Field notes
The blog
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 snakesSnake 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 snakesWhat 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.
SafetyThe 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.
IdentificationCoral 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.