‘Snow snakes’, which are posted on social media as deadly reptiles that emerge in cold weather and whose bite freezes the victims’ blood, are not real. All snakes are dormant in cold weather, and the supposed image of the “snow snake” in the posts looks like a rubber or plastic toy.
Reports making this claim can be found here and here.
A report says that the snake “bit 3 people in the state of Ohio and one in Pennsylvania”, that it “comes out in the cold weather” and that there is no cure for it. [sic] bite, ”which he says causes a person’s blood to freeze (here).
The ‘snow snake’ or something similar to it can not be found on Cleveland.com’s list of snake species in Ohio (here) or on Penn Live’s list of snake species in Pennsylvania (here). According to these lists, three species of venomous snakes are found in Ohio and Pennsylvania: the northern copperhead, the wood rattlesnake, and the Eastern massacre.
In addition, there is no ‘snow snake’ in the extensive catalog of snake species around the world (here).
The allegations that the “snow snake” comes out in cold weather indicate that this species is not real. As explained here by the Encyclopedia Britannica, reptiles, including all snakes, enter the hummingbird, a condition similar to hibernation in mammals, during periods of low temperature.
But unlike mammals in hibernation, which experience ‘long, persistent periods of inactivity, reptiles stir occasionally to drink water; however, they can sit without food for several months. During this period, most reptiles go underground for greater heat.
Provided by National Park Service, you can read more about brumation and hibernation available here.
Although true white snakes do exist, it is usually due to albinism, a genetic mutation that prevents melanin production in the cells (here). However, the snake shown in the reports appears to be a toy.
The urban legend of the “snow snake” has been circulating online since at least 2014, when Snopes compiled an article on fact-checks unraveling it here.
VERDICT
Untrue. The “snow snake” is not a real species.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.