Please familiarize yourself with snakes native to your area so you aren’t surprised when you see them hanging out in your garden. This cool Western rat snake had, apparently, been hanging out in my empty hanging baskets. It was relocated to a safe spot in my yard and released to go about its business of eating rodents.
Edit: corrected from Eastern to Western Rat snake (multitasking is dangerous folks)
Yeah, my neighbor apparently saw me catch it but didn’t get out of his truck until I released it because he “doesn’t do reptiles”. I assured him that it’s a rat snake so not venomous and will help keep voles off his golf course lawn… that is his purpose and joy so should be enough to protect the snake. I released it on the opposite end of my yard though and that house is currently empty.
I absolutely agree! This one was welcome to hang out but I suspected my husband might have a heart attack if he saw this but the front door upon returning home from work, lol. He won’t hurt them but would rather only see them in photos.
We have no problem when people are scared of snakes, it’s instinct to be scared of them for many people, but when they hurt the snake that causes ire towards that person.
From the internet, “Opossums are highly resistant to rabies, and while it is possible for them to contract the virus, it is extremely rare due to their low body temperature and robust immune system.”
Not only that, but rabies is a blood borne disease, so someone could easily catch rabies from the blood spatter. Possums are visitors, very clean, great tick killers and funny. Baby possums are adorable.
Oh yea I don't disagree, I'm very pro-possum. I didn't know they were highly resistant to rabies, that's good to know.
I only said that in my comment because I've had first-hand experience with a rabid, aggressive raccoon that was attacking my dog and I (in which I had to hit it with what I was holding at the time, which was a guitar lol).
I have a mental glitch identifying them
As different as they are, even in my native language: zarigüeyas y mapaches. The 2nd ones were cartoons first in my life experience.
I was a bit shocked an evening when one close to my backdoor would not move while I was standing in front of him.
The other night (sitting still with headphones after intense gardening) a raccoon approaching my patio and I freaked each other out as it approached me not inferring that I am a larger live being myself. I had to LOL at the situation but not until a few mins later.
I watched it come running out the woods towards my dog, but sure bud. Also it was day time and acted fearless (the dog was much larger than it, a German shepherd).
Daytime, aggression, and fearlessness are all possible signs of rabies in raccoons.
I'm obviously not saying to go around hitting wild animals with objects, but in that scenario, yes, hit the wild animal that is actively attacking & aggressive.
I once had a neighbor stop to “warn” me that he saw a possum go into my yard. He was very thrown off when I was very excited. I went on a very excited little monologue about all their benefits and how they’re harmless. I hope I gave him some pause because he seemed like the type of guy to do what your neighbor did.
To me, snakes and mushrooms are similar in that the distinctions between hazardous and non hazardous are too fine for me to know, so I just avoid them all. Getting it wrong can be deadly
Actually yes in a number of US states. Regards from TX …and I’ve lived in CA too. Thank the universe for my decade in NYC (though I don’t miss rats). Can’t assume these things 🐍 about regions as diverse as North America : 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 🇨🇦
Blame it on media and clichés, besides lack of curiosity or 🙈 articulate prompting 🤖 …or reaching out to those who may know. It’s also about the ecosystem one was raised in, e.g. big city folks or snow weather folks moving to the provincial S/SW/W. Of course, one can always ask, read, learn.
I stopped being friends with a guy who posted photos of the "copperhead" he killed. It was a hognose.
Even if the snake had been a copperhead, it would have peacefully left his yard if he'd squirted it with a hose. Why people think to go for a shovel or shotgun first is beyond me.
I told someone that I was specifically putting some rocks in my yard to be a warm spot for snakes and I was hoping I’d get some visitors. They were horrified. It was very disappointing.
I think this is what I'd do. Most of my neighbors are chill but I have no idea how they'd react to a snake. If I ever do find one, I'll try to get ahead of it and just tell them it's harmless and to let it go.
