Why’d It Have To Be Snakes: Illinois’ Most Snake-Filled Lakes

What a perfect thing to read at a time of year that Illinoisans are most likely to cool off with a dip in one of Illinois' beautiful lakes, ponds, streams, or rivers...or maybe not.

It all depends on whether or not the thought of sharing a swim with an Illinois snake freaks you out.

It's understandable if you're part of the "no way that's going to happen" crowd, because surveys consistently show that 33 percent to 44 percent of Americans have a fear of snakes. 3 to 4 percent of Americans experience ophidiophobia, which is an extreme, irrational fear of snakes that's so bad it interferes with their daily lives.

Just don't mention these places to them if you'd like to avoid being trampled.

A snake slithering through murky green water.

Keep In Mind That Just Because A Snake Can Swim Doesn't Mean That They're Going To Attack You While You're Swimming...Usually

Snakes are looking at you as a potential meal, but instead view you as a large intruder. They're not going to bite you while you're swimming unless they're provoked or feel threatened.

Although I'm not really sure what a water snake looks at as a threat or provocation.

Here's the good news when it comes to the snakes you may encounter in Illinois' lakes: almost all of them are non-venomous.

brown and black snake on brown sand

A Website Dedicated To Geography And The Environment Just Took A Look At Illinois' Lakes For Snakes

That website, WorldAtlas.com, has named 5 Illinois lakes as being our state's most snake-filled bodies of water, and if you're a Northern Illinois resident who hates and fears all snakes, you can breathe a sigh of relief in knowing that these 5 lakes are all in the middle to southern sections of the state.

By the way, there are 40 native snake species in Illinois, and of those 40, only 4 of them are venomous:

• Eastern Copperhead
• Northern Cottonmouth
• Timber Rattlesnake
• Eastern Massasauga

a snake in the water

Let's Take A Look At The 5 Most Snake-Filled Lakes In Illinois

According to the piece at WorldAtlas.com, we'll start with:

Lake Shelbyville: This 11,000 acre lake has all sorts of wildlife, including snakes. "Usually spotted near the water's edge, the eastern garter snake is a common resident of Lake Shelbyville. This species, when threatened, will release a smelly odor to deter threats. It is known to be mildly venomous, but its venom is harmless to humans." Lake Shelbyville is also home to the Northern Water Snake.

Next, we move on to:

Rend Lake (Near Benton, Illinois): This 18,000 acre lake is also home to a host of wildlife, including the Eastern Ribbon Snake and the Northern Water Snake. There's also another snake around the area. "You should take caution around the Rend Lake water's edge and wooded areas as the venomous copperhead uses these areas to hunt for small mammals, birds, and large amphibians. Their bodies, hourglass-shaped bands, and coloring offer the ideal camouflage in leaf litter. Interestingly, their young have yellow-tipped tails designed to lure prey in."

snake on wood log

But Wait, There's More...

Carlyle Lake (east of St.Louis): A 25,000 acre reservoir that features fishing, boating, bird watching and more is also home to the Plain-Bellied Water Snake, the Rat Snake, and the Western Fox Snake, all of which are non-venomous.

Clinton Lake (about 30 miles south of Bloomington): A 4,900 acre lake that is also the home of the Eastern Milk Snake, the Common Garter Snake, and the Hognose Snake, all non-venomous.

Lake Decatur (between Champaign and Springfield): 2,800 acres of lake with 30-plus miles of shoreline is home to all sorts of wildlife, but we're talking snakes here. Lake Decatur is where you'll find The Prairie Kingsnake, The Midland Brown Snake, and the Diamond Back Water Snake.