Following recent sightings of the venomous northern moccasin snake in Hunterdon and Somerset counties, authorities are warning the public to avoid contact with the snake.
Watchung Police issued a public alert on August 26 after a northern moccasin was sighted in the Scott Drive area of Somerset County.
“While snakes are generally harmless and beneficial to our environment, they can still pose a biting hazard, especially if they feel threatened,” the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission, of which Watchung is a part, said in a warning on Facebook.
According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, there are 22 species of snakes in the Garden State.
Although two species of snakes in the state are venomous, namely the forest rattlesnake and the northern moccasin viper, “all snakes can bite and cause injury and infection,” the health commission said.
A pregnant northern moccasin snake was also found in Hunterdon County and taken to the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Pittstown, according to an Aug. 14 Facebook post from the wildlife refuge.
The snake successfully gave birth to six young, the Ministry of Animal Welfare said in an update on August 22.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the northern copperhead snake is two shades of copper or reddish brown, with the lighter background color with the darker pattern forming an hourglass shape, with wider bands on the sides of the snake and narrower bands across the back.
The snake’s head is a solid copper color. Young copperheads have a yellow-tipped tail that serves as a lure for prey.
According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, copperheads can be found as far south as the sourlands of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, to the northeast in limited areas within Somerset, and to the north in western Bergen County. They inhabit rocky fields, berry thickets, woodlands, farmland, and even old mulch piles.
Although many people are afraid of snakes, it is extremely rare for the average person to encounter one, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
According to officials, the chances of being bitten by a venomous snake in New Jersey are lower than being struck by lightning.
Although snakes do not hunt people, they will defend themselves if they feel threatened, warn representatives of the Ministry of Nature Conservation.
In most cases, people bitten by a snake tried to touch the snake or walked through the area with poisonous snakes in the dark wearing unsuitable footwear, say representatives of the Ministry of Nature Conservation.
No one in New Jersey has ever died as a result of a copperhead bite.
Snake populations in New Jersey have also declined over the past 50 years, largely due to habitat destruction, commercial collecting, and pollution.
The North American copperhead snake is considered a species of special concern by the state Fish and Wildlife Service.
Species that require special attention because they show signs of decline, due to an inherent vulnerability to environmental damage, or due to changes in their habitat that would cause them to become a threatened species, the agency said.
Regardless of whether a snake is endangered or not, all snakes in New Jersey are protected under the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, which prohibits any person from killing, collecting, or harassing any snake species native to New Jersey.
Additionally, it is illegal to keep venomous snakes in captivity in New Jersey unless they are in an educational or rehabilitation facility or a zoo with the appropriate permit.
Residents are urged to avoid encounters with snakes.
Here are some tips from authorities on how to avoid contact with snakes:
- Do not touch or handle snakes.
- If possible, stay away from tall grass and piles of leaves.
- Avoid climbing on rocks or piles of wood where a snake might hide.
- Be especially alert at dawn and dusk and in warm weather.
- Make sure all cracks and crevices in the foundation of the house and outbuildings are sealed.
- Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.
If you suspect a snake on your property is a rattlesnake or copperhead and needs to be relocated, call the state Department of Environmental Protection’s hotline at 1-877-927-6337. For more snake tips, visit dep.nj.gov.
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Jackie Roman can be reached at [email protected].
