8 May/June 2007 • WILDLIFE JOURNAL

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8 May / June 2007 • WILDLIFE JOURNAL

BY BRENDAN CLIFFORD

Smooth green snakehatching from an egg.

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ear of snakes — scientists call it“ophidiophobia” and say that this com-mon fear may be deeply rooted in human

evolution (and perhaps that infamous scene from“Raiders of the Lost Ark”). It’s too bad, because“snakeophobia” causes people to revile and under-value snakes more than any other wildlife. Granted,snakes aren’t cuddly, and they’re hard to get toknow. But despite what many people think, snakesare animals that should be appreciated for theiruniqueness and their contributions to the ecosys-tem. If you haven’t had a chance to discover thediverse snakes of New Hampshire, read on to learnwhy these unique animals are important and whatyou can do to help protect them.

GARTERS IN THE GARDEN

New Hampshire has 11 native snake species.Throughout the state, these snakes range from verycommon to rare and occupy a variety of differenthabitats. Some of the most common species in NewHampshire include garter snakes, brown snakes andwater snakes. Found in almost every town, thesespecies are common because they are “habitat gen-eralists,” meaning they can live in a variety ofdifferent habitats. Other snakes —like black racers, hognose snakesand timber rattlesnakes — are lesscommon or rare because they havespecial habitat needs that determinetheir presence and abundance.

Our snakes have varying bodysizes and color patterns that makeeach species unique. Some — likethe milk snake, water snake andhognose snake — are strongly pat-terned, whereas others, like thesmooth green snake, ringneck snakeand ribbon snake, are marked withbright colors. Each has adapted toparticular habitat types based ontheir food preferences and move-ment patterns. Our common species,like garter snakes and redbellysnakes, thrive in small habitatpatches because they don’t need tomove very far throughout their livesto find plenty of food (insects andsmall vertebrates) and mates. Themore uncommon species are eitherlong-distance travelers or requirevery particular habitats to find theirprey. Racers and hognose snakes are not very com-mon, because their movement often brings theminto contact with people; these encounters some-

times trigger people’s fear of large snakes, the endresult being a dead snake.

LINK IN THE FOOD CHAIN

You might not realize it, but snakes play animportant role in the ecosystem. Snakes and all otherwildlife are part of the food chain that maintainswildlife diversity and balance. Also, many snakeseat other animals that humans may consider nui-sances. For example, rodents and insects that maycarry diseases are an important part of the diets ofmany New Hampshire snakes. In turn, snakes mayserve as a food source for animals like hawks, foxesand bobcats.

Like almost all wildlife, the primary threat thatsnakes face is the loss of their habitat. The snakesmost affected by habitat loss are listed in the NewHampshire Wildlife Action Plan (see the Fish andGame website for details, www.WildNH.com).Smooth green snakes, black racers, ribbon snakes,hognose snakes and timber rattlesnakes all requireeither specialized habitats (which, unluckily, tendto be those most easily developed); or very largehabitats, which continue to be fragmented by roadsand houses as New Hampshire’s communities

Secretive, slithery and misunderstood, snakes are a vital link in the web of life

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New Hampshire’s timber rattlesnakes are an extremely rareendangered species. Though the state’s only venomoussnake, they are usually mild-tempered.

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expand. Roads are serious barriers to many breed-ing and dispersing snakes, with cars killingmany each year. Unfortunately, snakes andother wildlife are almost always forced out oftheir habitats when people move into them.That’s why it is important to protect placeslike fields, pine forests, shrublands and wet-lands that many snakes call home.

Mythbusters!

Few animals are as surrounded by mythand mystery as snakes. Have you heardthese whoppers?

Snakes chase people... No. Like all wild-life, snakes may become aggressive whenbacked into a corner or harassed, but theydo not chase people. If you happen to be

blocking the only escape route, a snake mayappear to charge you, when it’s only trying to getaway.

Snakes are dangerous... Almost never. Manypeople think snakes are out to get them. But thetruth is, all snakes would rather avoid people thanbe seen. If you corner or pick up a snake, it mighttry to bite you because it is afraid, the same way achipmunk or squirrel would react. But the onlyvenomous snake in New Hampshire is the ex-tremely rare timber rattlesnake, which will onlybite if stepped on or harassed.

Milk snakes milk cows... Interesting theory,but no. Because milk snakes are often found in ornear barns, they were once thought to suck themilk from cows. The reason milk snakes are oftenfound near barns is because there is often anabundance of mice and other small rodents thatmilk snakes eat.

GARTER SNAKE

If you find a snake in your yard,there’s a good chance it’s agarter snake. As NewHampshire’s most commonsnake, they can be foundalmost anywhere includingforests, fields, backyards,

gardens, and even in cities.Their diet consists mainly of

earthworms and amphibians.

NORTHERN BROWN SNAKE

The brown snake, like the gartersnake, may be found in a varietyof places such as woodlands,fields, marshes, trash piles andeven city lots. They typically hideunder rocks, logs, leaves or brushpiles during the day and are activeat night searching for insects,snails and earthworms.

