By Connie Deegan
A great habitat will support all kinds of animals, even some that may not be included on your personal “desired animal” list. Many people aren’t concerned if they see an owl, rabbit, fox or turtle in their yard. But a snake is another story.
Snakes simply want what all other animals want: food, water, shelter and space. Providing good habitat for animals on your “OK list” can also provide the same for others that you don’t wish to entice. Some habitat manipulation may discourage snakes, but it can come at a cost, and you may have to make some tough choices regarding the other animals that you enjoy in your yard.
Let’s look at this differently. Isn’t it time for moving the needle a bit more toward “awesome” when it comes to snakes? Many people have done just that. They have realized that short of turning their half-acre lot into a wildlife desert, they can provide good wildlife habitat — and embrace snakes.
You proclaim: “But some snakes are venomous! There is more at stake!” While your heebie-jeebies can sometimes be justified if you have children or pets, it’s a tricky topic for educators, homeowners, and especially, snakes. Even if you choose to hire a professional to remove the snakes from your property, the snakes will likely return or be replaced by others, which can be frustrating for homeowners.
If you live in an area where venomous species thrive, education is the best way to deal with the issue. Plenty of people use this strategy and bites are non-existent because they take common sense precautions. Lists of venomous species in your area are easy to find along with pictures for identification online.
Consider poison ivy. If you are allergic to it, I bet you rarely get it because you recognize it in all of its variable presentations and you know what habitat it favors. When you have to work in it, you remain hyper-attentive, dress accordingly and wash up afterward. That is why you don’t get it: You have educated yourself and taken precautions. This is the same process I suggest when observing snakes.
People who take this approach have learned what time of year they usually see snakes in their yard. They pay attention to what the temperatures are when they see snakes and how that changes as summer moves forward into hotter daytime temperatures. After days of hot, dry weather, they realize that a pump-driven, overflowing bird bath or a koi pond will call snakes and other wildlife to the water source. They remember that when they took the tarp off their garden last spring, they disturbed a few snakes, so they will anticipate them this year, too. They will no longer leave the garage door open because they know that a nice, cool, protected space may be pretty inviting to a snake or two should they stumble upon it.
A few months ago, I wanted to figure out a way to acquire some non-disputable, factual venomous snakebite research for northeast Tennessee where I live. (We have two venomous species here, the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead). I was able to track down the individual responsible for recording each time that our local healthcare system used antivenom for a snakebite. I asked for and received data from 2021 and 2022 regarding total snakebites where antivenom was administered. (2021 was still considered a pandemic year and people were historically spending even more time outdoors.) This data included the person’s age, sex, location of the bite on the body, geographical location and often the snake species. It was also noted what the individual was doing at the time of the bite.
The 29 counties of the health network include the Appalachian Highlands: Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky, including all 21 of their hospital sites. There were 17 recorded bites in the last two years in this area known for outdoor recreation, rural land and agriculture. The bite statistics were based on antivenom use, which is only used for moderate to severe envenomation. Therefore, there is a possibility that there may have been some minor snake bites without these symptoms that received simple local wound care and were not recorded.
Let us consider some of the bite scenarios: two people were bit while retrieving eggs in chicken coops. The snakes were there because chicks may have been available or possibly rodents that were attracted to chicken feed. This is considered an “attractive nuisance,” which could have been snake proofed. A man was bit while feeding his dogs in the barn. It is highly likely rodents were attracted to the daily dog feeding area. Two people stepped on a snake barefoot. One walked back to his car in the dark! Understandably, the snakes reacted with a bite. One young child picked up a snake. We realize that children find almost any animal irresistible, but had they ever received “the snake talk” and were they told to never pick up any snake?
I did not “cherry-pick” the list of examples. From the information collected, it was clear that the people involved played a role in the bite. These snakes were not aggressive until faced with potential harm. A bit of snake smarts would have worked well in all these instances.
People do coexist with snakes on their property and have no issues. Can you be one of them, utilizing a bit of forethought and education? Understand that the value of wildlife is not based on your opinion of it or mine. If it is here, it belongs here for reasons that you understand and reasons that you don’t. We have allowed ourselves to dislike and/or harm certain animal species such as snakes, spiders, bats and sharks for a very long time. We can no longer afford to take links out of the chain. Fortunately, the tide is shifting, and folks are more willing to comprehend that an attitude of “us vs. them” no longer works. It is truly all connected. The links you don’t like are just as important as the links you do.
Connie Deegan is a member of the Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands (Virginia and Tennessee) Chapter, and naturalist and nature program coordinator for the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Deegan, C. (2023). Snakes: Reasonable possibilities. Wild Ones Journal, 36(3). p. 29-30
Attracting Snakes to Your Landscape
Attracting snakes to your landscape can naturally control pests, enhance biodiversity, and contribute to a healthier, more balanced ecosystem. Here are essential tips on how to attract snakes to your garden:
- Provide Shelter:
- Rock Piles and Logs: Create rock piles, log piles, or brush piles. These provide hiding spots and protection from predators.
- Dense Vegetation: Plant native shrubs and grasses to offer cover and hunting grounds for snakes.
- Man-Made Structures: Install snake shelters, such as overturned flower pots or specially designed snake boxes.
- Water Sources:
- Ponds and Water Features: Snakes need water for hydration and to attract prey. Install small ponds or water features.
- Maintain Clean Water: Ensure the water is chemical-free and accessible. Maintain good water quality and easy entry/exit points.
- Food Supply:
- Attract Prey: Snakes feed on small animals like rodents, frogs, and insects. Encourage a healthy prey population by avoiding pesticides and maintaining a natural habitat.
- Plant Native Vegetation: Native plants support a robust food web, attracting a variety of prey species for snakes.
- Avoid Chemicals:
- Pesticide-Free Environment: Chemicals can be harmful to snakes and their prey. Use organic gardening practices to keep the habitat safe.
- Create Sunbathing Spots:
- Flat Rocks and Logs: Place flat rocks or logs in sunny areas. Snakes are ectothermic and need these spots to regulate their body temperature.
- Maintain a Natural Landscape:
- Wild Areas: Leave parts of your garden wild. These areas provide excellent hunting grounds and shelter.
- Leaf Litter and Mulch: Maintain areas with leaf litter and mulch to attract prey and provide cover for snakes.
- Educate and Certify:
- Certify Your Habitat: Consider certifying your habitat with Wild Ones to showcase your efforts in providing food, water, cover, and shelter for wildlife, including snakes.
By creating a welcoming and safe environment for snakes, you can enjoy the ecological benefits they bring to your garden. By offering a welcoming and safe habitat to toads, we can all enjoy the symphony of their calls and the numerous ecological benefits they bring to our gardens! If you already have a habitat for toads, consider certifying with Wild Ones and showcase the work you do providing food, water, cover, and shelter for wildlife.