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Snakes of Pennsylvania Mr. Distasio

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Timber Rattlesnake

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Family: Viperidae, Pit Vipers Description: Tan/brown with dark stripes across back. Orange/brown line down middle of back. Unmarked head. 23-25 keeled scales. Black tail. Dimensions : 95-74" Breeding: Breeds in spring, after hibernation. Alternative years. 5-17 live young. 10-13 long, born August- October. Females breed at 4/5 years. Habitat Wooded hillsides and rocky outcrops. Discussion Hibernates in winter, active April-October. Often hibernate with Copperheads and rat snakes. Wait for prey, coiled up. Rats, squirrels and mice form diet. Motionless if approached even by prey until it strikes. Longest living over 30 years

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W arning: Rattlesnakes & Copperheads belong to a group of snakes known as pit vipers. These dangerous snakes have a heat- sensitive sensory organ on each side of the head that enables them to locate warm-blooded prey and strike accurately, even in the dark. The curved, hollow fangs are normally folded back along the jaw. When a pit viper strikes, the fangs rapidly swing forward and fill with venom as the mouth opens. The venom is a complex mixture of proteins that acts primarily on a victim's blood tissue. If you hear a rattlesnake shaking its rattle, back away. The snake is issuing a warning, and if the warning is ignored it may bite. There are many factors (temperature being the most important) that determine how a snake will react when confronted by a human. Venomous snakes should always be observed from a safe distance. Pit vipers are never safe to handle. Even dead ones can retain some neurological reflexes, and "road kills" have been known to bite.

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Northern Copperhead

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Family: Viperidae, Pit Vipers Description: Copper to orange-pink. Brownish/red crossbands on midline of back. Scales in 23-25 rows. Single anal plate. Dimensions : 22-53" Subspecies: Northern - Crossbands hourglass shaped. Breeding: Live young. Breeds Spring through fall, mostly April/May time. 7-10 young in a litter born August-October. Mature after 2-3 years. Habitat: Hillsides, rocky outcrops and woodland. Discussion: Spring/fall basks during the day, nocturnal during warmer seasons. Hides under stonewalls, debris, old farms and rotting logs. Rodents, small lizards, frogs and caterpillars form main diet. Yellow tip of tail used to lure prey

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Eastern Hognose

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Description: Color can be red, green, orange, brown, grey to black, or any combination thereof depending on locality. They can be blotched, checkered, or patternless. The belly tends to be a solid grey, yellow or cream colored. In this species the underside of the tail is lighter than the belly. Divided anal plate. 23-25 rows of keeled scales. Dimensions: 20-45 " Breeding: Breeds spring to fall. 4-61 eggs laid in shallow cavity June/July, thin shelled 1 1/4"long. Hatch after 39-65 days. Habitat: Sandy-soiled open areas. Discussion: Harmless. Often distinguished when it plays dead. Will inflate body, hiss and strike if threatened. Will play dead if predator pursues. Will not display 'playing dead' in captivity. Upper jaw has teeth which injects venom to frogs. Rarely bites humans

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Northern Ringneck

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Description: 10-27". A small, slender snake, with a golden-yellow neck ring. Back gray, olive, or brownish, sometimes approaching black. Belly yellow and typically unspotted. Neck ring may be interrupted, obscure, or occasionally absent. Scales smooth, in 15-17 rows. Anal plate divided. Habitat: Forest, rocky wooded hillsides. Discussion: Unlike some of the other Ringneck subspecies, the Northern doesn't have red under the tail.

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Northern Black Racer

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Description Adult Eastern racers can typically vary from 20 to 60 in total length depending on the subspecies. A typical adult specimen will weigh around 1.23 lb, with little size difference between the sexes. The patterns vary widely between subspecies. Most are solid-colored as their common names imply: black racers, brown racers, blue racers, or green racers. "Runner" is sometimes used instead of "racer" in their common names. All subspecies have a lighter-colored underbelly: white, a light tan, or yellow in color. Juveniles are more strikingly patterned, with a middorsal row of dark blotches on a light ground color. The tail is unpatterned. As they grow older, the dorsum darkens, and the juvenile pattern gradually disappears. Racers are fast moving, highly active, diurnal snakes. Their diet consists primarily of small rodents, frogs, toads, lizards, and other snakes. Some subspecies are known to climb trees in order to eat eggs and young birds. Despite their specific name, constrictor, they do not really employ constriction, instead simply subduing struggling prey by pinning it bodily, pressing one or two coils against it to hold it in place instead of actually suffocating it. Most smaller prey items are simply swallowed alive.

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Description: Pattern of yellow stripes on a brown or green background. 7 upper lip scales. Keeled scales in rows of 19. Single anal plate Breeding: Live young. breeds March-May, gives birth June-August. 7-85 young in a litter. 5-9" long when born. Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, prairie lands, drainage ditches and woodland near water. Discussion: Most common in America. Active during the day. Hides in vegetation. Diet includes frogs, toads, salamanders and earthworms. Adapts to cool weather so active year round in southern areas but hibernates in large groups. When captured will expel a musk or bite but tempers quickly. Docile soon after. Longest living was 10 years

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Eastern Ribbon Snake

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Description: Long and slender. Dark back and sides with 3 light stripes. Long tail, third of overall length. 19 rows of keeled scales. Single anal plate. Dimensions: 18-40" Subspecies: Eastern Ribbon Snake - brownish back, range extends from New York to Florida, west to the Mississippi River. Northern Ribbon Snake dark brown or black above, range from Maine through Ontario and Indiana. Breeding: Breeds in spring, 3-26 live young born July-August. 7-9" long when born. Habitat: Marshes, bogs, ponds, lake shorelines, swamps and shallow streams. Discussion: Always near wet places. Basks in bushes near water. Hides in water if threatened. Glides across water surface instead of diving in like aquatic snakes. Frogs, salamanders and fish form main diet

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Eastern Smooth Green Snake

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