28 • AUGUST 2023 • www.Of f icialKidsMag.com
Venomous Snake Species in Arkansas
Instead, learn how to identify each venomous
snake by their patterns and colors. There are
only six venomous snake species in Arkansas.
Fun Fact:
Many venomous species of snakes will
have a lime green tail when they are
young that is used to lure in their prey,
making it easier to hunt.
By Rachel Bevill-Cottrell
Special to Official Kids Mag
Have you ever been playing in the yard and
seen a snake? Snakes can be found all over –
under rocks and logs, in pools and in the yard,
even under the carport. Luckily, in Arkansas only
six species of snakes are venomous, and even
those snakes are more scared of you than you
are of them. If you find a snake, never approach
it. You can admire from a distance and tell an
adult so they can hurry the snake on its way.
How to Identify Venomous Snakes
Many snakes have distinctive patterns and
colors that help to identify them. Some snakes,
like the smooth green snake or the milk snake,
are bright colors like lime green or red and
yellow. Many snakes may look similar but are a
different species entirely.
Be careful, while this rhyme is a good rule
of thumb, some snakes have variations in their
patterns that may make them appear harmless
when they are, in fact, venomous.
One tried and true method of identifying
a venomous snake from a non-venomous
snake is to look at the scales on their belly.
Unfortunately, this is difficult to do without
putting yourself in danger.
Arkansas Arkansas
Kids Kids
Take on Take on
Snakes! Snakes!
Like the milk snake, the coral snake is bright
red, yellow and black, but coral snakes are
venomous, and milk snakes are not. One common
rhyme to determine whether you are looking at
a coral snake or a milk snake is "red on black,
you're OK jack," meaning that a snake with red
rings that touch black rings is a non-venomous
milk snake, and a snake with yellow rings that
touch black rings is a venomous coral snake.
CORAL SNAKE
GREEN SNAKE
COPPERHEAD
Copperheads are a
copper-colored, common
venomous snake in Arkansas
and can be identified by the
Hershey Kiss-shaped pattern
on their back.
MILK SNAKE
