There are 21 reported native species of snake in Pennsylvania, and of those, solely three are venomous: Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, and Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Generally, these snakes will be discovered alongside river banks and in wetlands, however as meals turns into scarce, they’ll enterprise farther from their properties into fields and forests, looking for small recreation.
It is rare to seek out snakes in city areas as there simply is just not a lot for them, however regardless, snakes can and do inadvertently wander into inhabitants facilities. Locals and vacationers alike are prone to be fearful of those creatures, however snakes will not be malicious and can, the truth is, assist management the native rodent inhabitants if left alone. Below are a number of the counties and areas in Pennsylvania with the best inhabitants of snakes. Read on to study which snakes will be present in these areas and why they’re so plentiful.
Lancaster County
The Susquehanna River, which borders Lancaster County, provides the proper humid local weather and damp habitat for snakes just like the Northern Watersnake and uncommon Northern Rough Greensnake, that are widespread to the world. The solely venomous snake identified to Lancaster County is the Copperhead.
A complete of 791 snakes have been documented in Pennsylvania analysis surveys, with solely 25 new data being entered this yr. The motive for this lower may very well be from a number of components, similar to cooler common climates or the disruption of habitats by people. Snakes on this area are essential to sustaining the ecological established order.
Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County, significantly John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, has a damp subtropical local weather good for snake habitation. The Eastern Gartersnake and Dekay’s Brownsnake are the most typical out of the seven species documented within the area, none being venomous snakes. A complete of 597 snakes have been documented, with solely 42 from the yr 2023.
The busy city waterfronts imply snakes could also be seen searching mice round properties and docks. Researchers counsel that householders patch up openings and maintain the grass lower low to discourage snakes and rodents alike. Snakes round Philadelphia can usually be scary however can truly be very helpful to society if left alone.
Delaware County
The Delaware River is home predominantly to Eastern Garter snakes, with 153 reported sightings, however has eight documented species of snakes in whole. No venomous snakes have ever been documented by researchers within the river. The water and humid local weather have made a wonderful habitat for snakes and have contributed to massive populations up to now.
Destruction of pure habitats has led to a pointy lower within the variety of snake species, and additional efforts to urbanize the panorama will possible proceed to scale back the general variety of all amphibians and reptiles. Thankfully, there are nonetheless many nature reserves—similar to Ridley Creek, Rose Tree, and Hildacy—that supply a refuge for these superb animals.
Pike County
Pike County has many ponds, lakes, and wetlands teaming with snakes and different amphibians, however Lake Wallenpaupack is essentially the most infested space within the area, with Northern Watersnakes being the most typical within the lake. Wildlife specialists warning towards dealing with Northern Watersnakes as they’re aggressive and have highly effective jaws; whereas not venomous, their saliva does have anticoagulant properties.
Just as many venomous Timber Rattlesnakes have been documented within the space, they’re usually extra elusive and keep in additional mountainous places. Timber Rattlesnakes will not be as aggressive because the Northern Watersnake, and reported bites are uncommon. Experts counsel that if somebody is bitten by a venomous snake, they need to get handled as quickly as attainable and never apply ice or take any medicines not prescribed by a doctor.
Fear of those animals is widespread and comprehensible, however researchers hope to unfold consciousness and present folks that snakes are important to sustaining Pennsylvania’s wildlife and that coexisting with snakes is feasible.
Warren County
The Allegheny River in Warren County is among the most snake-infested areas in Pennsylvania. Northern Watersnakes and Greensnakes will be seen slithering across the river very often. Recently, there was an increase in exercise from Timber Rattlesnakes within the space, with seven documented circumstances in 2023 out of solely 35 whole accounts. Warren County has had 1,430 whole documented snake sightings from analysis surveys, with a complete of 11 completely different reported species.
One explanation for excessive snake populations is the humid continental local weather. Snakes, not like mammals, can’t regulate their physique temperature and, due to this fact, depend on heat climate to remain lively for searching. Because of their cold-blooded nature, snakes can generally be drawn to heat city places like radiators and chopped wooden piles. Residents ought to attempt to maintain any gasoline evenly stacked 12 inches above the bottom to discourage snakes.
Union County
The mountains and hills of Union County, with heavy foliage, tree protection, and rocky floor, supply nice hiding locations for Timber Rattlesnake, essentially the most reported snake within the county with 67 whole accounts. Timber Rattlesnakes wish to nest in rocky outcroppings or old fallen bushes. Always maintain a watch out whereas mountain climbing, as these snakes mix seamlessly with the setting. Eastern Copperheads will be discovered nearer to the rivers and wetlands to the northeast.
The venom of Copperheads is among the many lowest of all pit vipers however can nonetheless be deadly in excessive doses. While Rattlesnakes are much more venomous, Copperheads account for extra snakebite incidents than every other venomous snake within the nation. Between 7,000 and eight,000 individuals are bitten by venomous snakes within the US yearly. This often comes from improper dealing with or unintentionally disturbing nesting snakes.
Chester County
Schuylkill River in Chester County is a breeding floor for snakes just like the Eastern Gartner snake and Timber Rattlesnake, however throughout the county, 13 species have been reported on, such because the Northern Ring-necked Snake and Eastern Ratsnake. There have been a complete of 23 Eastern Copperhead spottings. A complete of 914 sightings have been documented, however solely 35 are from the yr 2023.
