The Guadalupe River is one of the waterways that is home to the most snakes in Texas, but don’t panic if you see one of the slithery creatures the next time you’re tubing in the Hill Country.<\/p>\n
The 230-mile river supports a wide range of aquatic life, including many species of snakes, according to a new list of the state’s most snake-infested rivers from WorldAtlas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Among the creatures in the Guadalupe River are Water Mocassins, venomous snakes that like living in swampy areas and slow-moving water. They’re sometimes called cottonmouths because of the white lining they display inside of their mouth when threatened\u00a0– a tactic used to fend off predators and reduce direct conflict.<\/p>\n The Water Mocassin is one of four types of venomous snakes found in the Guadalupe River, according to Guadalupe River State Park<\/a>. Western Diamond Rattlesnakes, Texas Coral Snakes and Broad-banded Copperhead also live in the river.<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Be prepared: City warns of street closures for this weekend’s marathon<\/a><\/p>\n The poisonous snakes are actually helpful for the river because they help control the population of rodents\u00a0– one of their main food sources.<\/p>\n Fifteen of the 105 snake species found in Texas are venomous, according to WorldAtlas. The vast majority of snakes you might find in the Guadalupe River are harmless.<\/p>\n But, unless you’re a snake savant, it can be hard to distinguish between venomous snakes like cottonmouths and the numerous harmless ones. The best thing to do if you see a snake that may be venomous is to give it space and let it leave the area on its own.<\/p>\n Other rivers that are home to the most serpents in Texas include the Brazos River, the Colorado River and the Sabine River.<\/p>\n This article originally published at This San Antonio-area river is one of Texas’ most snake-infested, site says<\/a>.<\/p>\n