We tend to assume all snakes are dangerous, but there’s no need to live in fear. Here are three things you can do to safely handle this reptile on your property.
1. Educate yourself about the snakes in your area.
If you don’t know what snakes are common in your area and cannot distinguish the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous ones, fear will always be your default when you see a snake. Should you discover a snake in your yard, not only will you be facing an unknown threat but you will also have a more difficult time staying calm because you will not know what to expect or what to do. So, the first thing you should do is to be proactive. Learn what types of snakes are in your area and learn how to distinguish between venomous and non-venomous snakes. This way, you can stay calm and levelheaded if you ever find one slithering in your yard.
2. If there are non-venomous snakes on your property, leave them alone.
We tend to think of all snakes as horrible pests that need to be eradicated, but the truth is that a non-venomous snake is more helpful than harmful. They are beneficial to keep around because they keep other true pests like mice, rats, bugs, moles, etc. at bay by eating them! So be watchful. And certainly, if you see a non-venomous snake on your property, keep your children away from it. But don’t disturb the snake or kill it unless it is indoors.
Non-poisonous snakes can become dangerous when you try to attack or provoke them. If you provoke a non-poisonous snake and it bites you, the bite could become infected (a snake can carry bacteria in its mouth). Medical attention is necessary, but with the proper care, the bite may not be fatal.
3. If there is a venomous snake on your property, call animal control right away.
Venomous snakes, on the other hand, need to be handled with much more caution. This is where distinguishing between a venomous and non-venomous snake can be critical. If you educate yourself ahead of time, you can quickly determine if you are in immediate danger. You should NOT allow a venomous snake to freely roam your property. Instead, call in a professional who can safely remove the poisonous snake from your land. Venomous snakes can be deadly, so if you’re unsure whether or not the snake on your property is venomous, treat it as if it is venomous and call animal control. When in doubt, it’s better to be safe than sorry.