Venomous Snakes

Venomous means poisonous! Take 5 giant steps back when you see a snake; then run and tell a grown-up. Snakes are only 1 inch tall, and they’re scared of you! Most snakes are not venomous, but a few are. If you get bitten by a snake, wash the bite well; remember what the snake looks like; and get a grown-up to take you to the doctor.

What is a snake? A snake is a reptile without legs. A reptile usually has scales, lays eggs, breathes air, and doesn’t spend much time taking care of its babies. It is also cold-blooded, which means that its body doesn’t stay the same temperature all the time. (Our bodies stay at 98.6 F all day.) Snakes get very cold on winter days and very hot in the summer. Because of this, snakes usually stay in burrows during very hot and cold weather. A burrow is a hole in the ground where they can live.

What do snakes eat? All snakes are carnivores (car-ni-vorz) or meat-eaters. There are no snakes that can eat people in Florida. Small snakes eat bugs and frogs. Larger ones eat fish, birds, mice, and rabbits. They use sharp teeth and strong muscles to catch the prey. If the prey animal is bigger than the snake’s mouth, the snake can dislocate (unhinge) its bottom jaw to fit the big animal in.

What about venom? Venom is a poison the snake puts into its prey through its fangs (teeth). This either kills the prey animal or makes it so the prey can’t move. Once venom gets into the prey, it is easy for the snake to eat it. The snakes on this page DO HAVE VENOM. Some venomous snakes have bright colors or patterns which can warn us. Rattlesnakes have rattles to scare away animals or people that might hurt them