It's summertime, and you know what that means: it's time to start watching your ankles. Snakes are pretty common in Colorado⁠— just take a quick hike at Horsetooth and you'll see at least one or two⁠— but which snakes are the most common in our area?

Here's a list of 10 snakes to watch out for in the Fort Collins area:

According to CPW, garter snakes are common in wet, marshy areas like edges of streams or isolated ponds.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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Want to hear something terrifying? Gophersnakes are common in residential suburban areas and not only that...they're known to climb trees.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Bullsnake: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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No, that doesn't say what you think it says. The CPW calls the milksnake 'secretive', and it feasts on a diet of small mammals, birds, and other reptiles.

This snake lives up to its name: the North American Racer is a fast, agile snake that is found in shrubby foothills and canyons.

Be careful out on the water with this one: CPW describes its habitat as "Creeks, rivers, reservoirs, ponds, marshes, flooded meadows, and canals along major drainage systems; rarely found away from the immediate vicinity of water."

This snake is a lot like me: CPW describes it as "secretive" and "hard to find".

Don't worry too much about this guy, who can be found in residential areas. This snake munches down on earthworms, leeches, snails, slugs, grasshoppers, and more...but not humans.

This crazy species has a spade-like snout that it uses to dig out underground prey.

This species is venomous, so stay away ⁠— be aware when hiking and always make sure your pets are leashed on trails. Here are some safety tips from Denver Westword.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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This species loves the water as well, so keep an eye out the next time you're boating at Horsetooth.

Thanks to Colorado Parks & Wildlife for always keeping us safe when it comes to unfamiliar wildlife. Be alert, be aware, and research up — and don't mess with a rattlesnake.

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