Field notes
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Calm, accurate guides to identifying snakes, telling venomous species from their harmless lookalikes, and staying safe outdoors. For the snakes in your own area, browse the country and county pages.
Living with snakesWhen Do Snakes Have Babies? Mating and Birthing Season Explained
2026-08-11 · 6 min readWhen do snakes have babies? Most mate in spring and have young in late summer to early fall. The timing, egg-layers vs live-bearers, and when you see them.
Living with snakesSnake in the Garage: Why They Come In and How to Get One Out
2026-08-10 · 6 min readFound a snake in your garage? Here is why snakes enter garages, how to get one out safely by giving it an exit, and how to seal the gaps that let them in.
Living with snakesSnake Proof Fence: What Actually Works and What It Costs
2026-08-09 · 7 min readA snake proof fence can work if it is built right: fine 1/4-inch mesh, buried bottom, smooth height, angled top, and tight gates. Here are the specs and limits.
- Living with snakes
Plants That Repel Snakes: Do Any of Them Actually Work?
2026-08-08 · 6 min readLooking for plants that repel snakes? Marigolds, snake plant, and lemongrass are popular picks, but the evidence is thin. Here is what really reduces snakes.
Living with snakesDo Mothballs Keep Snakes Away? What the Evidence Says
2026-08-07 · 6 min readDo mothballs keep snakes away? No. They do not repel snakes, they are toxic to people, pets, and wildlife, and outdoor use is often illegal. Here is what works.
SafetyHow to Identify a Snake From a Photo (Safely)
2026-08-06 · 6 min readIdentify a snake from a photo the safe way: how to shoot from a distance, which features really matter, and how to use the identify tool and county pages.
- Safety
Snake in the Pool: How to Get It Out Safely
2026-08-05 · 6 min readFound a snake in your pool? Here is how snakes end up there, how to safely get one out from a distance with a net, and how to keep them all out for good.
SafetyAre Baby Snakes More Dangerous? What the Science Says
2026-08-04 · 5 min readAre baby snakes more dangerous than adults? The popular claim that babies can't control their venom is a myth. Here is what the science actually shows.
SafetyDo Snakes Chase You? The Truth Behind the Myth
2026-08-03 · 6 min readDo snakes chase you? No, snakes do not hunt or chase humans. Here is the science behind defensive behavior and the cottonmouth and the black mamba myths.
SafetySnake Bite While Hiking: First Aid That Actually Works
2026-08-02 · 6 min readSnake bite while hiking: the first aid experts actually recommend, the dangerous old myths to skip, and the simple habits that lower your risk on the trail.
- Safety
Snake Bite on a Dog: What to Do (Calm, Step by Step)
2026-08-01 · 6 min readSnake bite, dog, what to do: stay calm, keep your dog still, and get to a vet immediately. The safe first steps, the warning signs, and what never to do.
Regional guideAre Sea Snakes Venomous? Sea Snakes Explained
2026-07-31 · 6 min readAre sea snakes venomous? Yes, they are highly venomous elapids, but they rarely bite people. Here is where they live and how they differ from eels.
Regional guideTypes of Rattlesnakes in the United States
2026-07-30 · 8 min readA guide to the types of rattlesnakes in the United States: the main species, how to recognize the group, and where the country's rattlesnakes live.
Regional guideSnakes in the UK: Just Three Native Species
2026-07-29 · 6 min readSnakes in the UK number only three native species: the adder, grass snake, and smooth snake. Only the adder is venomous, and its bites are rarely serious.
Regional guideVenomous Snakes of Africa: The Groups That Matter Most
2026-07-28 · 8 min readA guide to the venomous snakes of Africa: mambas, cobras, the saw-scaled viper, puff adder, gaboon viper, and boomslang, and which ones cause the most bites.
Regional guideSnakes in California: Which Ones Are Venomous?
2026-07-27 · 7 min readA clear guide to snakes in California: the only venomous ones are rattlesnakes, while gopher snakes, kingsnakes, and garter snakes are common and harmless.
Regional guideSnakes in Arizona: The Rattlesnake Capital and the Coral Snake
2026-07-26 · 7 min readA field guide to snakes in Arizona, home to more rattlesnake species than any other U.S. state, plus the Arizona coral snake and harmless desert snakes.
