why is it illegal to kill snakes in virginia

When a venomous snake is considered of great concern to human life and safety, it is always allowed. A special permit is required, and may be issued by the Department, if consistent with the Departments fish and wildlife management program, to import, possess, or sell the following non-native (exotic) amphibians, fish, mollusks, aquatic invertebrates, and reptiles: giant or marine toad, tongueless or African clawed frog, barred tiger salamander, gray tiger salamander, blotched tiger salamander, smallmouth buffalo, bigmouth buffalo, black buffalo, piranhas, Alabama bass, bighead carp, grass carp or white amur, red shiner, silver carp, black carp, rudd, tench, ruffe, snakeheads, air-breathing catfish, tilapia, swamp eel, tubenose goby, round goby, zebra mussel, New Zealand mudsnail, quagga mussel, rusty crayfish, Australian crayfish, marbled crayfish, Chinese mitten crab, alligators, caimans, brown tree snake, crocodiles, and gavials. HOMECOMING: A 40th Anniversary Celebration. Even venomous snakes would rather flee than bite. If you see one, keep your distance, call the kids and get good photos. But you can take a big step toward protecting yourself and your scaly neighbors if you familiarize yourself with just six. The lowland snakes are called canebrake rattlers. Snakes are not out there waiting to ambush you, said J.D. You may never see a venomous cottonmouth. Snagging for carp and suckers during April in Wolf and Big Walkers Creek in Giles County. These species are protected by law, and killing them can result in fines and other penalties. If you just see them and you just senselessly go out of your way to go deliberately kill them, yes thats illegal and youre going to be in trouble," Perry said. Depending on where you live, there are several species you are most likely to encounter. Certain types of snakes will even eat venomous snakes. Timber rattlesnakes are common only in the mountainous regions of western Virginia and a small area of extreme southeastern Virginia where they are known as canebrake rattlesnakes; they are a state endangered species. Theyre constrictors that like to eat rodents, birds, and lizards. To determine if the snake is venomous or not . New Research Uncovers the Mysterious Origins of Avian Nomenclature, Gopher Snakes: A Closer Look at These Fascinating Reptiles, Watch Passengers Discover a Snake on Their Plane. But keep in mind they do have some federally protected species here like the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake. Any unusual fish needs to be reported to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. If you've spotted a snake around Central Virginia and snapped a photo, add it to our gallery. Theyre called cottonmouths because of the characteristic white interior of their mouths which they show when threatened. Snakes | Virginia DWR Never kill a snake. The head of an eastern rat snake is wider than the neck and the rest of the body. In Virginia, it is illegal to harm or kill any native snake species without a valid permit from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. "Ive had many of them crawling close to the porch.". There is a variety of commercial snake repellents on the market, though the Center cannot confirm that they are effective and/or humane. This is the creature that delights some visitors, and freaks out others, when it swims by in places like Richmonds James River Park. There is one exception to the rule in the southeastern corner of the state. If you approach, they will often open wide, showing that white cotton mouth. The Virginia Herpetological Society provides a good comparison of cottonmouths and similar-but-harmless snakes. Dont keep a wild snake as a pet. (There are no rattlers in most of Virginia, including the Richmond area, according to the Virginia Herpetological Society, a conservation and educational group.).

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