SNAKE!

I often get a panicked phone call or radio call: "SNAKE! On campus!"

I had a neighbor once who always killed snakes whenever he saw them. I was young and shy and never said anything to him, nor really thought much about it, until the day he had to buy a new lawn mower when rats had made a nest in the engine compartment and ruined the one he had. I wonder how he could have prevented that? Get out your Sherlock Holmes hats and magnifying glass folks!

Even some of the biggest animal lovers I have had the pleasure meeting will shiver with the small mention of the word "Snake." I have even heard of the most unlikely people killing snakes that "chased" them around their garden.

Snakes have gotten a bad reputation prior to our common era. A serpent represents evil in some religions. Many have read stories as children where snakes have been known as the sign of gorgons, women with snakes for locks of hair. I could write a whole essay on snakes used irresponsibly in folklore, but I will spare you.

I also hear snakes being described as slimy, cold blooded, and aggressive. Most snakes are anything but slimy, often very dry and in some cases quite rough. Cold blooded yes, but with thermoregulation snakes often have warmer blood than our own! Aggressive? Maybe on rare occasions, or if the snake feels trapped (or your a food source ;)). More than likely the snake wants to get as far away from you as possible!

Another call I often get is "We found a snake on campus, and I think its poisonous!" Often snakes get misidentified. Snakes do look a lot alike and I fear many snakes have succumb to the bad end of a shovel due to poor identification. We are fortunate to live in a state where venomous snakes and non-venomous snakes are easily distinguished by four simple factors!

All venomous snakes in Missouri are vipers, and have "viper scales" This means they have tiny keeled scales covering their heads, unlike the non-venomous typical "colubrid" large scales we see on non-venomous snakes... If you can spot the underbelly tail area on venomous snakes have a single row of scales where non-venomous have two. Though this is difficult even for the most seasoned of snake handlers to see from a distance.

Left: Note Large Head Scales and Round Pupil: Non-venomous

Right: Note Tiny Kneeled Head Scales Venomous

All Missouri venomous snakes are pit vipers, therefor they have heat sensing pits on the sides of their face just in front of the eye. Also, all venomous snakes in Missouri have vertical pupils, as opposed to the round pupils on most of Missouri's non-venomous snakes. Missouri Water Snakes are often mistaken as water moccasins a.k.a. cottonmouths, but are easily distinguished by their pupils, though I know from experience, water snakes are very good biters and should be avoided at all costs. (Multiple "water snake" species occur in Missouri.) Though in dark conditions, the pupil may be open like a cats eye, and be difficult to distinguish.

Note: Heat Sensing Pit and Vertical Pupil

All snakes should be avoided, and should be given room as they play an important part in our ecosystem. It is always the safest route as well. They are important in controlling our rodent populations and in some cases, even eat other snakes, even the venomous ones! That old neighbor of mine might have had a lawnmower for life if he would have just appreciated the snakes he had in his yard! Good job to all you P.I.'s who cracked the case!

Feel free to call us if you see a snake on campus, we love the opportunity to help them out as they have helped us! We will gladly take the snake nearby where it will be out of harms way!