Poison critters? (most dangerous, yard, friendly)

[1979]

My understanding is that copperheads could be close to extinct in southern New England. I know this area is listed as a native habitat, and they are listed as very endangered. I have yet to hear of anyone who has seen one. I have heard there are rattlers, but this is not a native habitat for them, and that some were released here intentionally in some area on Blue Hill in Canton and in Tiverton,RI. The only snake that is not endangered in New England are the garter snake.

[elston]

I worry more about Lyme disease from deer ticks......we have lots of deer passing thru the yard and my dog is being tx for lyme disease...that is a concern for us too.

[Casper1212]

I was told there are no poisonous snakes in Maine. There are black bear, however, and they tell me that if you encounter moose, he'll leave you alone, as long as you leave him alone, and that you don't want to tangle with one of them. As for ticks, I've asked about that. It's always a concern because of my dogs. We have deer in our yard, too. I've found that if ticks or fleas show up, treat the yard, the dogs, AND the house all at the same time. Lyme disease is no fun. Ticks were common where I grew up and we never thought much about them. But did have a mild case of Lyme disease a few years back after picking up a tick at a poorly maintained campground in NM.

[fxtrader]

Maine, Hawaii and Alaska are the only three states without native poisonous snakes. I don't know who's patrolling the border to keep them out!

[Coaster]

There's still a small mountain in western Maine called Rattlesnake Mountain because of the timber rattlers that once lived there. And a town in extreme southern Maine had a genuine snake-oil business back in the 1800s. The rattlesnakes were generally considered extinct by the early 1900s in Maine, like the wolf and the mountain lion. But as already noted, snakes are infamous for ignoring political boundaries, so it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few in the western Maine mountains.

[lrfox]

Like I said in my first post, none of those poison animals are common in Maine (in fact, most are VERY rare), but they have been sighted here. The Northern Copperhead's "range" is said to extend into Massachusetts and they have been spotted in Maine. It's funny that the Milk Snake was mentioned because I caught a milk snake about 3 years ago (in Bethel) and thought it was a copperhead for a bit (when we looked it up, the venom glands on the copperhead give it a larger, more triangular head).

The Timber Rattler's habitat extends into New Hampshire ( Timber Rattlesnake - WDNR ) and they have been found in Maine on, again, rare occasions.

Both of these snakes are quite rare even in their habitats, but can and have been found in Maine. While I wouldn't be concerned about running into them in the Maine woods (especially Northern Maine), it's not at all impossible. Same goes for the recluse and widow spiders. They aren't at all common in Maine, but they have been found (see my story about the Black Widow in Scarborough) here.

[frogcreekwoods]

Originally Posted by fxtrader

Maine, Hawaii and Alaska are the only three states without native poisonous snakes. I don't know who's patrolling the border to keep them out!

reason # 417 for moving to Maine (while copperheads and timber rattlers are rare in CT, I did see the tail end of a timber rattler in Colchester, CT a few years ago, the one area of the state where they are 'more' common).

I can't believe Hawaii doesn't have any venomous snakes! You'd think the place would be crawling with them, it's so warm and moist there!

[shadowfax1997]

I agree with elston - i wouldn't worry about poisonous insects/animals. I would worry about ticks. Lyme disease can be nasty. Poison ivy can be brutal.

I would also be cautious around black bear and moose. Most of the time they will run the other way, but....there are times when they will challenge you - especially the bear mom with cubs. Deer during rut in theory can be dangerous. I don't know if coyotes would attack people, but we have had them come into campsites while we slept in tents. Quite disturbing to get up in the morning and see tracks right outside your door.

[Raffie]

Originally Posted by sorchamac

I can't believe Hawaii doesn't have any venomous snakes! You'd think the place would be crawling with them, it's so warm and moist there!

Well how would the snakes get there?
The island was never connected to a continent, it was always a island very far and isolated.
Most islands such as these the locals always have been good for the most part at watching what they allow on the island.
Rats are on the island only because they was on ships and jumped on the island from there.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by shadowfax1997

I agree with elston - i wouldn't worry about poisonous insects/animals. I would worry about ticks. Lyme disease can be nasty. Poison ivy can be brutal.

I would also be cautious around black bear and moose. Most of the time they will run the other way, but....there are times when they will challenge you - especially the bear mom with cubs. Deer during rut in theory can be dangerous. I don't know if coyotes would attack people, but we have had them come into campsites while we slept in tents. Quite disturbing to get up in the morning and see tracks right outside your door.

Right... This is the best advice to follow. These are more pertinent issues than the few snakes or spiders that may or may not find their way into Maine. An angry moose or black bear is far more of a threat than a rare copperhead.