Illinois hikers should show caution, not fear if confronted by a venomous snake. What to know
Illinois doesn’t have a large population of venomous snakes, but there are a few and there are ways to deal with them should you cross paths with one.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources specialist Scott Ballard said the types of venomous snakes commonly found in the metro-east area are not aggressive toward humans unless they are provoked.
Ballard said there’s no cause of fear — only caution. In the meantime, snakes serve a useful purpose.
Snakes help control tick and mouse infestation. One snake will eat “a pillowcase full of mice each year,” which is about 9 pounds worth, Ballard said. Rodents are the No. 1 carrier of ticks so less mice means a decrease in tick-borne diseases such as lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
The state of Illinois is a large farming community and farmers have issues with rodents destroying crops year round. Snakes are beneficial in this case due to the fact that they eliminate many of the rodent pests.
Generally people can expect to see snakes during the warmer months once they’ve left their winter hibernation.
But their first instinct is always to get away from a person, even venomous snakes. Ballard is out every week and he said he is lucky if he sees one venomous snake a week.
He said copperheads are common in the metro-east but their fangs are so short that they can barely penetrate denim jeans. Ballard recommends hikers wear protective clothing including long leather boots instead of open toed shoes.
Ballard has a few copperheads in captivity for programs. He says their venom is weak and may take two venomous bites to kill a mouse.
Those who are allergic to bee venom are at risk to more severe reactions because snake venom and bee venom share similar proteolytic enzymes, he warned.
Nonvenomous snakes pose some degree of risk, too. Bites can cause infections and an allergic reaction so Ballard recommends that people treat every type of snake bite with caution.
What you should know about Illinois’ snake population:
- There are 40 species of snakes common to Illinois.
- Native nonvenomous snakes include the common garter snake (most common snake in Illinois), Dekay’s brownsnake, common watersnake, and plains garter snake.
- Illinois’ venomous snake varieties include the copperhead (most found in the southern two-thirds of Illinois), cottonmouth water moccasin (only found in Southern Illinois), timber rattlesnake, and eastern massasauga rattlesnake.
Snake venom symptoms
According to Johns Hopkins University, they include:
Bloody wound discharge
Excessive bleeding and difficulty with clotting of blood
Fang marks in the skin and swelling at the site of the bite
Discoloration, such as redness and bruising
Enlarged lymph nodes in the area affected
Diarrhea
Burning
Convulsions
Fainting
Dizziness
Weakness
Blurred vision
Fever
Increased thirst
Loss of muscle coordination
Nausea and vomiting
Numbness and tingling, especially in the mouth
Rapid pulse
Altered mental state
Shock
Paralysis
Breathing difficulties
Venomous snake bite treatment:
Also, according to Johns Hopkins:
Antivenin, also known as antivenom, is the most common snakebite treatment available in U.S.
Call emergency help and go to local hospital
Clean the bite with soap and water
Keep the bitten area still and below your heart
Remember what the snake looks like
Monitor breathing, heart rate and swelling
Venomous snakes can require your dog to be hospitalized and treated for the bite
If you need help identifying a snake then you can reach the Illinois Department of Natural Resources contact, Scott Ballard. To contact him, you can send a photo of the snake to his email: scott.ballard@illinois.gov or give him a call at 618-694-3398.
This story was originally published July 17, 2022 at 7:00 AM.