In
American folklore
American folklore encompasses the folklores that have evolved in the present-day United States since Europeans arrived in the 16th century. While it contains much in the way of Native American tradition, it is not wholly identical to the tribal ...
, the snow snake is a
fearsome critter
In North American folklore, fearsome critters were tall tale animals jokingly said to inhabit the wilderness in or around logging camps,Dorson, Richard M. ''Man and Beast in American Comic Legend.'' (Bloomington, IN: Indiana Univ. Press, 1982. ...
that, unlike other reptiles, can live in cold temperatures and is only active during winter months.
Standard depiction
As with any subject of folklore, details about the snow snake vary depending on the storyteller. However, most accounts purport that the snow snake is a highly
venomous
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
, white-colored serpent that lives in the snow.
Occasional details have been offered regarding the eyes of a snow snake such as them being blue or pink
in color. The snow snake's white coloration is said to make the animal nearly indiscernible to any observer against freshly laid snow. Hence, snow snakes held a prominent place in regional practical jokes played on those unfamiliar with the outdoors. Habitually, unexplained markings in the snow were attributed to snow snakes as part of the joke. The name snow snake may have been derived from a
Native American winter sport of the same name.
Variations
Author J. E. Rockwell in a 1910 article entitled, "Some Lumberjack Myths," published in ''The Outer's Book,'' a nature journal, makes express mention of snow snakes but describes them as freezing in the winter time rather than thriving in it. Rockwell adds that lumberjacks after felling timber would place the logs onto the backs of frozen snow snakes. Subsequently, when the snakes would thaw out, in the spring, they moved to river for a drink inadvertently carrying the logs where they might be driven down river to the saw mills.
Rockwell's account is unique, as no other known source deviates from the snow snake's proneness to cold. Another deviation comes in the form of the "shovel-tailed snow snake." This iteration is featured on a postcard advertising the "Friendly" Buckhorn Tavern in
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Rice Lake is a city in Barron County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 9,040. The city is located mostly within the Town of Rice Lake.
History
Rice Lake was named in 1870 after nearby Rice La ...
. This establishment was known for showcasing fearsome critters often created through
taxidermy
Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body via mounting (over an armature) or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often, but not always, portrayed in a lifelike state. The word ''taxidermy'' describes the proc ...
. The pictured image displays a snake-like effigy, looking as if carved from a tree branch, with speckled patches: the body terminating in a spade-shaped growth.
See also
*
Hoop snake
The hoop snake is a legendary creature of the United States, Canada, and Australia. It appears in the Pecos Bill stories; although his description of hoop snakes is the one with which people are most familiar, stories of the creature predate those ...
*
Fearsome critters
In North American folklore, fearsome critters were tall tale animals jokingly said to inhabit the wilderness in or around logging camps,Dorson, Richard M. ''Man and Beast in American Comic Legend.'' (Bloomington, IN: Indiana Univ. Press, 1982.) ...
*
Joint snake
*
European Adder, a real snake species that lives near the Arctic Circle.
References
{{American tall tales
Fearsome critters
Fictional snakes
Legendary serpents