Snakes Common to Houston

Snakes Common to Houston. The natural areas in the city of Houston and surrounding Harris County offer homes for a wide range of wildlife, including several snake species. Some of the species are considered dangerous and are best avoided. Several of the harmless species mimic the potentially deadly ones, so recognizing species in the area is important.

Western Cottonmouth and Harmless Mimics

The western cottonmouth is found in a number of habitats in Harris County and is often near water such as lakes, streams and rivers. Three other common snakes in the county resemble the cottonmouth and are also mostly found in wetland habitats, which can cause confusion. The yellow-bellied, diamond-backed and blotched water snakes are often darkly colored like the cottonmouth. However, none of the three has the white markings inside the mouth or the bandit-mask marking around the eyes that the cottonmouth has.

Texas Coral Snake and Louisiana Milk Snake

The Texas coral snake and Louisiana milk snake both have a black-and-red-banded pattern separated by thinner, cream-to-yellowish bands. The coral snake is highly venomous and is distinguished by the red markings touching the yellow bands. In the milk snake, only the black bands touch the yellow stripes. Both species are common in Harris County.

Southern Copperhead

The southern copperhead is one of the most common venomous snakes in Harris County. It has gray-brown body coloration with darker cross-bands and a reddish head. Its venom is weaker than the other dangerous species.

Texas Rat Snake

The Texas rat snake is the largest snake in the county, growing to more than 7 feet in length. It is an adaptable species which lives in a variety of habitats and is even found under residential houses or in attics.

Broad-Banded Water Snake

The broad-banded water snake is a common species seen near ponds and bogs. It is the smallest of the four local water snakes and has a tan body color with large dark blotches along the length of its back.

Texas Brown Snake

The Texas brown snake is a common sight in the backyards of Harris County. It is a small snake that does not grow much more than a foot in length and has a slender body. It is sometimes mistaken for a juvenile copperhead snake.

References

• School of Biological Sciences: Vertebrate Natural History
• Harris County Precinct 4: Amphibians and Reptiles
• City-Data: Houston, Texas