Unlike popular belief snakes are both gentle and fascinating, so it disappointing that so many are are killed through human ignorance and superstition.  Snakes without arms or legs can move swiftly on ground, water, and through branches.  Snakes are near sighted and depend on their unusual sense of smell.  The snake's tongue carries their smelling device, not a stinger like many believe.  The snake uses the tip of its tongue to gather minute particles from the air.  Each time it flicks its tongue the snake deposits these particles in two small cavities called Jacobson's organs.  There the sensory cells help the brain interpret the particles as smells.  In addition to their organs of smell some snakes have heat-sensitive pits resembling nostrils on the tip of their head.  The snakes use these to detect small bodies of heat such as warm-blooded animals.  The mouths of snakes have a special construction which enables them to swallow their prey whole.  The lower jaw bone is in two parts, joined together at the chin by highly elastic tissue.  In addition, the upper and lower jaws can be disengaged to further enlarge the mouth opening so prey larger than the snake's head can be swallowed.  Another unusual characteristic of snakes is that unlike most animals which cannot digest bones, fur, and feathers, the snake can with its exceptional digestive juices that are even capable of digesting teeth.  Wood County has many snakes including one poisonous snake called the Eastern Massasauga.  To the left you will find a link to all the snakes of Wood County.  At each site there is a picture and information about each snake.

Created by: Jamie Fitch and Jason Hatfield
Last updated: July 17, 2002
Questions or comments: webmaster