If this does not work, these snakes will even play dead by lying on their backs and discharging a foul smell from specialized glands. When someone encounters a snake, the first question that comes to mind for some is whether or not the snake is venomous. Most of Indiana s snakes are not poisonous. All of the venomous snakes in Indiana belong to the pit viper family. Members of this family share common physical characteristics that separate them from nonvenomous species.
Pit vipers have a sensory pit located between the eye and the nostril on each side of their head.
These pits detect heat, thereby helping the snake locate warm-blooded prey, even in the dark. Other snakes lack these sensory pits. Thus, if it looks like your snake has four nostrils, it s a pit viper. Of course, checking for pits requires getting a getting a good look at the business end of the snake to be safe, don t get closer than the length of the snake. Even snake researchers avoid handling their venomous subjects whenever possible.