Love ‘em or hate ‘em, snakes are an ecological mainstay in Oklahoma. They can be found across the state – in urban areas as well as places more rural and wild – living in burrows, around rocks and brush, and even part-time in water and trees. They’re also found on opposite sides of the food chain, serving as both predator and prey. As a group, snakes eat almost anything from insects, frogs, and fish, to lizards, small birds, and mice. As prey, they may become a meal for larger birds and mammals, and even other snakes!
We know encountering one of these ecological “jacks-of-all-trades” isn’t on everyone’s Outdoor Oklahoma bucket list, but the chances of an encounter rise with increasing time spent in snake habitat. To get tips for avoiding negative snake encounters, we checked in with biologists on both sides of the state and learned so much more about Oklahoma snakes.
Turning the Tables: How Oklahoma Snakes Defend Against Unwanted Encounters
Oklahoma’s snake diversity includes 49 species, the large majority of which are considered nonvenomous. Beyond this bulk of ratsnakes, watersnakes, and less familiar species, the remaining eight species of rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth are in the pit viper family and are considered venomous.
Regardless of their ability to produce and inject venom, snakes have a wide range of defenses should they be surprised or unable to find an easy escape route. They can hiss, vibrate their tail, puff up, or produce a foul-smelling musk that is made in the digestive system and often mixed with feces. For more serious threats, they may also strike or bite. Snakebites can be dangerous; even if the snake is nonvenomous, the wound could still become infected. If you’re concerned about a bite or are bitten by a venomous snake, seek medical attention.
From Camouflaged Copperheads ...
On the eastern side of I-40, forests emerge from the limestone and sandstone formations and tower above the landscape. This rocky, leaf-littered habitat provides ample opportunities for snakes to hunt and be hunted. Among them, ring-necked snakes and milksnakes may quietly coil under rocks and fallen logs while copperheads seemingly blend into the fallen leaves.
The broad-banded copperhead is one of two copperhead species thought to occur in Oklahoma.
“Camouflage is the copperhead’s first and best defense,” said Curt Allen, senior wildlife biologist stationed at the Wildlife Department’s Cookson Wildlife Management Area. “As the name suggests, they’re copper in color, with a wavy pattern against a light background that some people describe as a sideways hourglass. This pattern really lends well to the snake blending in with the leaf litter”
The copperhead’s incredible camouflage not only helps the snake avoid detection from potential predators, but also from potential prey. Allen described the adult snakes as ambush predators that spend time in brushy or leaf-littered areas as well as near water sources, where their prey of small rodents and amphibians may be found.
“Here at Cookson WMA, we have so many bluff lines – not just sheer bluffs but also broken up chunks of rock – with crannies that are packed with leaf litter from the fall. They’re an outstanding spot for snakes to find refuge from the cold during the winter and heat during the summer. They’re also primo spots for rodents to be running around. And the little seeps along those bluffs often have enough moisture for frogs and other amphibians.
Bluff line near Pipe Springs, Cookson Wildlife Management Area
“Those bluff lines are a really big draw for snakes, not only for copperheads but also timber rattlesnakes. They’re a good place to avoid if you’re not interested in seeing a snake, especially in later spring and summertime.”
For visitors to Cookson WMA, Allen offers the reminder to always watch their step.
Timber rattlesnakes may also be encountered at Cookson WMA and much of the eastern half of Oklahoma.
“A lot of people, especially if they’re scouting for deer hunting, they’re going to be looking 30 or 50 yards out for habitat and topographical features. Just go slow enough that you have time to also look where you’re walking.
“A lot of our hunters are pretty savvy about snake safety though – I see a lot of people throwing on snake boots or wearing snake gaiters.”
If a copperhead or other snake is encountered, Allen recommends backing several feet away and enjoying the view.
“Snap some pictures and then be sure to give it a wide girth as you go around.”
Snakebites: By the Numbers
Each year, thousands of snakebites are reported to America’s Poison Centers. Most cases are reported in adults with the stated reason as “unintentional.” Last year, the Oklahoma Poison Center reported 363 snakebite cases, of which 210 were identified to snake species. One hundred sixty (76%) of those cases were attributed to copperheads, 38 (18%) to a species of rattlesnake, and 12 (5.7%) were said to be from cottonmouths.
