When you are looking for a perfect outdoor environment in the US to enjoy your outdoor activities during the summer period then Vermont is the go-to destination. The state is pristine and most of the land is untouched therefore you are going to find a myriad of snakes traversing different parts of the state. Here are some of the most dangerous snakes that you are going to find in Vermont.
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Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake is a very dangerous snake that you can find in Vermont. This snake is known to inhabit different areas of the state. The timber rattlesnake is known to grow up to 60 inches in length and they come in different colorations such as gray, tan, yellowish-brown, and dark brown. They also have black crossbands on their bodies.
These are heavy bodied snakes that have a rattle on their tail. These snakes are venomous in nature and you should watch out for them during your visit to Vermont.
Further reading: Dangerous animals in Vermont
The timber rattlesnakes are found in different parts of the state of Vermont, especially in the southern part of the state. Some of the places where you are going to find these snakes include rivers, deciduous forests, agricultural areas, lowland thickets, and coniferous forests.
These snakes are unique because they are ambush predators and they will hide in thicket and surprise their prey by attacking them viciously. They consume a wide array of creatures such as birds, frogs, toads, lizards, and smaller snakes. The rattlesnake injects the venom and waits for the prey to be paralyzed before they can consume them. These snakes have longer fangs and their venom is highly effective in causing their prey to have an instant death.
It is essential to know that these snakes usually give numerous warning signs such as rattling, taking a posture, and hissing before they can strike.
Red-bellied Snake
The red-bellied snake is a new snake species found in different habitats around the state of Vermont. They are known to grow up to 10 inches long. As the name indicates, they have red bellies. They come in different colors such as brown, black, grey, and orange.
They are docile in nature and they are the easiest to identify in the region. You will find themselves burrowing under leaves and trees. They will always flee when they see humans, and in some cases attack whenever they are cornered.
Smooth Green Snake
The smooth green snake is one of the snakes that you are going to find in different habitats around Vermont. The most common of them is that they come in light green and with a white underside or yellow underside.
These snakes are known to have a red tongue with a black tip and they can grow up to 20 inches long. The adult smooth green snake is usually slender and they may come in colors such as olive-green, blue-gray, brown, and tan. However, they quickly shed and get to their common color of light green. These snakes are commonly called grass snakes because of their colors.
You can find them in different places around the state of Vermont. Some of the areas where you are likely to find this snake include pastures, meadows, marshes, open woods, savannas, and long streams. They usually like to stay in areas with high moisture and therefore you will find them closer to permanent water bodies.
The snakes usually eat spiders and insects and they usually attack their prey quickly before consuming them. They have exceptional skills at camouflaging.
Northern Water Snake
The northern water snake is a unique snake species that you are going to find in the state of Vermont. These snakes are unique because they are known to grow up to 55 inches in length. They come in different colors ranging from black and dark brown. They have black and reddish-brown bands on their bodies.
The female species of this snake are usually larger than their male counterparts. The species are the largest water snake in Vermont.
The northern water snake is known to love the slow-moving waters such as the vernal pools, lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams. There is a high chance that you are going to find them basking in the sun. The most common place where you can find this snake is in the western part of the state.
Their diet consists of different creatures, mostly frogs, toads, newts, and lizards. They spend most of their time along the rivers and other waterbodies hunting during the day. They usually attack their prey very fast before consuming them alive.
It is essential to note that their saliva usually has anticoagulating properties which means that whenever they bite, they are likely to cause failure of the blood to clot. This is dangerous because it could cause severe bleeding.
Eastern Ribbon Snake
The eastern ribbon snake is another species that you are going to find in different parts of Vermont and they are known to grow up to 26 inches in length. They are slender snakes with very long tails. They come in different colors ranging from black, grey, and tan. They have three bright yellow stripes on their bodies each running on the side and one at the back.
