Imagine you’re walking along a hiking trail and come across a snake that starts to rattle its tail.
While the sight may be alarming, if you’re in Milwaukee, it’s almost certainly not a venomous snake. There are only two venomous snakes native to Wisconsin and neither species lives in the area.
“All other snakes in Wisconsin are going to be harmless and non-venomous, so nothing to be worried about,” Eric Roscoe, with the Wisconsin Herpetological Association, told the Journal Sentinel.
What venomous snakes are native to Wisconsin?
There are two venomous snakes that can be found in Wisconsin: the timber rattlesnake, found in western Wisconsin, and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, found in south central and western Wisconsin.
Both species are rare, and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake is considered endangered in Wisconsin.
“Neither are likely to be encountered by most people unless they really know where to go looking for them specifically,” Roscoe said.
There are 22 snake species in Wisconsin, including 14 considered rare and listed as endangered, threatened or of particular concern, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
The state’s two venomous snakes are “generally non-aggressive, typically preferring not to strike unless they are harassed or cornered,” the department says. “Often they remain motionless or move away quietly without being seen.”
There has only been one documented rattlesnake fatality in Wisconsin since 1900, according to the DNR, and the state has recently averaged one bite every four years.
However, some non-venomous snakes sometimes mimic behaviors of their venomous counterparts, including rattling their tail, spreading their head or flattening out to ward off people. Some species include bullsnakes, eastern fox snakes, northern water snakes, eastern milk snakes and eastern hognose snakes.
What to do if you’re bitten by a snake
A bite from a native, non-venomous snake in Wisconsin isn’t likely to be serious, Roscoe said, comparing it to a scratch or papercut that can be cleaned with soap and water.
Snakes tend to bite in self-defense, Roscoe said, and if you’re in an area with venomous snakes, it’s important not to handle any snake you can’t identify with absolute certainty.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Are there venomous snakes in Wisconsin? Yes, but they’re extremely rare
Reporting by Blaise Mesa, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