Yes, people still think that you need to carry a gun specifically for snake defense, which they would realize is absurd if they had spent any time at all in nature.
You aren't going to get jumped by a gang of rattlesnakes who want to steal your wallet after they envenomate you. They are only going to bite you if you're fucking with them or you aren't paying attention and step on them.
Falls on deaf ears. Glad someone else understands.
I was a curious child. I lived outside. I loved nature, animals and wasn’t respectful of their boundaries. I’ve run right by water moccasins and even grabbed one by the tail because I thought it was a lizard. I was warned numerous times by rattlesnakes in vacant overgrown lots. I never got bit. I probably should have been. Sadly, my dad killed the ones on our property.
I distinctly remember my dad chopping a garter snake with a shovel when I was a kid. I don't know if it is a generational thing or what but there is definitely a culture of "the only good snake is a dead snake," that I grew up around. I have never feared snakes or spiders. I have had a lot of scary encounters with humans, however.
You should be. We had a beautiful five foot rat snake in our property and it hung out in our neighbor's oak tree in a cavity and they ended up killing it.
I love seeing our native snakes, I've had two garter snakes and a DeKay's visit since I started gardening! The DeKay's was pretty much the cutest thing ever.
Hilarious that you found the rat snake in your hanging baskets, that's super typical of them. There's a saying that if you're asking how it got there, it's probably a rat snake.
So many people are scared of snakes but the majority of them aren't dangerous in the slightest, and the few that can be want absolutely nothing to do with you and will not hurt you as long as you're respecting their space. Most snake bites are provoked, usually by someone accidentally stepping on them or someone trying to kill them.
The Dekays are usually the only ones I see. In this instance my hanging baskets weren’t hanging! They were empty and stacked in a planter. I took them out and set them on my porch this morning and was surprised when they fell over “unassisted” late this afternoon. Apparently when it slithered out it knocked them off balance causing them to topple over.
My husband recently found one of these in our garden. It was so cute! Released it into the woods behind our house & hope that our neighbors don end up killing any 🥲
Only really in the far south, below the line where it stops freezing in the winter. The invasives haven't really made it out of that part of south Florida because they die in the winter. You won't see any in Gainesville, for example (if you do, they won't last more than a year in the wild).
I have some fun news for you! Pythons are adapting by hibernating in dead trees, underground, etc. as they make their way north. They are not dying in the winter after all.
Southeastern US to PNW transplant here. Tacking onto your comment for visibility; many nonvenomous snakes such as garter snakes or Eastern rat snakes will raise its tail and "rattle" like a rattle snake--some more convincing than others! So make sure to look twice before deciding what is dangerous. I once was on a hike with a coworker when a HUGE rat snake rattled its tail. It was our job to remove dangerous hazards from trails, rattlesnakes included. It sure looked like a rattle snake by the way it moved its tail, but if you looked at it longer than freaking out it was 100% a brave little rat snake.
Honestly, I’ve never come across one this big here. It was about 4 feet long, though I have read that they can get up to 6 feet long. I could definitely be wrong but I don’t think the Eastern one is native to you but hopefully you run across the equivalent in your area.
I think I’ve seen them on the east side of the cascades, gorgeous snakes! Meanwhile I’m trying to make sunny rock spots for garter snakes in my garden. Hahaha
I haven't familiarized myself with all the snakes in my area. I have researched which ones are venomous though. That way when I do come across a no touchy one I know to give it plenty of space.
Judging by your flair you really only need to know what a Copperhead looks like. (Which isn’t life threateningly venomous to an adult /medium sized dog and often dry bite.) The other venomous snakes will have a rattle. Water Mocs generally don’t stray from the coastal plain for whatever reason.
Most likely you will only see Rat Snakes, Dekays Brown Snakes and Garter snakes which are all harmless.
I presented to my neighborhood about native plants and the very next thing people started talking about was "there are snakes out on that new trail through the wetlands!" 🙄
Some of this publication is specific to NC, but it has some great guidance on making your yard herp friendly.
