By Hayley Kappes
The Daily News
LEAGUE CITY — Karla Williams is accustomed to spotting the occasional grass snake in her yard.
But lately, the League City resident has noticed an increase of serpents, some more troublesome than grass snakes, on the property.
Williams’ yard worker during the weekend found seven snakes, including a 5-foot-long water moccasin while he was mowing near a small pond in the backyard off Butler Road.
The gardener shot the snake.
“We have killed other snakes on our property, but never this many in one weekend,” Williams said. “If we see a snake once a month, that’s a big deal. The only other time we’ve had problems with snakes was 12 years ago and it was during a drought.”
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists said poisonous snakes are awakening from hibernation this time of year and could end up in suburban yards that have water sources.
“From late February through April, there seems to be a lot more snake movement in general,” Keith Crenshaw, a wildlife biologist with the state parks and wildlife department, said.
“It’s the changing of the seasons. They’ve been dormant, and they can go months without eating. It’s starting to warm up, and they need to go eat something.”
Residential sprinkler systems or pools might attract water moccasins, a name that refers to several types of dark-colored semiaquatic snakes, including cottonmouths and copperheads, Crenshaw said.
Coral snakes, cottonmouths and copperheads are the most venomous snakes in the region, but don’t bite unless harassed, he said.
Cottonmouths appear plump even when the animals haven’t recently eaten and have a prominent black stripe that extends from the nose to the eyes, Crenshaw said.
Animal control officers refer poisonous snake cases to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden for removal from a residential yard, League City Animal Control Superintendent Laural Powell said.
Snake-A-Way, a dry mixture sprinkled around yards, deters snakes by smell, but humid conditions in the area require more frequent applications, Crenshaw said.
“We suggest if you do yard work, wear gloves and don’t stick your hand anywhere you can’t see what you’re reaching for,” he said.
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It's true, the changing of the season brings in more wildlife to Clear Lake, Texas and the surrounding areas. We love the nature all around us, but residents and visitors should be extremely cautious of snakes. Some are harmless. However, it is still wise to be cautious need grassy areas. Our hospital is open 24/7 in case there is an emergency with snakes or other wildlife. Thank you for sharing this valuable info about Clear Lake, Texas.
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