LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Warmer temperatures may bring many more Arkansans outdoors, but it also awakens many reptiles, especially snakes.
According to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesman Trey Reid, out of the 39 species of snakes native to Arkansas, six of those are venomous— one of which is the copperhead.
Reid said if you see any snake, especially if you're not good at identifying snakes at a distance and aren't familiar with their markings, just leave it alone. Avoiding it is his number one piece of advice, and he added that most bites come from either stepping on snakes or agitating them.
“It is illegal in Arkansas to kill a snake. Unless you are you know, threatened and in danger or your pet is threatened or in danger or your property. You cannot kill a snake or really any animal for which we don't have a hunting season," Reid explained.
Reid said that while many people fear snakes, it's possible that fear is sometimes irrational— because they're just as afraid of you as you are of them.
Reid also added that snakes were here long before we were.
"They have a place and they play an important place in the ecosystem. They get rid of, you know, pests like mice and rats that can carry diseases and they also provide a food source for other animals in the food chain. You know, hawks, eagles, large raptors like owls as well as some other small animals that can feed on snakes," Reid described.
He added that copperheads specifically are making strides in the medical field.
“Not only are snakes important for our ecosystem, they've been really important in a lot of medical research on medicines for heart disease for blood pressure," Reid said. "Recently they've been looking at copperhead venom specifically as a treatment for some breast cancers.”
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to relocate a snake, Reid highly recommends contacting a professional who is well-versed in handling and identifying them.