{"id":9858,"date":"2017-10-02T09:55:41","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T13:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=9858"},"modified":"2017-10-02T09:52:35","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T13:52:35","slug":"take-5-sublime-snakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-sublime-snakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Sublime Snakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Snakes tend to get a bad rap, but they\u2019re actually fascinating creatures that can help control pests like rodents and slugs thanks to their carnivorous diet. Plus, the vast majority of snakes that you\u2019ll find in the Northeast<\/a> are not dangerous.<\/p>\n

In fact, of the 14 snake species found in Massachusetts, only two are venomous\u2014the northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake\u2014both of which are extremely rare (endangered, in fact) and they tend to avoid suburban and urban areas. Snakes prefer to avoid people, and will generally only bite when they are picked up, stepped on, or otherwise provoked. Fortunately, snakes do not carry diseases that are transmissible to humans.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, snakes never stop growing, and every now and then, they must shed the skin that they\u2019ve outgrown. Sometimes you can find these papery, scaly skins left behind on the trail\u2014keep an eye out on your next hike!<\/p>\n

Below are five photos of snakes that you might see in Massachusetts, submitted to our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest. Learn about all the native snake species<\/a> on our website.<\/p>\n

\"Eastern

Eastern hognose snake \u00a9 Dominic Casserly<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Northern

Northern water snake \u00a9 Brenda Bradley<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Common

Common garter snakes \u00a9 Michael Onyon<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Smooth

Smooth green snake \u00a9 Patrick Randall<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Eastern

Eastern hognose snake \u00a9 Patrick Randall<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Snakes tend to get a bad rap, but they\u2019re actually fascinating creatures that can help control pests like rodents and slugs thanks to their carnivorous diet. Plus, the vast majority of snakes that you\u2019ll find in the Northeast are not dangerous. In fact, of the 14 snake species found in Massachusetts, only two are venomous\u2014the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":9881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[83,84,187,156],"class_list":["post-9858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography","tag-reptiles","tag-snakes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/1678MichaelOnyon5814_fi.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2z0","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3743,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/four-reasons-to-appreciate-snakes\/","url_meta":{"origin":9858,"position":0},"title":"Four Reasons to Appreciate Snakes","author":"Rosemary","date":"July 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The 14 species of snakes in Massachusetts don't get enough love and appreciation. So, in honor of World Snake Day on July 16, we thought we'd share just a few\u00a0reasons that we should celebrate their presence. 1. Snakes eat garden pests Consider yourself lucky if you have DeKay\u2019s brownsnakes in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/07\/hognose-500w.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17078,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/how-to-tell-a-garter-from-a-ribbon-snake\/","url_meta":{"origin":9858,"position":1},"title":"How to Tell a Garter from a Ribbon Snake","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"September 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Sitting on a rock in the hot sun is a yellow-striped snake soaking in the sun. With only a glance before it slithers away, it\u2019s hard to determine what type of snake it was. The yellow lining is a feature on both Eastern Garter Snakes and Eastern Ribbon Snakes. So\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/ribbon-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/ribbon-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/ribbon-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/ribbon-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14203,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-gutsy-garter-snakes\/","url_meta":{"origin":9858,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Gutsy Garter Snakes","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The most widespread of all snake species in Massachusetts, the Eastern Garter Snake can frequently be spotted out sunning itself on rocks and logs in sunny forest clearings, grassy meadows, backyards, and in freshwater habitats. While garter snakes are basically harmless, they may release an unpleasant-smelling secretion when they are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Garter Snake \u00a9 Larry Manning","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1956Larry_Manning14097.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1956Larry_Manning14097.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1956Larry_Manning14097.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1956Larry_Manning14097.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11263,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-garter-snakes\/","url_meta":{"origin":9858,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Garter Snakes","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), one of the most commonly seen snakes in Massachusetts,\u00a0is also the official state reptile. They sport long, yellow stripes down the length of their\u00a0bodies, which are typically green, brown, or even black, and average about 20-22\" in length, but can grow up to 54\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Common Garter Snake \u00a9 Catherine Luce","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/344CatherineLuce1099_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/344CatherineLuce1099_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/344CatherineLuce1099_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13050,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-snake-my-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":9858,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Snake My Day","author":"Ryan D.","date":"September 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"We've given snakes some love on this blog before, but they're just so cool it seemed like time for a redux. This time of year, as young people everywhere are heading back to school or leaving home for college, the young of many species of snakes are also setting out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Milk Snake (juvenile) \u00a9 Ashley Gibbs","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/3483Ashley_Gibbs25071.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/3483Ashley_Gibbs25071.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/3483Ashley_Gibbs25071.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/3483Ashley_Gibbs25071.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13209,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-dont-get-cheeky-with-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":9858,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Don’t Get Cheeky With Me","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The industrious Eastern Chipmunk spends its days, especially this time of year as the weather is getting colder, gathering and storing food in their burrows, which will sustain them during the winter.\u00a0 Seeds, berries, nuts, and fruit are the mainstay of the chipmunk's diet, but they also eat insects, insect\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Chipmunk \u00a9 Susumu Kishihara","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/10\/161SusumuKishihara5211.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/10\/161SusumuKishihara5211.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/10\/161SusumuKishihara5211.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/10\/161SusumuKishihara5211.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9858"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9882,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9858\/revisions\/9882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}