How can you tell by looking at a snake whether it is poisonous or not?

Question

How can you tell by looking at a snake whether it is poisonous or not?

Answer 1

Shape of head (especially in puff adders), types of eyes (copperheads look alot like a certain type of watersnake, but a copperhead's eyes are slitted)... If you are not familiar with snakes, it's best to leave them all alone.

Answer 2

You just need to study up on the types of poinsonous snakes in the area you are hiking because it varies from region to region and some poisonous snakes look similar to nonpoisonous snakes. To be safe don't mess with a snake unless you know for sure what you are dealing with, if not call an expert.

Answer 3

Here's a relly good web page for an introduction to poisonous snakes.



http://www.backyardnature.net/snakvenm.htm

Answer 4

what the above 2 guys said.