On Your Belly You Serpents

Few humans get a warm fuzzy feeling from the sight, or mere mention of a snake. Most people prefer to be far removed from the slithering presence of the cursed reptiles. When it comes to snakes, people within our society experience emotions that range between love and hate. Those with snake phobia will go out of their way to avoid the creatures, while scientist of the Herpetological persuasion may be found searching far and wide for the slimy looking serpents.

Among other appealing habits, snakes are known to crawl, climb, coil, strike, bite, hiss, and crawl on their bellies just like the Biblical reference in Genesis. Here in Pennsylvania we have plenty of snake species to help us study those charming habits.

Snakes are from the suborder Serpentes. In addition to 18 species of serpents, our state is home to three venomous species. The most widely abundant of the venomous is the Northern Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix modasen followed by the Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus horridus and finally the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.

In the United States, between 7000 and 8000 people are bit by poisonous snakes each year. About five of those die because of the misconception that the bite didn't come from a poisonous species, therefore the person never received medical treatment. Some individuals are know to have adverse reactions to bites from non-poisonous snakes.

Wild serpents have become pets for some anxious young kids who have had the luck of catching them. Even some old kids have found snakes, like the garter snake, to keep them entertained. With the exception of the last three pictures, the non-poisonous varieties that reside in the Keystone state can be seen here.

Woodland, fields, rocks and water, snakes can be found in every habitat throughout our state. They usually are found in rock and timber piles. Some live in the ground. Rural areas are home to a wider number and variety, but snakes also like to keep company in urban areas as well.

Contrary to popular belief, snakes are important. They play a vital roll in the environment, helping to keep a more even balance to the food chain cycle in nature. As predators, snakes stay alive by feasting on many harmful creatures. Depending on the species, slugs, small mammals like rodents, insects, worms, fish, other snakes, birds, and bird eggs all find their way into a snake's belly.

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