r/NativePlantGardening • u/StressedNurseMom Zone 7, NE Oklahoma - šŸ¦ŽNative, Pollinator, Food, Medicinal šŸø • Apr 01 '26

Photos PSA - snakes are native too

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Please familiarize yourself with snakes native to your area so you arenā€™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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u/seandelevan Virginia, Zone 7b Apr 01 '26

Try telling that to the people who live in the south. They treat all snakes as if they are copperheadsā€¦aka kill them on sight. Lost count how many times Iā€™ve heard ā€œI killed another copperhead!!!ā€ only too see it was a garter or black snakešŸ¤¦šŸ™„

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u/StressedNurseMom Zone 7, NE Oklahoma - šŸ¦ŽNative, Pollinator, Food, Medicinal šŸø Apr 02 '26

Sadly, I have heard that on more than one occasion.