Wednesday, October 8, 2025
62.3 F
Beckley
More

    Ask Levi: Should I worry about poisonous snakes on the trail?

    The other day a reader write that a rattlesnake had been spotted on one of her favorite hiking trails. Should she really be worried, she asked, about poisonous snakes on the trail?

    Advertisement

    I think "worry" might be too strong a word to use. I might suggest that we be mindful of the environment instead. West Virginia has about 22 different species of snakes, but . So the odds of not seeing a venomous snake are pretty good.

    I've been out on the trails numerous times and never saw a snake. I've also walked a mile-and-a-half before and come across two copperheads in that short distance, but that occasion was a one-off.

    By keeping our eyes open and being mindful of where we're walking, sitting, or putting our hands, we can expect a likelihood of no snake issues.

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    Read also:

    If you do happen to see a snake on the trail, keep your distance, and don't do anything to aggravate or agitate it. It wants to be left alone as much as you do. If it doesn't move on its own, it's a good policy just to turn back the way you came and maybe try another trail.

    As an aside, I like to point out that snakes aren't poisonous: they're venomous. Certain snakes have venom and can envenomate, not poison, you. A poisonous animal has to be eaten to affect you with its toxin. A venomous animal would need to bite or sting you and inject the toxin into you.

    So a poison dart frog is considered a poisonous animal because it would have to be eaten to harm or kill you. A timber rattlesnake is venomous because it injects you through a bite.

    Advertisement

    Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. Sign me up!
    Levi Moore
    Levi Moore
    Levi Moore is a proponent of active living in West Virginia. Once confined to a wheelchair, he has since become a dedicated advocate of walking, hiking, and outdoor recreation. He is a member of the board of Active Southern West Virginia.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Hot this week

    Swing into autumn with West Virginia’s three new Almost Heaven swings

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials at the W.Va. Department of...

    Mysterious Wetzel County worm invasion wreaked havoc in West Virginia in 1918

    LITTLETON, W.Va. — In the summer of 1918, a...

    Exclusive dinner series at Pipestem Resort State Park showcases new menu

    PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Tickets are now available for a...

    Risk of West Virginia wildfires increases in 2025 amid dry autumn conditions

    MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The crackle of autumn leaves underfoot...

    Polemic Run, West Virginia: A roadside journey hidden off the expressway

    BIRCH RIVER, W.Va. — Each day, more than 10,000...

    Topics

    Swing into autumn with West Virginia’s three new Almost Heaven swings

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials at the W.Va. Department of...

    Exclusive dinner series at Pipestem Resort State Park showcases new menu

    PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Tickets are now available for a...

    Risk of West Virginia wildfires increases in 2025 amid dry autumn conditions

    MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The crackle of autumn leaves underfoot...

    Polemic Run, West Virginia: A roadside journey hidden off the expressway

    BIRCH RIVER, W.Va. — Each day, more than 10,000...

    Investigator: West Virginia ground-zero for UFO research, ET encounters

    GREEN BANK, W.Va. — A renowned paranormal investigator says...

    Duck, goose, waterfowl hunting season in West Virginia open October 4

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several migratory bird hunting seasons will...

    Autumn colors continue to unfold across 'Almost Heaven,' West Virginia

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Autumn is sweeping across 'Almost Heaven,'...

    Related Articles

    Popular Categories