It’s just a myth that non-venomous snakes are the only ones that can climb trees.
Yes, you read that right. It’s possible you’ll look up and see a snake, a rattlesnake – or even a coral snake – climbing a tree. Or it may already be curled up on a branch looking at you.
After a video of a rattlesnake sitting on a tree branch went viral and sparked allegations of photo editing, the Arizona-based agency Cascavel Solutions confirmed that there is no longer a question of whether it happens, but how often it happens.
Venomous snakes, such as rattlesnakes, can climb trees – but this is not commonly observed.
More: Texas is home to 4 groups of venomous snakes. Here’s what to watch out for when you see one
Here is a list of debunked myths about venomous snakes
While acknowledging that rattlesnakes can climb trees, the company, which specializes in rattlesnake removal, also debunked some myths in an Instagram post earlier this year.
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“No, that doesn’t mean they can climb all surfaces, including smooth surfaces.”
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“No, that doesn’t mean they will now fall from the branches into the yard or onto your head.”
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“Yes, your uncle who tells the story about the ‘nest of rattlesnakes that jumped into his boat’ is full of shit.”
These same notes apply to copperheads and cottonmouths — which the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has described as “poor climbers and are rarely found in trees.” (By the way, the venomous cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin, also doesn’t chase people as is often claimed.)
More: What happens if a rattlesnake bites you? Here’s everything you should and shouldn’t do
This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Can venomous snakes climb trees? What to see in Texas
