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	Snakes of New Hampshire

Often it seems that the benefits a creature provides for humans are in inverse proportion to that creature's appeal. For many of us, snakes are the personification of this thought and the mere sight of one may cause an almost instinctive sense of fear and revulsion. Yet snakes are one of our strongest allies in the struggle against insect and animal pests. The smaller snakes live almost exclusively on insects and the others control the rodent population not only protecting crops and stored food but safeguarding us from the diseases they carry. Although there are poisonous snakes these, too, are useful to humans. Scientific research today is looking at snake venom for the cure or prevention of a number of diseases.

The virtues of snakes, like the virtues of spiders, may not change the way some people feel about them, but an understanding of their lives and the role they play may help us to take a more tolerant view and overcome any impulse to harm them. It is good to keep in mind that reptiles have been on this planet longer than we have and for endurance alone deserve our respect. It is also helpful to remember that snakes usually find people just as horrifying as many people find snakes.

Here in New Hampshire we are fortunate to have a number snakes as our quiet and inconspicuous neighbors. For those who manage to see one and wonder what kind it is, the following information will be helpful.

Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

This is the most common snake in New Hampshire and the most widely distributed snake in all of North America. While its most recognizable feature is the yellowish stripes down its back and sides, garter snakes also have small markings on the sides of their bellies. Their diet consists largely of earthworms but they also eat insects, rodents, and other small animals. They mate soon after leaving hibernation in March or April and the female gives birth to 7 to 85 live young in August or September. The babies are about 8 inches long and reach maturity in two years.
Often confused with: Eastern Ribbon Snake.

Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)

This snake looks like a very thin Garter Snake with bright yellow stripes and no markings on the belly. There is one other difference that might prove difficult to detect. The length of a snake's body is covered with scales of various colors with a definite distinction between the color of the belly and the color of the back The stripes on a Ribbon Snake are found two scale rows up from the belly scales and on the Garter Snake the stripes begin only one scale row up. The tail section of the Ribbon Snake is longer than that of a Garter Snake but this, too, might be difficult to see on a fast-moving creature. The diet of the Ribbon Snake consists of frogs, salamanders, plus an occasional fish or rodent. The females give birth to 3 to 20 live young in August or September and sexual maturity is achieved at two years of age. Ribbon Snakes are not as widely distributed as the Garter Snake and are usually found close to water.
Often confused with: Common Garter Snake.

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

This truly aquatic snake is found near, and often in, water. It is large and thick and, when young, has bronze cross bands on a paler body which makes it look similar to the Milk Snake. These snakes get darker as they age and eventually look all black. Their main diet is fish but they are known to take other aquatic animals as well. They mate in May and June and the females give birth to live young in August or September with large females producing as many as 60 young. The males become sexually active at two years of age and the females at three. Water Snakes are not poisonous but defend themselves aggressively if handled often by biting. Such bites tend to bleed profusely because of the presence of an anticoagulant in the snakes' saliva but, again, this is not a poisonous snake. Unfortunately, Water Snakes are sometimes confused with so-called water moccasins, a poisonous snake that does not occur in New Hampshire.
Often confused with: Water moccasin (cottonmouth) - not found in New Hampshire.

Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculatga)

Snakes are not noted for their eagerness to deal with the human race but some are more secretive than others. One of these is the Redbelly Snake. Growing only 16 inches long, these snakes are well-distributed in New Hampshire but not often seen. They have bright red bellies, three light spots on the neck and four thin brown lines running down their backs. They feed mainly on slugs and snails and have developed relatively long, thin teeth that allow them to swist snails out of their shells. They also eat earthworms and small animals. One to 14 live young are born in August or September and sexual maturity is achieved at two years of age. The Redbelly Snake is closely related to the Brown Snake.

Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

This is another secretive snake that is usually found in the southern portion of the state. These snakes are never larger than 20 inches and are rather dull looking with two rows of small dark dots running down their backs and a dark vertical streak on the sides of their heads. When young they may have a light collar which causes them to be mistaken for Ringneck or Redbelly Snakes but these have bright yellow and red bellies respectively and the belly of the Brown Snake is very pale. Like the Redbelly Snake, Brown Snakes dine on slugs and earthworms and have teeth and jaws that are adapted for twisting snails out of their shells. They give birth to 3 to 27 live young in July or August and two years are required to reach sexual maturity.

Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

This small and slender species is, like the Brown and Redbelly, also quite secretive. Usually smaller than two-feet, the Ringneck is black, gray, or brown with a gold collar and a yellow belly. They prefer wooded areas with lots of cover in the form of logs and rocks and their diet consists of anything they can catch including salamanders, frogs, smaller snakes, earthworms and insects. The females lay 1 to 10 eggs in June or July and many females may share the same cavity for egg-laying. Some females keep the eggs in their bodies until they hatch. Otherwise, from egg to hatching takes eight weeks. It takes one year for them to reach sexual maturity.

Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)

The Green Snake appears to be declining in New Hampshire. Matching its color, this snake prefers grassy areas and was once found throughout the State. The adults are bright green with a white or pale yellow baby. Young Green Snakes tend to be an olive or blue-gray color. They are seldom bigger than two feet and feed mainly on insects, occasionally taking salamanders, spiders, and snails. In July or August 3 to 12 eggs are laid in underground cavities that are often used by more than one female and the young hatch in 3 to 23 days. It is two years to sexual maturity. Green Snakes often hibernate in communal groups. Although reforestation and housing developments have both contributed to a loss of habitat, housing developments also bring with them frequent mowing and the use of pesticides all of which have affected the population.

Racer (Coluber constrictor)

Another snake that is of concern in the State is the Racer. Growing as long as six feet the Racer is a black snake with a gray belly and a very pointed tail tip. The young have brown or brownish-red splotches down their backs and are sometimes confused with Milk Snakes although other characteristics are quite different (see below). The way Racers glide gives them a look of great speed, hence their name. They are excellent at climbing trees and often feed on birds and bird eggs as well as any other animal they are able to catch, including a great many rodents. In June or July the female lays 10 to 25 eggs in leaf litter or under a rotting log. Foot-long young hatch out in late summer or fall. They need two to three years to reach sexual maturity.

Milk Snake (Lampopeltis triangulum)

People should count themselves fortunate if they find a Milk Snake on their property. This snake is common in southern New Hampshire. It is quite beautiful with reddish-brown splotches down its back, a black-and-white checkerboard pattern on its belly, and a light-colored V or Y in the patch on its neck. They were seen around barns so often that it was thought they were stealing milk from the cows and farmers often killed them. Their attraction to barns, however, came from the high number of rodents that were found in them and rodents are their favorite food. They are also capable of eating birds and other snakes, including Timber Rattlesnakes. The Milk Snake is the only New Hampshire snake that kills by constricting, coiling around their prey and tightening the coil every time their victim breathes out. In June or July females lay 3 to 20 eggs and the young hatch in August or September. Sexual maturity is reached in about three years. When approached and frightened, Milk Snakes vibrate their tails rapidly and produce a buzzing sound which often gets them confused with Rattlesnakes. Their color and patterns are similar to those of the copperheads, a poisonous snake that does not live in New Hampshire. Many are unnecessarily killed for these reasons.
Often confused with: Copperhead - not found in New Hampshire; behavior of rattlesnake - tail vibrating.

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon latirhinos)

This is another beautiful and fascinating snake of New Hampshire that is restricted to sandy soils and has a limited population. In fact, it is listed as threatened on the State List of Endangered Species. It is a very distinctive snake with a thick body and turned-up nose. They vary in color and go from all black to pale beige with dark blotches on its back. Hognose Snakes dine mostly on toads but will eat frogs and other animals on occasion. They have enlarged teeth in the back of their mouths which may deliver a mild venom to subdue and accelerate digestion of its prey. This does not represent a threat to people however, and the snakes are not inclined to bite. Something of a trickster, this snake goes into a complicated act when confronted, spreading its head into a hood, hissing and striking with a closed mouth. If this does not repel its attacker, the Hognose Snake turns into the opossum of the reptile world, writhing its body as though in pain and rolling over on its back with its tongue hanging out looking quite dead. This act is repeated every time it is rolled back onto its belly and doesn't fool anyone for very long. Females lay up to 60 eggs usually in July and the young hatch in August or September. Sexual maturity takes three years.
Often confused with: Behavior of cobra - not found in New Hampshire.

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

The rarest and most endangered snake in New Hampshire is the Timber Rattlesnake. There are probably more places in New Hampshire named after the Rattlesnake than there are Rattlesnakes themselves. As many other snakes are able to make a rattling sound by vibrating their tails against the ground, it is important to know the physical characteristics of a Rattlesnake in order to correctly identify it. There are two color forms of this snake but New Hampshire has only one. All adult Rattlesnakes in the State are black on top with yellowish bellies. The young are lighter in color with crossbands. All Rattlesnakes have a blunt tail with a button or an obvious rattle present. Non-venomous snakes have enlarged plates between their eyes but the Rattlesnake has scales just like those on its body. Rattlers also have a heat-sensing pit organ between their eyes and their nostrils which is used to find warm-blooded animals, its favorite prey. This is an identification mark that should be checked through binoculars only. In addition to being few in number here in New Hampshire, Rattlers have very low population growth rates. Females take eight or more years to mature, may reproduce only every third or fourth year, and produce only 5 to 14 snakes at a time. The young are born in late August or September which gives them little time to feed before hibernation. Many do not survive. According to the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, there is only one location left in New Hampshire known to have a population of rattlesnakes so it is likely that they will not survive here long. Anyone who thinks they know where there are Rattlesnakes should contact the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program at 271-2462.