Are snakes more active after rain? Why Central Texas may have more sightings this weekend

Yahoo

7 days ago

It's not just the rain. While it may seem like snakes suddenly appear during and after wet weather, the connection isn't as ssssimple as 'rain equals more snakes.'
In Central Texas, more sightings are possible this weekend following several rounds of severe storms, but rain itself isn't the main reason for that. May is already an active month for cold-blooded creatures, as many reptiles emerge from winter brumation — a hibernation-like state — to begin mating.
But the recent rain could have some influence this weekend.
Remember, you're more likely to get bitten while attempting to kill a snake than if you simply leave it alone. In fact, you're five times as likely to die from a lightning strike as from a venomous snake bite — lightning strikes result in an average of 28 deaths annually, while venomous snake bites cause about five deaths, despite there being 7,000 to 8,000 bites each year.
What to do for a venomous snake bite: Texas is home to 4 venomous snake species
It's a common belief that snakes come out more after rain, but there's no clear-cut pattern — different species have varied habitats and prefer different conditions.
The Raleigh News & Observer explored this topic after a significant spring downpour a few years ago, focusing on copperheads and their post-rain behavior. They are one of four venomous species in Texas.
Jeff Beane, herpetology collection manager at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, told the Observer in 2022 that copperheads adjust their activity based on the weather. In hot conditions, they tend to be nocturnal, active at night; in cooler weather, they shift to being diurnal, active during the day. So if copperhead sightings spike, it may simply be because they're active when people are more likely to notice them.
Beane also noted that copperheads often emerge when temperatures rise following a stretch of cooler weather.
'A warm, sunny day after a long period of unseasonably cool, rainy weather might bring them out during the day because it could be their first chance to bask in the sun in a while,' Beane said. 'A relatively cool, sunny, or partly cloudy day is a good time to see a copperhead basking in an area exposed — or partially exposed — to the sun.'
For other snake species, the answer is similarly nuanced.
Sightings may increase after rain, not because the weather directly draws them out, but because flooding forces them to leave their dens or shelters in search of higher, drier ground. Sometimes, this means ending up near — or even inside — homes.
At the same time, food sources like toads, frogs and other amphibians become more active in wet conditions, giving snakes more reason to move around.
The days immediately following a storm can also bring a spike in sightings because snakes are eager to bask in the sun after cooler, damp weather. Some may also be mid-shed — and lingering moisture on damp grass and leaves helps to soften old skin and make it easier to slough off — while the humid environment helps reptiles stay hydrated.
This reflects a broader trend in which reptiles exhibit increased activity during wet years compared to dry years.
According to the San Diego Zoo, during dry weather and drought, reptiles 'often become inactive, staying deep underground where it is cool and moist.'
This behavior not only helps snakes regulate their body temperature and maintain hydration, but it also coincides with many small mammals and other prey staying hidden underground during droughts, often causing their populations to decline. As a result, snakes remain underground to conserve both energy and water until conditions improve, since food is not guaranteed.
'In years of heavier rains, snakes are often more active than in dry years, staying closer to the surface where they can easily find food and mates while maintaining their water balance,' the San Diego Zoo notes.
So, it's likely that snake sightings will increase over the next few days, especially in areas recently hit by heavy rain. But regardless of the storms, sightings tend to rise naturally at this time of year.
Although there are more than 100 snake species and subspecies in Texas, there are only four groups of venomous snakes. If you can safely identify them, you have a better chance of avoiding bites.
Copperheads have light-colored bodies with reddish-brown circular bands. They tend to live in rocky areas and wooded bottomlands that have ample moisture. They grow to be about 2 feet long, and their bites don't normally kill humans because of their short fangs and minimal venom. There are three subspecies of copperheads in Texas, and their patterns vary.
Coral snakes have red, yellow and black rings around their bodies. They grow to about 2½ feet and live in woodlands and canyons. Their bites deliver one of the most lethal types of venom in North America. However, their behavior is typically more elusive, and unlike pit vipers, they will often retreat from any signs of danger rather than confront any potential threats.
Cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins because they tend to live in swamps, lakes and rivers, are usually dark brown, olive green or black, with wide, dark bands along their bodies. They grow to about 3½ feet long. If threatened, cottonmouths will display white tissue inside their mouths, from which they get their name.
Rattlesnakes come in various forms. The most common throughout the state is the western diamondback rattlesnake, which has a brown body with dark brown, diamond-shaped markings down the middle of its back and black and white alternating rings near its rattles. They grow to about 4 feet in length, but they can reach 7 feet.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Are Texas snakes more active after storms? More sightings are possible