- Regional guide
Snakes in Texas: The 4 Venomous Types and Common Harmless Snakes
2026-07-25 · 7 min readA guide to snakes in Texas: the four venomous types (rattlesnakes, copperhead, cottonmouth, coral) plus the harmless snakes you are most likely to see.
Regional guideSnakes in Florida: Venomous Species, Common Harmless Ones, and Pythons
2026-07-24 · 8 min readA field guide to snakes in Florida: the six venomous species, the harmless snakes you will see most, and the invasive Burmese python in the Everglades.
Regional guideThe Most Dangerous Snakes in India: The Big Four
2026-07-23 · 7 min readIndia sees more snakebite deaths than any country. Learn the most dangerous snakes in India, the Big Four that cause most bites, and how to stay safe.
Regional guideThe Most Dangerous Snakes in Australia: 5 Medically Important Species
2026-07-22 · 7 min readAustralia is home to many of the world's most venomous snakes. Here are the most dangerous snakes in Australia and the species that matter most for safety.
- Species spotlight
Copperhead Snake Facts: Common Bites, Rarely Fatal
2026-07-21 · 7 min readCopperhead snake facts: this US pit viper causes many bites but is rarely fatal. Learn its hourglass crossbands, camouflage habit, and how to identify it.
- Species spotlight
Eastern Coral Snake Facts: Banding Rule and Hidden Venom
2026-07-20 · 6 min readThe eastern coral snake is a secretive US elapid with neurotoxic venom. Learn the red-touch-yellow banding rule, where it lives, and how to identify it safely.
Species spotlightRussell's Viper Facts: A Leading Cause of Snakebite Deaths
2026-07-19 · 6 min readRussell's viper is a leading cause of snakebite deaths across South Asia. Where it lives, its chain-link pattern, loud hiss, and why its bite is so dangerous.
Species spotlightSaw-Scaled Viper Facts: Small Snake, Huge Death Toll
2026-07-18 · 7 min readThe saw-scaled viper is small but ranks among the deadliest snakes by human death toll. Where it lives, its warning sawing sound, and how to identify it.
Species spotlightGaboon Viper Facts: The Snake With the Longest Fangs
2026-07-17 · 7 min readThe Gaboon viper has the longest fangs and one of the highest venom yields of any snake. Where it lives, its astonishing camouflage, and how to identify it.
Species spotlightBoomslang Facts: Africa's Deadly Tree Snake
2026-07-16 · 7 min readThe boomslang is a slender African tree snake with potent hemotoxic venom and huge eyes. Where it lives, how to identify it, and why its bite is so dangerous.
Species spotlightGreen Anaconda Facts: The Heaviest Snake on Earth
2026-07-15 · 7 min readThe green anaconda is the heaviest snake on Earth, a giant aquatic constrictor of South America. Where it lives, how big it gets, and whether it is dangerous.
Species spotlightReticulated Python: The Longest Snake in the World
2026-07-14 · 7 min readThe reticulated python is the longest snake in the world, a non-venomous constrictor of Southeast Asia. Learn its range, diet, behavior, and how to identify it.
- Field notesSpecies spotlight
Inland Taipan: The Most Venomous Snake With Almost No Recorded Deaths
2026-07-13 · 6 min readThe inland taipan is the most venomous snake by LD50, yet it is reclusive and has caused almost no recorded human deaths. Learn the real story of this snake.
Species spotlightKing Cobra: The Longest Venomous Snake and the Snake That Eats Snakes
2026-07-12 · 7 min readThe king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world and feeds mostly on other snakes. Learn its range across South and Southeast Asia and how it lives.
Species spotlightBlack Mamba: Separating the Reputation From the Reality
2026-07-11 · 7 min readThe black mamba is one of Africa's most feared snakes, fast and highly venomous. Learn its real range and behavior, and how the reputation compares to reality.
- Species spotlight
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake: The Southwest's Most Notorious Snake
2026-07-10 · 7 min readThe western diamondback rattlesnake causes more serious bites than any other US snake. Learn its range, how to identify it, and how to stay safe around it.
Species spotlightTimber Rattlesnake: The Quiet Pit Viper of the Eastern Woods
2026-07-09 · 6 min readThe timber rattlesnake is a widespread venomous snake of the eastern US, including the southern canebrake form. Learn where it lives and how to identify it.
