Creatures that crawl and slither give us the heebie-jeebies. We tend to assume anything with scales or eight legs is deadly. Yet most snakes, spiders and scorpions are mere nuisances, not reasons for terror. Very few of these creatures pose a real danger, so if we learn to identify the bad guys, we can take the rest in stride. Here’s our guide to spotting venomous snakes, spiders and scorpions.
Educate yourself on venomous creatures
There are many species of snakes, spiders and scorpions in the U.S., so you’re bound to see some around your house. Only a small handful of snakes are venomous. Only two spiders are dangerously venomous, and though all scorpions are venomous, only one can be life-threatening, and it lives in a limited geographic area.
It’s important to note that some people have allergic reactions to stings and bites from normally non-lethal creatures. So if you experience shortness of breath or other allergic symptoms after a sting or bite, seek immediate medical attention.
Here are the only North American species you should worry about.
Snakes
Some 100 species of snakes live in the U.S., but only four are venomous: rattlesnakes, water moccasins, copperheads and coral snakes. There are subspecies of each type but all have distinct identifying characteristics, so you can easily tell them apart from harmless varieties.
Rattlesnakes are easy to identify because of the rattle on their tails, which they always keep pointed up off the ground. Several types of rattlesnakes across many states have various patched or striped brown markings. One harmless snake often confused with rattlers is the rat snake. The presence of the rattle is the key. No rattle, no problem.
Water moccasins stay very close to creeks, rivers and streams across the southern U.S. The water moccasin has a distinctive wedge-shaped head and thick body. When it feels threatened, it will open its mouth wide, revealing a white interior. This is why it’s nicknamed “cottonmouth.”
Copperheads have distinct copper-colored, saddle-shaped bands (some say the marks look like Hershey’s kisses) and wedge-shaped heads. Like rattlesnakes, they are sometimes confused with rat snakes. Copperheads live across most southern states.
Coral snakes can be identified by their yellow and red bands, which touch each other. The old adage to identify a coral snake is: “Red touch yellow, kill a fellow. Red touch black, friend of Jack.” Coral snakes also live across the southern states.
Spiders
Only two of 3,500 species of North American spiders are dangerous to humans.
The brown recluse spider is straw-colored with long spindly legs. It has a brown violin-shaped marking on its back, giving it the nickname “fiddleback spider.” Recluse spiders prefer dark, out-of-sight spaces and lurk in recessed areas and under stacked lumber or debris. They are found in many states.
Black widow spiders are jet black and have long spindly legs and a bulbous abdomen with a distinct red hourglass-shaped marking. In some subspecies, this marking is on the spider’s back.
Scorpions
Of the 70 species of scorpions in the U.S., only the bark scorpion in the Arizona desert is potentially deadly.
Creepy, venomous crawlies begone!
Regular pest control management deters spiders and scorpions from entering your home. To eliminate their hiding places, remove clutter from garages, closets and storage sheds. If your area is prone to scorpions or recluse spiders, store shoes off the floor and shake them before putting them on your feet. Keep firewood stored away from the house.
To avoid dangerous pests, know where you are putting your hands. People typically are bitten or stung when they reach into dark places they cannot see or ground foliage in a vegetable garden.
Related – Slithers and Shivers! Removing a Snake From Your House