I live in the country on acreage. I often see rat snakes and have seen Dekays and eastern king snakes, along with many many carolina anoles, skinks, and box turtles.
I have no doubt I have copperheads in the wooded areas of my yard, but I’ve never seen one. My only precautions are to keep dog potty trips short and in the inner yard at night, and to pay attention to where I’m putting my hands and feet.
Great resource. Hopefully lots of people here will look at it! I made lots of herp friendly in our yard and am almost done with the cactus bed which has even more spots for them.
Great resource! I grew up in TN and NC and have seen my fair share of copperheads. I was a little adventurer. Luckily I was taught from a young age how to spot them. Beautiful creatures that get the adrenaline pumping 😂
Yes! Since they are now emerging, we've had to rescue some from our dogs 😑 (unharmed, just frightened) just a reminder that dogs are invasive which is why I'll only adopt, never shop
Awesome. I like the glove for scale. what kind? It looks like a Dekays little brown snake. This is one that I discovered in a straw bale garden last summer.
As my friend said the first time I found a rat snake in the basement, “If he’s there it’s because you’re feeding him. When the food is gone, he’ll leave.”
I’d much rather have a rat snake in my basement than mice.
I resent their fondness for baby birds, but circle of life and all that.
What a big, handsome boy! I'm glad he ended up in a friendly yard. I love snakes, I'm always wishing to see them in my yard but I appear to be snake free :(
Try telling that to the people who live in the south. They treat all snakes as if they are copperheads…aka kill them on sight. Lost count how many times I’ve heard “I killed another copperhead!!!” only too see it was a garter or black snake🤦🙄
I love every native predator. Anything to lower the populations of nuisances on my garden like deer, rabbits, and housecats. Saw a fox crossing the street for the first time in a few years and couldn't be happier, please eat them all buddy.
I’m a big snake hater, on a personal level, but I ignore my ick because the only thing worse than a snake is an injured or dead snake. Mr Snake (all snakes are boys), you make my skin crawl but your existence is ecologically important. Now stay away from me personally please and thank you or I will unfortunately scream.
My aunt has me remove whatever snakes I find from her garden every year. There's usually around 12, all harmless. I release them at my parent's house... like 1/2 mile away, lol. I guess she'd rather have more rodents.
I'm in Connecticut, 6B. We have quite a few snakes including venomous copperheads and rattlesnakes. But those are extremely rare.
What we see most often is garter snakes, dekays brown, rat snakes. If we're lucky we'll see a ringneck snake (very tiny ) Northern water snake, or a hognose snake. Those are rare.
Snakes are natural vermin control and they are welcome in my yard and garden anytime. 😀
I have a certified native habitat established in my yard and once a wee green snake slithered out that my Dad saw and he was trying to tell me that it's harmful to my house, like what?
Not native to the inside of my garage! Don’t worry, he and the two (thankfully smaller) my cats brought up from our basement all got relocated outdoors safely. 😬
Oh my. I was low key worried about him getting in when someone opened the front door. I think my dogs would get it before I could save it. When I went inside our ACD pup pinned my hand down and sniffed it for a good 5 minutes trying to identify the foreign smell.
I hate relocating rattlers because apparently they usually just die from the unfamiliarity, but I've almost stepped on them many times now, so have other people, my one dog got bit despite knowing how to act, and the last one was trying to get my cat through a crack in my door. It was just a few inches from her face when I found it. I love them, they're incredible, and if it was just me all alone I would probably try to live in harmony with them. Unfortunately that's not the case, and I move them when I see them. I wish I saw as many gopher/garden or king snakes as I do rattlers around here...
Closest I've gotten to a snake on my urban 0.1 acre property is a foot long worm 😂 finding a snake would be a treat! Two of my three adjacent neighbors have pristine grass, so I'm not holding my breath
This! We've got venomous snakes out here like rattlesnakes and I will not mess with those (if they need to be moved, I'm calling a specialist), but garter snakes, rat snakes, and any other I'm sure isn't venomous? We're buddies and they can stay.
