Did you know that Vermont only has one venomous snakes species?
Out of the 11 snake species that live in Vermont, the Timber Rattlesnake is the only one that is venomous, having a triangle-shaped head to make room for venom glands and injecting structures, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website said.
However, you should know they are rare snakes, designated by the state as endangered.
For wilderness health and safety, it’s important to be aware of the poisonous snakes that live in your state. But, what about the larger snakes? Are those dangerous? And what about the largest snake?
Here’s what you need to know about the largest and longest snake in Vermont.
A venomous timber rattlesnake (at left) has a much wider head than its neck. An eastern ratsnake (at right) has round pupils and a head that is similar in size to its neck.
What is the longest snake in Vermont
The state fish and wildlife website said that the Central Ratsnake is the longest in Vermont, growing 5 to 6 feet long. The longest one documented in Vermont spanned 75 inches. That is taller than Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“Central Ratsnakes occupy a variety of forested and open habitats,” Fish & Wildlife said. “These snakes can be found near forest and field edges, rocky outcrops, ledges, as well as in and around old buildings and barns.”
These snakes are also rare. The Central Rattlesnake has been designated as threatened, which means they have a high possibility of becoming endangered soon, as per the Vermont Endangered Species Law.
The law says that a person in Vermont is not allowed to take possession of this animal or destroy or harm its critical habitat. Those who do take a threatened or endangered animal must report the acquisition to the Vermont’s Secretary of State.
“The adult Central Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) is black, but usually shows remnants of its juvenile pattern. It is a black and white checkerboard on the front half, and then turns to a solid dark tone towards the tail,” the website said. “The Ratsnake has weakly keeled scales.”
What are the top three largest snakes in Vermont
The three largest and longest snakes in Vermont are:
Central Ratsnake (Usual length: 5 to 6 feet, longest documented in the state was 75 inches long)
The Timber Rattlesnake (Usual length 2 to 4 feet long, longest documented in the state was 54 inches long, the atlas website said)
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Largest snake in VT grows up to 6 feet. How to identify it