How Big Can Garden Snakes Get

The garden snake is common in the state of Kentucky, and you can hear many local legends about oversized poisonous snakes. While the majority of them are not true, the question How Big Can Garden Snakes Get remains. Let’s try to answer to that question.

How Big Can Garden Snakes Get: the Black Rat Snake
 
The Back Rat Snake can be found near barns and in the backyards, as even if this is a harmless snake for humans, it likes to feed on mice and rats. This snake can easily reach the length of 72 inches, although snakes from this specie with a length of 100 inches and more were found. It is also the biggest snake that can be found in the state, and it also makes a great pet.

Milk Snake

One of the most common garden snakes found in the Kentucky backyards is the milk snake. In fact, its name comes from a legend claiming that this snake is able to suck milk from cows. While this is only a legend, the milk snake is a common appearance in barns and cellars because of the huge appetite of this snake for mice. The smallest milk snakes have a length of 6 inches, and the mature exemplars could reach 36 inches. Some people claim that they have seen milk snakes with a length of 100 inches, but as we are talking about a “legendary” snake, we can’t consider this as a suited answer for the question How Big Can Garden Snakes Get.

Eastern Garter Snake

The Eastern Garter Snake is a relatively small reptile that can be found in the urban areas. It is a small specie with a minimum length of 5 inches, and with a maximum of 26. This is one of the most common species of snakes, as it adapts well to the urban environment, and it can be commonly found in the backyards of the town houses.

Smooth Earth Snake

While the Black Rat Snake could grow to a length of 100 inches, the Smooth Earth Snake would never have more than 10. It is the smallest snake that you can find in the garden, and it is also a harmless one. It can easily be mistaken with an earthworm, but its characteristics make it a snake.

The Southeastern Crowned Snake

The Southeastern Crowned Snake is also a small specie that could easily adapt to any kind of environment. Besides the forests and the rocky areas, this snake can also be found in the backyards, so it can be considered a garden snake. This specie can also grow at a length of maximum 10 inches.  
As you can see, the answer to the question How Big Can Garden Snakes Get is different. While the smallest garden snakes could have 5 inches or less, the biggest exemplars of the black rat snake could easily go over 100 inches. The venomous snakes can also reach impressive sizes, but those are not garden snakes, so they are not the subjects of this debate.    

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Kentucky Most Poisonous Snakes

Snakes are the most common animals in Kentucky, and despite the common reputation, they are beneficial for the environment. On the other hand, the fear of people and the increased environmental problems reduced the populations of snakes dramatically, and even if Kentucky is still a state where snakes can leave peacefully, some species might disappear in the future.

There are more than 30 snake species in Kentucky, and only 4 of them are poisonous. Moreover, the majority of them live in non-populated areas, like the deep forests and the rocky and sunny areas. this is why accidents rarely happen. However, you must be able to identify the poisonous snakes when you see them.

All the venomous snakes from Kentucky are a part of the Viperidae family, commonly known as vipers. We are talking about the Copperhead, the western Cottonmouth, the Timber Rattlesnake and western Pigmy Rattlesnake. The majority of them are non-aggressive, and they prefer to hide from humans. you can easily distinguish them because of their vertical pupils, and also because of the scale at the top of the tale that is placed on only one row.

Don’t use the vibrating tail as a method to identify a poisonous snake. Some non-poisonous species also have this ability, and many non-venomous species are extinguished because people confused them.

Don’t touch a venomous snake even if it is dead. The body can have a bite reflex, and the bite is also poisonous. The snakes will never attack you unless provoked or harassed. The best idea when you see a snake of this kind is to leave it alone.

The best method to treat a bite of a poisonous snake is to prevent it. leaving the jokes behind, if you are close to a hospital, you should go there immediately. Cutting the wounded area, sucking the venom or electric shocks were proven as ineffective, and the anti-venom serum is the only demonstrated cure for this problem.

The Copperhead is usually mistaken with other species of non-venomous snakes. The best method to identify a snake of this specie is to look at the chestnut cross bands that have the shape of a bow.

The western Cottonmouth is a common dark colored snake that looks like the copperhead when he is young. It has no margins and a single color, making it hard to identify. The water snakes looking the same will quickly hide in the water when approached, while the cottonmouth will take a defensive stance. In fact, this is the best method to identify the cottonmouth, as it is the only aggressive poisonous snake.

The rattlesnakes are also poisonous, but unlike the cottonmouth, this snake hides when approached. However, this is the largest snake from this family, and this is why people fear it the most. The Rattlesnake gains one rattle each time they change the skin, but the rattles might fall, so it is not an accurate method to determine the age of a rattlesnake by counting them. the other snakes from Kentucky are not poisonous, and they are a part of the family Colubridae. 
 

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Common Snakes In Kentucky

Snakes are common in the state of Kentucky, and considering the great climate and the fauna and flora, the state is ideal for those animals. The common snakes in Kentucky have different sizes, characteristics and habits, and they are also the subject of local urban legends and stories. The smallest Kentucky snake has 7 inches, being more like a worm than a snake, but you can also find the impressive black rat snake with length of 6 feet or more.

While the majority of people are scared about those snakes, considering them as dangerous animals, the passionate researchers and animal lovers are fascinated about them. Some of the species are great pets, and people prefer the size and beauty of the rat snake usually. However, read some details about feeding and taking care of the snake pets, as they are different from any other animals.

The people are also attracted about the snakes’ great combination of colors, about the adaptability of them and also about their capacity to survive in hostile environments. You can find snakes practically anywhere in the state of Kentucky, from the backyards of town houses to the deep forests and rocky areas. Only 4 species are venomous, and the majority of common snakes in Kentucky are not even aggressive. However, every local in Kentucky must be able to differentiate the venomous snakes from the harmless ones.

The copperhead is a venomous snake, and it is also hard to differentiate it from the common snakes in Kentucky. However, the model on the back of this snake can be easily detected, as it has a bow shape with narrow stripes on the edges.

The cottonmouth is another poisonous snake that is feared by people, and it is also the most aggressive of the venomous species.

The timber rattlesnake is the most common venomous snake, but you can hardly see it in the urban areas. It prefers the solitude of the rocky areas and the deep forests, it also likes to hide instead of fighting, and this is why attacks of the rattlesnake are rarely reported.

Another one of the common snakes in Kentucky that is also the preferred pet for snake lovers is the black rat. This snake can easily reach a length of 6 feet, and it is also beneficial for farms, being a known enemy of rats and other small animals around your home.

The prairie kingsnake can be found in the fields of the western Kentucky, preferring the prairies and grasslands. It feeds with birds and small animals, and it is also non-poisonous.

The milk snake takes its name from a legend saying it is able of sucking milk from cows. However, the snake will never be capable of doing so, and it is also known as a hidden snake. You can find it in the vicinity of barns, but this is only because this snake likes to feed with mice and rats.
The garter snake is a relatively small snake that can be found in all the areas of Kentucky, including urban agglomerations. It is a non-poisonous snake, although it bites when attacked, and it also releases a liquid that resembles with venom.

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Brahminy Blind Snake

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