South Texas Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops Dulcis rubellum)--Non-Venomous Snakes

First on our list is non-venomous or beneficial snakes. Let’s start with the smallest snakes that have shown themselves here. 

South Texas Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops Dulcis rubellum)

This little guy is easily mistaken for a worm. In fact, it’s possible almost everyone has encountered this snake and didn’t even realize it. The most distinct feature that I found is that the South Texas Blind Snake has a face (relatively) where worms do not. I have only found these little slitherers in very loose, soft dirt near the base of bushy brush plants or under decomposing wood. According to Texas Snakes: A Field Guide, they range in length from 5-8 inches. The ones I’ve encountered have been roughly 6 inches in length. They are quickly overlooked, and for their sake I’m sure that’s a good thing! These snakes are bashful and prefer just to avoid you and have never shown any aggression toward me. Dog’s seem to never notice their existence (another good thing for them). If you encounter one of these guys, just say hello and let them go on their merry way if possible. If you do need to relocate a South Texas Blind Snake, try to ease them into a small container and place them in some nice soft soil under cover.

Image available here

SNAKES!!!

Is it Dangerous?!

That’s most people’s first reaction when they see a snake. When you live in an urban environment, the chance of seeing snakes (venomous or not) most likely occurs during extended periods of dry weather and after heavy rains. However, when you live in a rural environment, your chances of encountering snakes of all kinds is common. So, either way, it’s beneficial if you can recognize a snake’s potential for a lousy interaction.

Over the coming weeks, these posts will cover only the snakes I’ve personally come in contact with. That way I can give you an idea of their attitude when approached and handled and what steps I took to either relocate or dispatch that snake. I’ll add pictures (and an occasional video) with each post. Most will be ones I’ve taken, and let me apologize ahead of time for the lack of quality and the occasional death picture. Sometimes, to be safe, I’ve taken the picture after dealing with a venomous snake. If I didn’t have a chance to catch the snake on camera, then I will use pics from the web and link to the original site. I welcome everyone to comment with their own knowledge and make suggestions. If there are better ways to deal with the venomous snakes I am open for suggestions! In the future I hope to post on various insects. If you have a creepy-crawly you’d like me to tackle (figuratively of course) let me know.