Montana may be known for its large animals such as bears and moose, but on World Snake Day, Montana Wild sheds light on some other animals that call it home.
"I came out because I heard that you get to touch a snake and you get to learn more about them, and I really like snakes. I would like a corn snake as a pet," said 11-year-old Serena Light.
She was one of roughly 30 people attending the presentation.
Light said, "I think people are normally scared by them and try to kill them, but spiders and snakes are actually more scared of you than you are of them."
According to Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), Montana has several native snake species, of which only one is venomous - the Prairie Rattlesnake.
FWP says that people are most likely to see Garter snakes when outdoors.
Western Milksnakes, Plains Hog-nosed Snakes, and Smooth Greensnakes are the least common native snakes because they are a species of concern.
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FWP says they are not classified as endangered, but "these species are considered 'at risk'" and "the concern is for the future of the species in the state of Montana and not necessarily to the future of the species nationally."
"We want to be able to keep the snakes here. They're all eating different animals [to] help control those pests because we all don't want mice in our house," said Josie Salois, an Americorp Montana Wild Educator.
Montana Wild's "Snakes of Montana" presentation looked at what makes a snake a snake and the differences between reptiles and amphibians.
Since Montana sees subzero temperatures over the winter, the presentation also discussed how snakes survive the challenging weather.
Salois said, "Rattlesnakes, Gophersnakes, and sometimes North American Racers will all hibernate together, and they hibernate to stay warm – that way, they don't freeze. Depending on how warm it is out, they'll all come out in a mass hoard, and it will kind of look like the ground is moving. It happens within minutes, so if you come across one, you're either really lucky or unlucky depending on how much you like snakes."
Even though some people fear snakes, education can bring respect to these important animals.
"We grow up in a society where people are afraid of snakes, so the education aspect is really important. That's the best way to respect and be able to understand them better and why they're important to the ecosystem and the environment," said Salois.
FWP says that other than professionals, people should avoid getting near all wild snakes and other animals.
According to Montana State University, the following types of snakes can be found in Montana:
The Western rattlesnake (sometimes called a prairie rattlesnake) is Montana's only venomous snake. It has a triangular head, blunt nose, narrow neck, stout body and a tail that ends in a rattle. Rattlesnakes are found in most of Montana and are 15 to 60 inches long.
The rubber boa looks and feels like rubber. This small stout snake (12 to 18 inches long) has small eyes, a blunt tail and is distributed throughout western Montana.
The racer is a long (20- to 65-inch), slender snake found throughout Montana. The belly is whitish to pale yellow with the back of adults varying from greenish grey to brown or blue.
The Western hognose snake is heavy-bodied and can reach 32 inches long. It has an upturned nose and its back is yellowish to gray-brown with three rows of dark brown blotches running longitudinally.
The milk snake is highly recognizable with a series of red-orange saddles or rings that are bordered by black rings and separated by white or yellow rings. This medium-sized, slender snake can reach lengths of 42 inches. It is rarely found in Montana.
The smooth green snake is rare in Montana and only reported in the far northeast. About 26 inches long as an adult, it is bright green in color above and whitish below.
The gopher snake or bull snake is very common in Montana. It can reach a length of seven feet and is readily identified by a series of large black or brown blotches that run down the back, and another series along the sides.
Montana has three garter snake species which can be identified by three yellow stripes running the length of the body. The stripes vary from yellow to orange-yellow to green-yellow along the back. The adults are 16 to 43 inches long and are found throughout the state.
You can find more information about snakes native to Montana here.
FWP also recommends using the Montana Natural Heritage Project's website or app from a safe distance as an entry tool for when you see wild snakes.