- Species spotlight
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: The Largest Venomous Snake in North America
2026-07-08 · 7 min readThe eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the heaviest venomous snake in North America. Learn where it lives, how to identify it, and how to stay safe near it.
IdentificationCorn Snake vs. Copperhead: Blotches vs. Hourglass Bands
2026-07-07 · 6 min readCorn snake vs copperhead: the harmless corn snake has bold blotches, not the copperhead's hourglass crossbands. Use head, pattern, and belly to tell them apart.
IdentificationBrown Snake vs. Copperhead: Why the Tiny DeKay's Snake Gets Mistaken for a Baby Copperhead
2026-07-06 · 6 min readA brown snake vs copperhead guide. The tiny, harmless DeKay's brownsnake is often killed as a baby copperhead. Learn the size, pattern, and head differences.
- Identification
Baby Copperhead Identification: The Yellow Tail Tip and Other Field Marks
2026-07-05 · 6 min readBaby copperhead identification made simple. Spot the yellow-green tail tip, hourglass bands, and head shape, and learn why juveniles are not more dangerous.
- Identification
Kingsnake vs. Copperhead: How to Tell the Snake-Eater From the Pit Viper
2026-07-04 · 6 min readA kingsnake vs copperhead guide. Kingsnakes are harmless and even eat venomous snakes. Learn the banding, pattern, and head differences that tell them apart.
- Identification
Bullsnake vs. Rattlesnake: Telling the Prairie Mimic From the Real Thing
2026-07-03 · 7 min readA bullsnake vs rattlesnake guide for the plains. The harmless bullsnake hisses, buzzes its tail, and flattens its head to fake a rattler. Tell them apart.
IdentificationRat Snake vs. Black Racer: Sorting Out the Big Harmless Snakes
2026-07-02 · 7 min readA rat snake vs black racer guide. Both are long, fast, and harmless. Here is how to tell them apart by color, scale texture, body build, and behavior.
- Identification
Garter Snake vs. Ribbon Snake: Telling the Striped Cousins Apart
2026-07-01 · 7 min readA garter snake vs ribbon snake guide. Both are striped and harmless, but the ribbon snake is slimmer with a longer tail and different stripe placement.
IdentificationHognose Snake vs. Rattlesnake: The Great Pretender Explained
2026-06-30 · 7 min readA hognose snake vs rattlesnake guide. The harmless hognose flattens a cobra-like hood, hisses, and plays dead. Here is how to tell it from a real rattlesnake.
IdentificationMilk Snake vs. Coral Snake: Reading the Bands the Right Way
2026-06-29 · 7 min readA milk snake vs coral snake guide. The harmless milk snake copies the venomous coral snake's red, black, and yellow bands. Here is how to read them safely.
- Identification
Gopher Snake vs. Rattlesnake: How to Tell the Mimic From the Real Thing
2026-06-28 · 7 min readA gopher snake vs rattlesnake guide. The harmless gopher snake hisses, flattens its head, and shakes its tail like a rattler. Here is how to tell them apart.
- Living with snakes
Snake Season: When Are Snakes Most Active?
2026-06-27 · 5 min readSnakes follow the temperature, not the calendar. Here is when snakes are most active by season and time of day, and how that shifts across the country.
- Living with snakes
What to Do If You Find a Snake in Your Yard
2026-06-27 · 5 min readA calm, practical guide to handling a snake in your yard or garden, why most are harmless and helpful, and the few steps that keep everyone safe.
- Safety
The 4 Types of Venomous Snakes in the United States
2026-06-27 · 7 min readNearly every venomous snake in the U.S. belongs to one of four groups: rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. Here is how to recognize each.
IdentificationCottonmouth vs. Watersnake: How to Tell Them Apart
2026-06-27 · 6 min readThe most common dangerous mix-up in the eastern U.S. Here is how to tell a venomous cottonmouth from a harmless watersnake using calm, reliable field marks.
- Identification
Coral Snake or King Snake? The Red-Touches-Yellow Rule
2026-06-27 · 6 min readRed touches yellow, kill a fellow. Red touches black, friend of Jack. Here is what that rhyme means, why it works in the U.S., and where it does not.