Watch Out For Snakes In Herndon, Police Warn

HERNDON, VA — Fairfax County Police have a warning for residents of Herndon and the rest of the county in the coming weeks: beware of snakes.

With temperatures rising, cold-blooded snakes will become more active and locals will encounter them more frequently.

While most of the wide variety of snake species in Fairfax County are non-venomous, not all of them can be safely ignored. The Northern copperhead (pictured above) lives in Fairfax County, and its venom can be potentially deadly.

You can identify copperheads by their triangular head shape, vertical pupil, and an hourglass scale pattern through the length of its body.

Police say you are most likely to encounter snakes in the following situations:

• When they are crossing roads
• When they are moving through your backyard or through other transient habitats
• During breeding season (spring or fall) when they are moving to look for mates;
• When they are basking near habitat edges (e.g., water bodies, forest lines).

Police have the following safety tips to avoid a bite:

• Do not try to handle any snake. Any snake will bite if provoked so do not handle them.
• When walking or hiking, stay on trails, sidewalks and cleared pathways.
• Wear boots or closed shoes and long pants when working outdoors or walking in wooded areas.
• Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.
• Use a flashlight if walking at night in areas where snakes might be present.
• Keep dogs on leashes and pet cats indoors to reduce chances of them encountering a snake.

Photo by Greg Hume