Snakes of New England

By Ethan

 

Eastern Milk Snake

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/risnakes.pdf

 

Northern Redbelly Snake

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/risnakes.pdf

 

Timber Rattlesnake

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/risnakes.pdf

 

What would you like to know about the snakes of New England?  In my report I will tell you about the appearance of different snakes, what they eat, how they attack or defend themselves, how they move, how the animal is raised, and other interesting facts.

There are many snakes in New England.  They do not all look the same.  They do have something in common.  They all have long and slender bodies.  There are some poisonous snakes and some that are not poisonous.  The poisonous snakes are Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads.  The other snakes are the Northern Black Racer, Eastern Smooth Green Snake, Eastern Ribbon Snake, Eastern Milk Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, Northern Brown Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Northern Water Snakes, Black Rat Snake, Northern Ringneck Snake, Eastern Worm Snake, and my favorite, the Redbelly Snake.  They are carnivores.

What do these snakes eat?  Many eat eggs, rats, birds, fish, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders and insects.  It mostly depends on the kind of snake.  Snakes can move their heart from the head to the end of the tail.  Why?  They get it out of the way of food coming down.  They need to swallow big things and this helps them.

 

They slither to move around.  They don’t have legs or arms.  Some hiss very loud to scare predators away. They have two sets of teeth on the top and one on the bottom.  Snakes might jump out and attack by choking or biting their enemies.  Many can blend by camouflaging themselves.  Some try to look bigger and more dangerous by puffing out to look scarier.

                Snakes that lay eggs can leave up to twelve eggs in their nest.  The eggs can be left in rotten logs, holes, and in rocks.  The babies eat the shell and can shed their skin.  Once they shed, they eat the skin.  They grow to be big and smooth.

        The Redbelly Snake is my favorite.  I have caught it before and it is not poisonous.  It slithered and explored.  The snake did not try to bite me.  It was about two pencils long, about twelve inches.  It was not vicious.  It liked me…..and I like it.

       

 

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Last Updated: 10/30/07