Hikers Need To Be Aware Of Baby Snakes Finding Their Way This Fall

Fall hikers are hitting the trail and so are baby snakes, slithering for the first time this fall.

TWRA Spokesperson Matt Cameron said summer is a snake-mating season, resulting in many live births and baby snakes come fall. Cameron said that hikers should be aware that snakes are attracted to brushy areas to hunt prey. Cameron said that the surest way for citizens to stay safe is to stay on the main trail, instead of blazing their own.

“Just being aware of where you step and where you place your hands,” Cameron said. “You know snake do commonly lay on trail or across them so you’ve got to be paying attention to where your putting your foot down.”

Falling leaves can often be a hiding place for baby snakes. Cameron said that hikers can take easy precautions by wearing hiking boots and pants as well as carrying a walking stick. Cameron said that right now is the perfect season for citizens to go hiking, provided they keep an eye on their surroundings.

“Making a lot of noise and just making wildlife aware that your in the area can be one of the best defenses that you have,” Cameron said. “Most of the time if a bear make contact with a human its in a defensive manner because the person surprised the bear, and I would say its generally the same with a snake. Folks are terrified and I understand that but we are not snake food.”

Cameron said rattlesnakes and copperheads are both poisonous. Both are found in the Upper Cumberland. Cameron said both are treatable and death is a rarity.

“It’s not something I want people to be terrified of,” Cameron said. “We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and we want people to get out and enjoy all the great natural resources we’ve been blessed with.”

Cameron said that he recommends that hikers go out during the morning when the ground is much cooler. Cameron said that snakes are ectothermic and have to regulate their heat with the temperature around them. Cameron said because of this, it’s usually during the warmer part of the day snakes are out in the open trying to warm themselves on the trail.