S. Bischof 2018 Fact or Myth? Fact or Myth? Snakes have been known to A snake must coil before it chase people. can strike. Copperhead Fact or Myth? Fact or Myth? Rattlesnakes always add one Sprinkling sulfur or other store rattle a year. bought chemicals will keep snakes out of your yard. Timber Rattlesnake tail S. Bischof 2018 MYTH! MYTH! There are many old stories Snakes can bite or strike from about being chased by any position. Coiling does snakes. But scientists who increase the distance that a study reptiles don’t have this snake can strike but seeing a experience—they find that coiled snake doesn’t mean it’s snakes are always trying to ready to strike. Snakes are escape. A snake has nothing often coiled up because it’s a to gain by chasing a person. It safer body position. Being obviously cannot eat a person stretched out leaves them and would actually be putting more vulnerable to predators. itself in more danger. MYTH! MYTH! There is no evidence to A rattlesnake adds one rattle suggest that these chemicals every time it sheds its skin. deter snakes. However, if you Snakes may shed several remove snake habitat and times in the course of a year, food from your yard, they each time adding a new rattle. won’t be willing to stay. Also, sometimes rattles may Remove brush piles, logs, break off. Counting rattles and leaflitter; keep bushes usually isn’t an accurate way trimmed back and grass cut to guess age. short. Keep mice out of stored birdseed or grain. S. Bischof 2018 Fact or Myth? Fact or Myth? All watersnakes are Kingsnakes will eat other venomous. snakes. Northern Watersnake Eastern Kingsnake Fact or Myth? Fact or Myth? Venomous snakes will breed Some snakes will play dead with non-venomous snakes to when frightened. create new dangerous snakes. Eastern Hognose Snake S. Bischof 2018 FACT! MYTH! Eastern kingsnakes are Cottonmouths are the only known to eat rodents, frogs, venomous semi-aquatic snake in lizards, small turtles, and NC. All true water snakes (4 snakes; including venomous species in NC) and other aquatic species like rattlesnakes and snake species are non- venomous. copperheads. There are actually quite a few species of snakes that will eat other snakes. Cottonmouth FACT! MYTH! Hognose snakes are known for Although it is sometimes their dramatic displays when possible for similar species to frightened. They will hiss loudly interbreed, such events are and spread their neck like extremely rare. The young cobras. They rarely bite but resulting from such an event may strike repeatedly. If the are usually unable to threat continues, they will feign death by opening its mouth, breed. There is no rolling on its back, and writhing documented account of a around. If turned onto its belly, venomous snake species it will flip over again onto its interbreeding with a non- back. venomous species. S. Bischof 2018 Fact or Myth? Fact or Myth? In the U. S., you are more I have a pet snake that I can’t likely to be struck by lightning keep any more; it will be fine than to die from a snakebite. to let it go in a natural place. Timber Rattlesnake Fact or Myth? Fact or Myth? Snakes are slimy. Snakes can hypnotize birds and other prey. Eastern Garter Snake skin S. Bischof 2018 MYTH! FACT! Snakes are shy animals that Never release ANY pet into prefer to be left alone. The the wild. It’s not good for the majority of snakebites occur animal or our environment. when a person tries to handle Instead, try returning it to the or harm a snake. A bite can be pet store, finding a new pet easily avoided if we learn to owner, or contact your local keep a respectful distance, wildlife agency, animal watch where we step and put control, or reptile rescue our hands while outdoors, and group. For more info: learn to identify local snakes. *Annual fatality data is available from NOAA http://separc.org/products/#/unwanted-pets/ (lightning strikes) and the CDC (snakebites) MYTH! MYTH! Snakes have no eyelids and Snakeskin is covered in they never blink but they don’t scales from the same material have any type of hypnotic as our fingernails. Some powers. Some species may snakes have very smooth, move their head from side to shiny skin that could look side to gain depth perception slimy but they don’t actually while hunting. Maybe that is produce slime. where this myth got started. .