Only six snake species found in Mississippi are venomous, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Wildlife officials said several physical traits can help distinguish venomous snakes from nonvenomous species, but warned that no single characteristic should be used by itself.
Rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and copperheads have heat-sensing facial pits and are known as pit vipers. Mississippi’s pit vipers also typically have slit-like pupils, while native nonvenomous snakes generally have round pupils.
However, officials said a pit viper’s pupils may appear round in low light, and the dark iris of some species can make the pupil difficult to see.
Pit vipers also have a single row of scales beneath the tail after the vent, while native nonvenomous snakes have a double row. Wildlife officials cautioned that people should never handle a snake to check this feature.
Three of Mississippi’s six venomous snake species are rattlesnakes. Pygmy rattlesnakes may have a very small rattle or no visible rattle.
Residents spending time outdoors are encouraged to watch where they step and place their hands. Venomous snakes may shelter in stump holes, beneath boards or sheet metal, in brush piles and near fallen logs.
Wildlife officials recommend learning to recognize each snake species as a whole rather than relying on quick identification tricks.