As temperatures rise, more snake sightings occur in Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas – In general, warmer weather brings out more snakes for Arkansans to see.
Experts in Arkansas wildlife say there’s no need to be afraid of snakes, even though many people have a fear of them.

According to Trey Reid, an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesman, the majority of snakes are afraid of people and will probably leave you alone if you do not bother them.

Only six of the 39 native snake species in Arkansas are venomous, according to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension.

“As a human species we kind of have this fear of snakes but there is far more to be concerned about other critters that are coming out right now like ticks and mosquitoes that carry these vector-borne diseases like Zika and West Nile (viruses), Alpha-Gal and Lyme (disease) and things like that, that cause far more harm to humans every year than snake bites,” Reid said.

According to Reid, snakes consume fish, insects, and rodents, and they are crucial to our environment.

“They are both predator and prey,” Reid said. “They get rid of some critters that can carry diseases and things like that. They can also serve as a food source for animals higher up the food chain. They are important and really a critical part of our ecosystem.”

According to the AGFC, killing snakes in Arkansas is prohibited unless they immediately endanger you, your pets, or your property.