I’m sure there are a lot of folks who are rejoicing that the warmer weather is starting to move back into Pennsylvania. Albeit there is still a chance that we could still get some cold temperatures and maybe even some more snow flurries, it won’t be long before the little green buds will start to show up.

Along with those little green tree buds showing up, however, there will also be a variety of long, slithering critters making their spring debut.

I suspect that most people are not at all excited about spotting any of the legless reptiles, especially around their homes, but it’s a pretty safe bet that one will show up sometime.

I’ll admit that I’m probably the opposite; ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with snakes, catching and keeping them in an old aquarium in the backyard. Years later, I even got into capturing and photographing rattlesnakes and copperheads.

Granted, the vast majority of snakes that we see are of the harmless variety. Two of the most common harmless snakes, and often the first to make their appearance in spring, are the Black Rat Snake and the Northern Black Racer.

Some other commonly sighted snakes are the Eastern Milk snake and the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake.

These snakes both have patterns that sometimes cause those unfamiliar with snakes to think they are some type of venomous snake. Because of its color and pattern, the harmless, common Northern Water snake is also often thought to be a venomous snake. Of course, the common Eastern Garter snake is also often seen crawling around in the yard or garden. There are several other common and harmless snakes roaming around in the spring, but let’s take a look at the venomous snakes that inhabit our state.

Pennsylvania has three venomous snakes, the Timber Rattlesnake, the Northern Copperhead, and the Eastern Massasauga.

The Eastern Massasauga is not found in most of Pennsylvania, and unless you live in the extreme western part of the state in a few counties just south of Erie, you’re not likely to ever see one. They are smaller than the Timber Rattlesnake and seldom reach 30 inches. They prefer more swampy terrain and are hesitant to rattle when disturbed.

The Northern Copperhead is found throughout the entire southern portion of the state and extends northward to those counties bordering New York state. The Northern Copperhead is a medium-sized snake typically reaching lengths of about 36 inches. Copperheads consist of a brown, tan, and rust color pattern with a copper-colored head and hence the name “copperhead”. Unlike the Timber Rattlesnake, they do not have rattles; however, they may shake their tales as a warning. It’s not unusual for people to report a copperhead in their basement to find out later that the snake was actually one of our harmless snakes, such as an Eastern Milk snake.

The Timber Rattlesnake inhabits all of Pennsylvania, except for the extreme southeastern corner and the extreme far western edge of the state; its population actually extends well up into the New England states. The Timber Rattlesnake is the largest of our venomous snakes, and it’s often quick to sound off when encountered with its rattles. You’re more likely to find Timber Rattlers up in the mountains in the northern part of the state; I have encountered a number of dens in those likely places. I have also encountered an occasional Timber Rattler while trout fishing along some remote mountain trout stream.

I am sure I don’t have to warn anybody, but if you are unsure of a snake’s identity, steer clear.

By the way, there are several ways to tell if a local snake is venomous; one of the most obvious is that the pupil in the eye of a venomous snake is elliptical, and in a nonvenomous snake, the pupil is round.

Something tells me most people won’t want to get close enough to check that out.