Texas Predators
Venomous Snakes
If you hunt often, you're likely to come across a few of these. Though not all are venomous, the few that are will put a serious dent in your day if you step on one.
Copperhead
A membr of the Pit Viper family they blend into leaves or rocks perfectly and have a chestnut or reddish-brown color. They are normally found along streams and rivers and rarely can be found in dry areas. Copperhead do not strike, they bite. They are very hard to see because of their camoflauge. Most bites occur when an individual accidently walks on, lifts a board, or picks up gear that the snake has wandered into. We don't have to tell you to seek medical attention if you're bit by one...but we will tell you to do it quickly.
Coral Snake
Remember "Red on black, venom lack. Red on yellow, kill a fellow". The coral snake is a smaller snake at a maximum length of 2 1/2 ft with bright colors and can be confused with the Milk Snake ("red on black, venom lack"). They are a member of the Elapidae family which includes cobras. They are found in southeastern Texas in woodlands, plains or coastal areas where there is slow moving water. Coral snake venom is one of the most toxic in North America with a powerful neurotoxin that will paralize your breathing muscles and lead to respratory failure in a few hours. Thankfully, like the French, they would rather run away than stay and fight. They spend the majority of their time underground and account for less than 1% of snake bites in America.
When I was a teenager living in The Woodlands, TX we killed one that was moving across our driveway as there were many families with little kids around. I have not seen one in Texas since.
Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin
Also known as "water moccasin". They can be olive-brown, dark brown, solid black or olive-green and have wide, dark colored, bands. They can grow up to six feet in length and are known to be defensive or even aggressive. The cottonmouth gets its name from the tissue inside its mouth which it will open if it feels threatened. They are always found in or around water sources such as swamps, coastal marshes, rivers, ponds streams and your muddin' put. Most venomous snakes will inflate their lungs while swimming and move across the surface while non-venomous snakes will swim with only their heads above water.
I almost rode over one of these while riding my bike down a bayou trail in Cinco Ranch, TX. Both of us were startled, thankfully for him .380 ammo was too expensive at the time.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
This is the most common and widespread venomous snake in Texas. A lighter brown body color, they have brown, diamond-shaped markings down their back making them easy to identify...of course the rattle helps. They average 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 feet in length and can reach up to seven feet. They are found in all but the easternmost parts of Texas.
Timber Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlers are large, heavey-bodied snakes that average 4 1/2 feet in length. An easy identifier for the type of rattlesnake is its all-black tail. It is either brown or tan and has dark crossbands. This rattler lives in wooded areas and the wet bottomlands of the eastern part of Texas.
Western Massasauga Rattlesnake
Massasauga are light gray in color with brown oval shaped blotches trailing down the middle of their back with small blotches on both flanks. They average two feet in length and are found in central Texas in grasslands, swamps, and marshes.
Desert Massasauga Rattlesnake
Desert Massasauga are lighter in color than the western massasauga as well as smaller and thinner. They are found in the Trans-Pecos, western Panhandle and lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake
They are a light tan to pink color that has dark widely spaced crossbands and mottled areas between the crossbands. It is a smaller snake with a slender body averaging two feet and found in the mountainous areas of West Texas.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake
Banded rock rattlesnakes are very similar to the mottled are a greenish grey color. They are found in Texas only in the extreme western tip of the state.
Blacktail Rattlesnake
Blacktails are gray to olive green with dark blotches along their back with a dark black tail. They average 3 1/2 feet in length and are found from Central Texas to West Texas in bushes and rocky formations.
Mojave Rattlesnake
They look similar to the western diamondback in their markings but are smaller with a slender body and are only found in extreme West Texas. They have a green hue which has led to the nickname "Mojave Greens".
Prairie Rattlesnake
Prairie rattlesnakes have a green or grayish color with rounded blotches down the middle of their back. The average length is about three feet and is found in the grassy plains of the western part of Texas.
Mammals
You'll likely see some of these at night as they reflect in your search light or while you stalk or sit in a blind. Not all dangerous, but we don't reccomend you try to pet them.
Coyote
In Texas you will most likely see at least one on every hunt. They can be seen during the day and night but are most active during the dusk hours. Normally traveling in a pack they eat mammals, fruits, insects and Texas BBQ (when availible). They rarely pose a danger to hunters but should always be kept an eye on. I've had coyotes walk ten feet away from me not realizing I was there, until I pointed a gun at them (not knowing the coyote's intent) he turned tail and ran off.
For hunting coyotes, the Texas Parks & Wildlife defines it as follows:
Coyotes, if the coyotes are attacking, about to attack or have recently attacked livestock, domestic animals or fowl.
Mountain Lion
Though you are not likely to see one they are in Texas. They prey on deer, javelina, feral hogs, raccoons, coyotes, possums and anything else that you can add to that list including hunters. Should you encounter one while hunting...pretty sure you know how to handle the big cat. Mountain Lions are mostly in West and South West Texas though have been spotted in a few central and northern locations.
Black Bear
One of those critters you won't really have to worry about seeing though they have been making a comeback in Texas. Black bears are mostly found in West Texas.
Swift Fox
One of those critters you won't really have to worry about seeing though they have been making a comeback in Texas. Black bears are mostly found in West Texas.
Gray Fox
As all foxes are, the gray fox is very ellusive. Gray fox are found throughout most of Texas. They primarily prey on rodents.
Jackalope
A rare and truely majestic creature to come across. But don't let those tiny antlers fool you! The above photo is was taken back in the 1940's, before photoshop and the internet existed. In fact, this majestic creature is so rare his picture tends to wander.