Snake in your southwest Illinois home? What to do if you come across one this summer
If you’re planning a hike at a nature reserve or you’re simply taking a trip to a local park this summer, you may want to brush up on venomous snake species in the metro-east and what to do if you come across one.
In the U.S., most snake bites occur between May and October, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Snakes are often active during the day, and some species tend to blend into their surroundings.
An estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by snakes each year across the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, and roughly five of the people bitten die. Timely medical care may be lifesaving.
While snake bites can be life-threatening, snakes are unlikely to attack humans unprovoked, and there are steps you can take to try to mitigate your chances of being bitten.
What should you do if you come across a snake?
If you stumble upon a snake out in the wild, the best thing you can do is to give it space and let it be, Dan Zarlenga, St. Louis region spokesperson with the Missouri Department of Conservation, told the News-Democrat.
“Don’t try to corner it, don’t try to pick it up,” Zarlenga said.
Unless you accidentally step on a snake or you intentionally try to pick it up, hurt it or kill it, snakes are unlikely to try to bite you, Zarlenga added.
Snake venom is used primarily to immobilize prey such as rodents, not to injure humans. Snake bites to humans are often out of self-defense, according to Zarlenga.
As snakes will generally seek cover, you should avoid standing between them and bushes or other cover, according to UIUC.
If a snake somehow enters your home, it’s best to avoid picking it up and to instead call a qualified wildlife professional to remove it.
“You should not try to handle a snake directly,” Zarlenga said.
If you have a recurring problem with snakes getting into your house, you might consider evaluating possible entry points.
“Prevention is always the best measure though, and a lot of times snakes will get in through any kind of compromised area, in the foundation or through an open door or a screen that may have a hole in it or something like that,” Zarlenga said.
Snakes may seek shelter from the elements when it’s excessively cold or hot outside, but if you find snakes in your home in more mild temperatures, they may be finding a food source inside.
Taking measures to control any rodents or insects in your home could help reduce the likelihood of snakes stopping by, Zarlenga continued.
What snake species are common in southwest Illinois?
Some of the most common snake species in the metro-east and the St. Louis region are western ratsnakes, garter snakes and ring-necked snakes, Zarlenga said. None of these species are venomous.
“The majority of snakes, probably at least four out of five, are not venomous,” Zarlenga said.
It is “technically unlawful” to kill any native snake in Missouri, according to the state’s conservation department.
“There is a realistic exception, however: when a venomous snake is in close association with people, which could result in someone being bitten,” the Missouri Department of Conservation website reads. “We hope that more people realize that snakes are interesting, valuable, and, for the most part, harmless.”
Snakes are also protected in Illinois, according to the state’s department of natural resources, though you may be able to collect or hunt non-endangered species with a valid permit.
While most local snake species are not venomous, there are two venomous snake species native to the metro-east, Zarlenga said: the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. These species are considered venomous, not poisonous. Venom is injected into a victim, while poison is swallowed, inhaled or absorbed, according to the National Park Service.
Metro-east residents are more likely to come across a copperhead than a timber rattlesnake, Zarlenga added.
Copperheads can occasionally be found in suburbs, parks or backyards, Zarlenga said, while timber rattlesnakes are more reclusive. You could come across a timber rattlesnake when hiking or camping out in the woods.
While unexpectedly seeing a snake might be frightening, the reptiles provide a “very beneficial service” to the ecosystem, Zarlenga said.
Snakes keep rodent populations in check by preying on mice and rats and simultaneously provide a food source to birds of prey, coyotes and foxes, Zarlenga said. Snakes also contribute to biodiversity.
This story was originally published June 29, 2023 at 10:04 AM.
