Are eastern garter snakes aggressive?

Are eastern garter snakes aggressive?

Garter snakes are non-venomous, but can be fairly aggressive and will readily strike and bite, sometimes causing an allergic reaction in humans. If handled or attacked, they will release a foul-smelling musk.

Can a common garter snake hurt you?

A garter snake can bite, although it is unlikely for them to bite humans unless threatened or provoked. While their bite is considered non-venomous, a person bitten by garter snake bite should wash the bitten area thoroughly. Their bite can cause minor swelling and itchiness.

Are eastern garter snakes friendly?

Not so garter snakes, the harmless serpents that live throughout North America and part of Central America. Researchers have discovered that garter snakes not only prefer to hang out together, but also seem to have “friends” with whom they spend much of their time.

What snakes are native to Illinois?

Illinois has an abundance of snakes, from venomous pit vipers like copperheads or rattlers, to harmless snakes like rat snakes and garter snakes.

Do garter snakes eat spiders?

Several species of garter snakes eat small prey such as insects, arthropods and arachnids (which could include spiders) but larger snakes eat larger prey such as rats, birds, lizards, amphibians, eggs and other snakes. Snakes can actually be harmed and in rare cases, killed by spiders however, so spiders are probably not their prey of choice.

What poisonous snakes live in Northern Illinois?

Venomous Snakes. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources , Illinois hosts four venomous snake species: the cottonmouth, copperhead, timber rattlesnake and eastern massasauga. Of these, only the two rattlesnakes – the timber rattler and massasauga – may inhabit North Illinois, though they’re extremely rare in this part of the state.

Are poisonous snakes found in Illinois?

There are four species of venomous snakes found in Illinois-Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). The rare individuals who are bitten may experience swelling at the location and pain much like that of a bee sting.