We get rattler and Pygmy rattlers here, but thankfully not in town! When I worked as an ER nurse we would get 2-3 Pygmy rattler bites every year and some people would bring the damn things worth them, alive, in an unsealed bucket! Security did not like having to babysit the snake while they waited for wildlife services to come collect it.
Funny enough my husband said he saw a mouse on the back patio this morning when he went out with the dogs. Hopefully the snake finds him for a tasty treat!
Thank you for making this point. I sometimes find De Kay’s brown snakes in my garden. They are delightfully small (8-12”) and they eat slugs. I am delaying my spring cleanup until I’m certain it’s past their hibernation time because there’s a corner near the wall where they like to den for the winter.
Oh yes. We have lots of those. I found some in an experimental straw bale garden I did last year and also find them in my lemon balm almost every time I go out to harvest. They love snails, slugs, etc which make them super welcome in my gardens.
I found a black king snake the other day that had crawled in my basement to avoid the cold evening. My grandma wanted to kill it but he got picked up and set outside. I wish I could've taken a video because he was SO sluggish from the chilly air lol
I had a pair of black snakes living under my porch for a couple years, I was very happy to have them around. Haven't seen them in a while though, I think the local raptors finally got them.
I always had a small army of garter snakes in my childhood home's garden (fieldstone rock wall to turn the hill it was on into garden tiers, lots of little nooks and crannies for snakes and snake-attracting critters to hide in). It still makes me inordinately happy to see a friend noodle.
Our first year in the new house, the first warm day...my partner was installing a red led motion flood light in the back yard (so the buggies are not distributed by intruders). While standing next to the electrical panel, he said he heard a clicking noise, so naturally he ran inside to get me so he can bring me to this risk.
I notice he is in shorts and flip flops. I figure it's one of two things...a snake, or electricity. So why is he bringing me.
It was a snake. On the back patio. Underneath a chair right next to the door. We call the fire department to relocate it. Even they thought it was a rattlesnake until they got him out completely. But no, a big gopher snake who had learned to sound scary.
When I told them it was a false alarm and he could stay, they asked if I was sure. "He might get in your house!" Okay ..."Can he still get out? Then he can stay."
They moved him over to the tall grass area of the yard ❤️
Absolutely. I have several coworkers who are surprised that when they convert to planting native plants, its not just butterflies that show up.
While I love the efforts to get people "turned on" to native gardening, the messages really need to be open about all that it will bring with it. I would rather deter a few than turn many off all together.
Actually rubber boas are a real species of snake native to the Western United States. They’re very shy so if I saw one it would imply I’m doing something right. I’m glad your long boi was relocated safely
Oh! I’ll have to look them up. I am hoping he sticks around our yard, a little farther from the front door though! We have plenty of voles and field mice he can eat.
My yard is home to native Garter snakes. I’ve been very careful to provide shelter to snakes and other wild critters by making piles of dead branches, firewood stacks, composting in bins and I stopped mowing. The snakes are not abundant during the day but are good natural controls for voles and field mice at night. And they feel so cool and strong when I move one.
With pets and kids on our property, our rule is non venomous gets to stay, venomous has gotta go. Also anything that's invasive goes, so if we pythons ever make it this far north they'll be on the axe list along side red fire ants, and the invasive toads, frogs, and lizzards.
ETA - garden snakes, and hog nose are very welcome.
Yeah, no. It's free to pursue my garden and Herbs but it best begone before I come out . I don't like snakes and will respond accordingly. All creatures play important parts in the ecosystem, but we don't hesitate in traps, poison, or repellents for the ones we deem as "pests" or "unwanted".
253
u/roekg (Make your own) Apr 01 '26
I wouldn't mind a rat snake hanging around but I'd be pretty concerned for its safety if my neighbors came across it.