Day Late and a Dollar Short

For what? you may be asking. The answer: World Snake Day! That's the word from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the email I received from them yesterday, which noted that July 16, 2020, marked the official date of celebration.

Can't say I've ever celebrated this event to date, or that I will in the future either. You see, snakes and I, in general, have an agreement: I won't bother them if they don't bother me. And the more "social distancing" there is between us, the better.

In keeping with the premise of this annual celebration, though, "to raise awareness of the nearly 3,500 species of snakes that inhabit our planet," the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources chose to feature what many folks consider to be "America's snake," the timber rattlesnake. Incidentally, did you know this snake nearly became our national symbol?

Native only to the eastern United States, no other animal better represents America's colonial history than the timber rattlesnake--the department's words, not mine. Its image has been used as a symbol of the American colonies, beginning with the French and Indian War (Join, or Die) and lasting to the end of the American Revolution. It has been featured on the first Navy jack and Gadsden (Don't Tread on Me) flags, and in 1775, Benjamin Franklin was so enamored with the rattlesnake that he wrote about why he believed it was the ideal image for the colonies.

"She [rattlesnake] never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders. She is, therefore, an emblem of magnanimity and true courage," Franklin wrote.

The timber rattlesnake is found primarily in the mountains of western Virginia and extreme southeastern Virginia, where it is commonly referred to as the canebrake rattlesnake. Like all snakes, they play a critical role in ecosystem health as both predator and prey. As a predator, they consume a wide range of rodents, which inadvertently can remove up to 2,500 ticks annually from the wild. This is great news, considering the ever increasing problem of Lyme disease throughout the northeast.

Unfortunately, timber rattlesnake populations are in decline as a result of habitat loss, road mortality, illegal collection for the pet trade, and human persecution. If you're "lucky enough" (really...are you kidding me?) to encounter one of these magnificent creatures, practice social distancing (no sh**, Sherlock!) and just leave them alone. As Benjamin Franklin noted 225 years ago, rattlesnakes are not aggressive unless provoked (so what if they just don't like your looks?).

If you're interested in learning more about the different snakes you may come across in the Commonwealth, you might consider getting a copy of the Guide to the Snakes and Lizards in Virginia.

The 2nd Edition of this 72-page field guide includes more than 170 photos covering the ecology, distribution and conservation of Virginia's 32 species of snakes and nine species of lizards. It is an expanded version of the current snake guide, with more technical information and new photos. The price is $16.95.