To Wary Rattlesnakes ...
More than 300 miles west of Allen, forested habitats have been traded for grasslands and the snake community has shifted with the drying landscape. Ron Smith and Scotty Webb, a regional wildlife supervisor and wildlife technician for the Wildlife Department, have lived and worked at and around Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area for nearly 30 and 40 years, respectively, and are prepared for snake encounters – especially of the rattlesnake variety – in any given month.
“Scotty and I have found snakes throughout the year,” Smith said. “We even saw several large snakes a few days after this year’s cold snap when we had multiple days and nights of below freezing and single-digit temperatures.”
More than 20 species of snake have been documented in the WMA’s vicinity, including three rattlesnakes: the western diamond-backed rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake, and western massasauga.
The western diamond-backed rattlesnake is one of the state’s largest snakes, and can be found in pockets in eastern, south-central, southwestern, and northwestern Oklahoma.
“They’re on the hunt for small rodents and anything that offers dense cover at the ground level.
“In the summertime, cooler, shaded areas are popular with snakes. People with gardens really have to be on their toes out here. In the cooler months, rattlesnakes are typically on warmer, south-facing slopes, and tend to stay closer to den sites.”
Snake Venom 101
Venom is about 90% water and contains a blend of enzymes and proteins. The types and amounts of these enzymes and proteins vary among species and can cause different reactions when dispensed. For example, prairie rattlesnake venom contains myotoxins, which attack skeletal muscles and may lead to sustained muscle contractions. Cottonmouth venom is said to be hemotoxic and destroys red blood cells, capillaries, and tissues. Neurotoxins, found in a variety of snake venom, cause pain, a “pins-and-needles” feeling, or even paralysis.
In general, the severity of envenomation is greatest in rattlesnakes and is less severe, relatively, in copperheads and then in cottonmouths.
When meeting WMA visitors, Smith and Webb caution that snakes could be anywhere – especially where rabbits and rodents like pack rats may have burrows or nests. Brushy and rocky areas are prime habitat for both predator and prey and are abundant on the WMA.
“We tell everyone to keep one eye on the ground and watch where they’re stepping – not only for the snakes but for the terrain in general.
“And if they’re going to sit down and do any glassing or binocular work, they really need to pay attention before they sit down. That’s not something people are used to doing; most don’t look in a 5-foot circle around them for snakes before settling in, but it’s a good thing to do.”
Sandy Sanders WMA offers long-distance views that are great for scouting hunters and other recreationists. But visitors shouldn’t forget to look for snakes in their immediate surroundings.
Fall hunting seasons are a busy time for WMAs across the state, and Smith cautions they are also busy times for snakes.
“To me, that September through October timeframe is the most hazardous time in our area. Snakes are getting ready to go back to the den. And they’ve also just had a bunch of little snakes. They’re getting closer to the houses and barns where you don’t see them so much through the midsummer. It can certainly be a risky time for anyone dove hunting or even picking plums on private property.”
The western massasauga is one of three rattlesnakes that have been documented at Sandy Sanders WMA.
If a rattlesnake is encountered, Smith and Webb recommend slowly backing away to give the animal a cushion while looking – and listening – for other snakes that may be in the area. Then watching to see what the snake will do.
“Knowing when to stand still and when to move quickly in the other direction all depends on how the snake is behaving,” Smith said. “Whether it is relaxed, expanded with tension, or in strike mode. Unfortunately, reading that behavior only comes with the experience of seeing hundreds of snakes react over a lifetime.
“Just give it enough room to see if it’s going to lay there or move. Let it go on about its business and then take a different course. Let it zig, and then you zag.”
Learn more about Oklahoma’s snakes in the Wildlife Department’s “A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Amphibians and Reptiles.” Tips for identification, a map of the Oklahoma range and information about the diet and preferred habitats are provided for the 49 species found in our state. The book’s spiral binding makes it easy to flip through and make comparisons of different species when identifying animals at home or in the field. Copies are available at GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com.
Regulations for Oklahoma’s reptiles and amphibians, as well as license requirements and area-specific rules for Wildlife Management Areas may be found in Oklahoma’s Fishing and Hunting Guide.