BLACK RACER

The black racer is a long and thin, glossy-black snake with a whitish chin that is oftenseen “racing” away when encountered. Rac-ers require large areas without many roadsor people and might be found in brushyshrublands, old fields, power-line corridorsand rocky slopes. Because large territoriesfor racers are disappearing, they are listedas a species of greatest conservation needin the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan.

Nearly half of New Hampshire’s snakes are “species of conservationconcern.” Check the N.H. Wildlife Action Plan to learn how populationsare being monitored and protected.

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A young water snake (above) closely resembles the milksnake. However, closer inspection would reveal that thewater snake lacks the signature “Y” pattern that ap-pears on the top of the head of a milk snake.

MILK SNAKE

Milk snakes are medium-sized snakes covered in red and tan blotches.They are commonly found near woodland edges, fields and rockyhillsides, but may also be present near human dwellings like barnswhere there are usually plenty of mice to eat. You might even find a milksnake hibernating in your basement if there are cracks in yourfoundation.

NORTHERN WATER SNAKE

You can find a water snake in almost any lake, pond or stream— and in many semi-aquatic habitats as well, like swamps andmarshes. These large, thick snakes are most often seenbasking on sticks, logs or rocks near the water. The northernwater snake is the only snake in New Hampshire that isconsistently found in or near water. It is not dangerous.

For more pictures and descriptions of each of NewHampshire’s 11 snakes, look for Snakes of NH on the Fishand Game website at www.WildNH.com.

There are water moccasins in New Hamp-shire... No way! The northern water snake is theonly snake in New Hampshire that can be consis-tently found in lakes and ponds. The venomouswater moccasin is a southern species that does notoccur in New England.

So, ophidiophobes, fear not! The snakes of NewHampshire are fascinating, and there’s nothing todread from having them in your woodpile. Next timeyou spot a slitherer, take a closer look. Even if youaren’t quite ready to celebrate snakes’ captivatingqualities, perhaps you can appreciate their quietstyle and their contributions to the ecosystem.

Brendan Clifford is a biological aide for Fish andGame’s Nongame and Endangered WildlifeProgram. Wildlife biologist Mike Marchandcontributed to this article.

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Not a N.H. native, the watermoccasin, or “cottonmouth,”(right) is found only as far northas Virginia. Unlike harmlesswater snakes,(below) its eyes(with vertical pupils) can’t beseen from directly above.

More snakes on thefollowing page...

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Don’t Kill ThemSnakes are just animals playing their role in

the ecosystem. They would always rather be leftalone than harassed or killed.

Report Your ObservationsThe Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Pro-

gram (RAARP) is a program that allowscitizens to report their observations of

snakes, turtles, frogs, and sala-manders to Fish and Game. Biologistscan use the reports to identify impor-tant habitats that need protection. Tolearn more, search for “RAARP” at the

Fish and Game website.

Keep Wildlife WildWhen snakes and other wildlife are removed from theirnatural environment, their role in the ecosystem is lost.Wildlife are adapted to living outdoors and are always betteroff when left alone.

Enhance Your Backyard HabitatSnakes and other wildlife tend to use more naturally diversebackyards, rather than manicured lawns. To make your yardattractive to snakes, create some brush piles of sticks, twigsand rocks that can be used as hiding places. Plant somenative shrubs and pick some areas to let the grass grow tall.The more habitat types you have, the better chance you willhave of seeing snakes.

Minimize Pesticide UsePesticides are easily absorbed into the skin of amphibianslike frogs and salamanders, which are an important compo-

nent in the diet of many snakes. By minimizing pesticide usein your yard, you can prevent snakes and other animals fromingesting deadly chemicals.

Keep Cats InsideIn addition to songbirds, cats may kill many amphibians andreptiles every year. By keeping your cat indoors, you canprotect wildlife while also protecting your pet from cars andother dangers.

Support Local Conservation EffortsSnakes benefit whenever their habitat is protected by conserva-tion. Check out your local conservation commission to helpensure that your community has plenty of places for snakes andother wildlife to thrive.

Join PARCCheck out the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conserva-tion (PARC) website, www.parcplace.org, to learn how youcan join like-minded citizens, professionals and organiza-tions in protecting reptiles and amphibians and their habitats.You can also find information from NEPARC, the New En-gland chapter of PARC, at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/neparc.

WANT TO HELP SNAKES? HERE’S HOWWANT TO HELP SNAKES? HERE’S HOW

Many non-venomous snakes will mimicthe warning signs of venomous snakesin an attempt to scare people or preda-tors away. For example, milk snakes(left) often shake their tails against driedleaves or debris when they are startled —making it sound like they have a rattle!When a hognose snake (right) feels threat-ened, it will flatten its head and hiss to actlike a dangerous venomous snake. If thatdoesn’t work, it may even turn over andplay dead.

The ribbon snake (above) is one of New Hampshire’sspecies in greatest need of conservation. The ringneck

snake (right) is widespread and secure.

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Milk snakeHognose snake