The eastern brown snake has brownish lips and their inside are usually white. They are semiaquatic species and they can rarely move from the aquatic environment. They find home in different habitats such as wetlands, meadows, ditches, floodplains, marshes, and close to the water bodies. The ribbon snake can be found even in the suburban surrounding.
They are known to bask on logs, rocks, and even on the branches of the trees closer to the water. Eastern ribbon snakes usually eat frogs, toads, lizards, and salamanders. Whenever they see people, they will usually flee. However, it is important to note that they can attack whenever they feel cornered.
Eastern Milksnake
The eastern milk snake is a common species in different parts of Vermont. These snakes are known to come in different colors such as brown, black, and grey, with rows of reddish-brown colors and black blotches. When you are exploring different parts of the state you will find them with a V-shaped mark near the back of their head.
They are mostly found in barns, grasslands, woodlands, and forests. They consume a large amount of mice, rats, slugs, and worms.
Eastern milksnakes are a member of the kingsnake family and they occupy a wide array of areas in the region ranging from the woodlands, agricultural areas, and fields. They are some of the most secretive snakes that you will find in Vermont. You will find some of them under boards, logs, rocks, and even in debris.
They usually prefer to feed on smaller mammals such as rats and shrews. However, when they miss this, they are going to consume other snakes, lizards, toads, fish, slugs, and worms.
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
The eastern hog-nosed snake is a common snake that you are going to find in different parts of Vermont. They usually grow up to 30 inches in length. This snake comes in different colors such as orange, olive, black, brown, yellow, and gray. It has spots or darker blotches on its body.
These snakes are thick-bodied in nature and they have an upturned snout with a triangular-shaped head. You are going to see them rarely in the state of Vermont.
These snakes usually consume a wide array of creatures such as frogs, toads, snakes, salamanders, lizards, and newts. They usually have enlarged teeth that can deflate toads.
They usually mimic dangerous snakes as a mode of protection such as the cobra snakes among others.
DeKay’s Brown Snake
DeKay’s brown snake is another species that you will find in different parts of the state of Vermont. These snakes can grow up to 13 inches in length. They are known to come in different colors such as dark brown, grey, and light brown. They have two rows of dark spots on their backs. Also, they can have a light stripe down their bodies.
These snakes are known to inhabit a wide array of habitats, such as the grasslands, meadows, under logs, rocks, and organic debris. These are some of the most reclusive snakes that you are going to find in Vermont.
The DeKay’s brown snake is known to consume insect larvae, snails, insects, frogs, toads, tadpoles, spiders, and fish. Whenever they encounter their prey, they quickly attack them before consuming them.
They are considered the most common snakes that you will find in Vermont.
Eastern Garter Snake
The eastern garter snake is another species that you can find in the state of Vermont. This species is known to grow up to 26 inches in length and they come in different colors such as black, brown, and green. They have a distinct whitish or yellow stripe that runs down their back. In some instances, some of these snakes usually exhibit checkered body patterns.
The snakes are more commonly found in western Vermont and it is typically the snake that most people will come across during their travel around the state. They are known to adapt to locations where people are living and you will find them in farmlands, city parks, suburban lawns, cemeteries, and gardens. They usually prefer grassy environments closer to the waterbodies such as ditches, lakes, ponds, and even streams.
Some of the creatures that they usually consume include salamanders, toads, frogs, fish, slugs, and worms. They are very active during the day and at night as well.
Maritime Garter Snake
The maritime garter snake is the most common species that you are going to find in different parts of the state of Vermont. These snakes are very unique because they are known to grow up to 40 inches in length and therefore you will find them in a wide array of habitats.
The snakes usually have a yellowish upper jaw, belly, and chin; you will find some that have checkered bodies or speckled does. They are generalist types of snakes, hence, you will find them in different parts of the state.
The common places that you will find these snakes include agricultural areas, urban areas, shorelines, wetlands, rocky areas, fields, and shrublands. They usually like to hide under rocks, logs, and crevices where they can thermoregulate easily.