The rodents in Chester County, such because the widespread home and discipline mouse, make for wonderful prey to snakes, and due to rodents invading properties, snakes can generally be seen searching them in city areas. If allowed, snakes will present a precious service by searching out these harmful and harmful rodents. Mice can carry every kind of illnesses and parasites, whereas snakes trigger little or no injury to property and pose little to no threat to well being.
Montgomery County
The Green Lane Reservoir makes for the proper home and habitat for snakes, and certainly, Montgomery has had 1,030 confirmed sightings of 9 kinds of snakes. The most typical are, after all, the Gartersnake and Watersnake, however there have additionally been many Eastern Milksnakes and Copperheads, which might usually be confused with one another. The Milksnake is essentially the most generally misidentified snake within the state, though Copperheads are simply identifiable by their coppery heads with out markings.
Snakes in Montgomery County are often present in and round ponds and rivers, however because of the Elmwood Zoo, residents can view all varieties of snakes, each native and overseas to Pennsylvania. The Zoo additionally provides schooling on the completely different sorts of snakes that may be discovered within the space and establish them.
Bucks County
Bucks County has a number of the highest numbers of documented snakes within the state, with 2,132 whole sightings and 45 sightings in 2023 alone. Nockamixon State Park is the most typical place to identify these snakes due to the humid local weather and surrounding wilderness parks and recreation land. Hikers and hunters needs to be aware of stepping round fallen bushes or rocky surfaces, as these are the favourite properties of Black Ratsnakes and Northern Watersnakes.
The variety of snakes present in Bucks County is linked to the quantity of protected untouched land, however even with this, most sightings are of utterly innocent Gartersnakes, that are light creatures that principally eat bugs and different small critters.
Venango County
Venango County is roofed in state recreation land, parks, and rivers, contributing enormously to the 1,951 sightings, that are a number of the most diverse snake species within the state. Among these sightings are 42 accounts of the uncommon and endangered Eastern Massasauga (AKA, Swamp Rattler), a sort of Rattlesnake solely present in just a few Western Counties of Pennsylvania. However, there haven’t been any sightings of the Massasauga in lots of years. It is thought to remain hidden in moist swamp areas.
Snakes just like the Timber Rattlesnake and Pygmy Rattlesnake are protected beneath Pennsylvania regulation to preserve these important creatures. Without these snakes, the county would face nice ecological disasters as rodent populations would rise with out their pure predators, inflicting points in each rural and concrete environments.
York County
Gifford Pinchot State Park, a 2,338-acre park with fields, wooded mountain climbing trails, and a big lake, makes for the proper home to snakes of every kind, from the widespread Watersnake, Gartner snake and Ratsnake to the elusive Wormsnake or Queensnake. There have solely been 594 reported sightings in York County, however there are 13 confirmed species.
Conservation efforts in York have allowed for these snakes to thrive in protected parks and state recreation areas. Researchers proceed to log new sightings frequently and encourage residents to volunteer and assist protect these wildlife areas.
Crawford County
Crawford County has had 1,028 sightings of 12 completely different species throughout 1,012 sq. miles of land. Despite the proper humid continental local weather, no venomous snakes have been present in Crawford. One of the rarer snakes prevalent within the space is the Red-Bellied snake, a small snake that hardly ever exceeds 8 to 10 inches.
One of essentially the most notable snake-infested places within the Crawford space is the Pymatuning Reservoir, as it’s the superb habitat for amphibious snakes. The Linesville Fish Culture Station, positioned on the reservoir, is a fish and reptile hatchery managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Erie County
Lake Erie in Erie County is among the most well-known locations for snake sightings in Pennsylvania. Specifically, the Presque Isle State Park is thought to accommodate the widespread amphibious snakes of Pennsylvania, such because the Northern Watersnake. Many different snakes, just like the Northern Ring-Necked Snake, benefit from the damp habitat and will be seen in mossy groves close to the water.
No venomous snakes have been present in Erie County, and regardless of widespread perception, no water moccasins have been discovered wherever in Pennsylvania; nonetheless, the widespread Northern Watersnake is usually misidentified as such.
Snakes are a typical animal in Pennsylvania and are most frequently light creatures that solely want to hunt for small bugs and rodents. Snake bites are extraordinarily uncommon, and people who do happen are often accidents the place a snake was startled into biting. Out of the one three venomous snakes in Pennsylvania, the Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, and the Eastern Massasauga, solely a complete of 448 sightings have been reported in these 13 counties since researchers first started documenting snake sightings in 2013.
These animals are extraordinarily vital to the general conservation of Pennsylvania wildlife, not solely as predators however as prey, too. Snakes are sometimes seen as scary predators that go unchallenged, however the fact is that they play a vital half within the ecosystem as prey to massive birds and turtles. People usually worry snakes for his or her presence in media, however there’s nothing to worry as soon as folks settle for that these creatures are merely a part of the ecosystem. Next time you see a snake slithering by means of the grass, be aware of its coloring and form and notify the researchers of your findings to assist additional conservation and analysis efforts.
