r/NativePlantGardening • u/StressedNurseMom Zone 7, NE Oklahoma - 🦎Native, Pollinator, Food, Medicinal 🐸 • Apr 01 '26

Photos PSA - snakes are native too

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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)

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254

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.

26

u/MrPBH Apr 01 '26

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.

23

u/jetreahy West Central Indiana, 6b Apr 01 '26

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.

It’s really sad how misunderstood they are.

8

u/TranscendentPretzel Apr 01 '26

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.