alabama bass only on the body of water from which they were captured, and may not transport them alive from the body of water that they were captured. Highway crashes take 700 to 800 lives yearly. They are also the state snake of Virginia. The head of an eastern rat snake is wider than the neck and the rest of the body. . Kleopfer, Virginias state herpetologist, or reptile expert. If you've spotted a snake around Central Virginia and snapped a photo, add it to our gallery. Like the cottonmouth, the northern watersnake can vary in color. To determine if the snake is venomous or not . Having a black body is most common though some individuals are lighter. The Virginia Herpetological Society has good resources to help compare and correctly identify snakes. Water moccasins, also commonly referred to as cottonmouths, are found to the south and east of Petersburg and are common only in wet areas. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. When I'm not writing for A-Z Animals, I'm doting on my 3 cats while I watch documentaries and listen to music in Romance languages. Venomous snakes of the three species are present only in Virginia. how do you get rid of snakes in virginia? They love the water and spend their time in swamps, mud beds, creeks, and marshes. Only three snakes in Virginia can actually kill you . Virginia is also home to a wide variety of other reptiles in addition to snakes. It was almost surely a harmless water snake (if the tale is true at all - since heavy-bodied cottonmouths aren't big on climbing). These species are protected by law, and killing them can result in fines and other penalties. Admire copperheads - or any snake you can't identify - from a distance. (I sort of cheated when we said you need to learn just six snakes. Theyre highly venomous, and when hunting, they strike their prey and let their venom take effect before dining. Indian law outlaws the act of killing a snake for any purpose; the law also prohibits the destruction of wild wildlife (includes endangered species). Yet, we understand that seeing a black snake can cause concern, especially if its in your yard. Virginia political leaders made this resident of parks and yards the official state snake in 2016. Both are secretive. While not entirely black as they have yellow stripes down the length of their bodies, garter snakes are predominantly black. The northern watersnakes head is not triangular but bullet-shaped. Deciding to kill a snake may come back to bite you You can also set up a heating pad (set to low) in a semi-protected area to see if you can lure the snake to that spot. They are believed to be the inspiration for the colonial-era Dont Tread On Me flags. Jugline/noodle sets on public waters shall be restricted to 20 per angler and must be attended (within sight) by anglers at all times. Dems of backing Spruill to force her out, VA Education Association: Youngkin administration misappropriating lab school money, Road rage shooting wounds man in Chesterfield, VCU hoops notes: John Marshall coach praises local trio. Richmond's water snakes are harmless, not venomous Email feedback and questions to the show at EatItVirginia@gmail.com. Carp, mullet, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, black bullhead, snail bullhead, white sucker, northern hogsucker, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, white perch, yellow perch (10 fish limit in Lake Moomaw), alewife and blueback herring [see limits under Anadromous (coastal) in. (See South Holston Reservoir.). Remove all rock and brush piles and keep grassy areas mowed short near the house. Here are a few examples of other reptiles in the area: Thank you for reading! If you approach, they will often open wide, showing that white cotton mouth. There is a variety of commercial snake repellents on the market, though the Center cannot confirm that they are effective and/or humane. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Killing a snake is not necessarily illegal in Virginia, however, the possession, sale, or transport of certain species of snakes is prohibited without a permit. Under Virginia law, snakes are classified as a nongame species and are afforded protection under nongame regulations. Its important to keep wildlife in the wild where they belong; snakes can also be difficult to properly care for in captivity. Silther me timbers! 10 things to know about snakes in Virginia (A canebrake is a type of swampy thicket a likely spot for snakes but not people.). They dont have a favorite bird species, though they go for whats small enough for them to handle. Subscribe to the Eat It, Virginia! You usually don't see them because they are shy and they hide. While most timber rattlesnakes exhibit patterning, some individuals are all black. Hundreds if not thousands of people walking the Appalachian Trail and other mountain paths probably pass rattlers each year without incident and never know it. 58. They hang out on land, and they vibrate their tail in ground detritus when threatened to mimic a rattlesnake. Is Killing Snakes in Virginia a Crime? - Venomous Snakes When a cottonmouth is swimming, most of its body is out of the water. Persons deciding to try this type of fishing should contact the closest DWR regional office for more information. The Virginia Herpetological Society has good resources to help compare and correctly identify snakes. Under Virginia law, snakes are classified as a nongame species and are afforded protection under nongame regulations. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources staff do not come to your home or property to remove snakes. MOUNT SAVAGE Charles Robertson was asked by a family member to help clear a copperhead, one of only two venomous snakes native to Maryland, from a yard.