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People who regularly work and play in the outdoors know that encounters with snakes are rare
and the majority are non-venomous.
Not everyone will love snakes, but people can learn to tolerate them, and better enjoy the outdoors.
Here are the facts: Snakes eat many rodents and other animals
and themselves serve as a food source for wildlife such as game fish, hawks, owls, mink, skunks, and herons.
About half of our snakes lay eggs; the other half give birth to completely developed young.
Snakes usually hatch in late summer or early fall.
All snakes can swim.
Harmless kingsnakes are immune to the venom of our venomous snakes
and will kill and consume them if given the opportunity.
Few people in Missouri suffer venomous snakebites.
Most bites occur when persons are trying to kill or handle the snakes.
Although venomous snakes have a somewhat triangle-shaped head,
several harmless species can and do flatten their heads and cause them to appear triangular in shape.
Consequently, this characteristic is not reliable for distinguishing venomous snakes from harmless one.
Harmless snakes have round pupils.
Harmless snakes have round pupils.
The most common venomous snake in Missouri is the copperhead.