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Garden Snakes

February 14, 2009

Finding hiding places is part of snakes’ nature, they are pretty independent creatures that do not pose any risk unless they feel threatened. For example, many people know there could be snakes in their gardens, but haven’t seen any. If you love gardening it is possible to come across the skins they leave behind, otherwise they are so camouflaged in the background and keep their distance from humans that encounters are very sporadic. Dull colors like tans, khaki yellow or green are the basic colors of garden snakes, and they will usually run away from people and pets. The only problem is when the garden snakes are venomous, then you are in trouble, and most often, professional assistance is necessary to capture and move them in a wild habitat.

Garden snakes

The most common garden snakes species is the Gartner snake, and it is found mainly in the Americas regardless of the climate specificity. The favorite habitats for garden snakes count ponds, yards, fields and forests, which is why a garden with all its vegetation variety proves perfect for such snakes. They can be recognized by three yellow horizontal stripes along the body; they are small and skinny, living on fish, frogs and earthworms. In turn garden snakes become prey for other animals like raccoons and owls. Avoid contact with garden snakes no matter the species as their bite could be pretty nasty.

North American garden snakes hibernate in large nests together with other individuals, and people who know about this habit of the species chooses this time of the year to collect specimens as pets. In certain areas of the continent a decline in the garden snakes number has been signaled, not only because of pet collection but also because of an imbalance in the habitat caused by pollution in aquatic areas. As for the subspecies diversity identified as garden snakes, field guides often present incomplete data. Even researchers do not always share the same opinion about the risk or safety of these snakes in human proximity.

Garden snakes

For people who’d like to keep garden snakes away from their house premises, there are all sorts of repellents available in stores. The risk is potentially higher when you inhabit an area where both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes live and a distinction between the species is pretty difficult if not impossible to make. Even so, the attempt of limiting the snakes’ presence in the garden is not 100% successful since garden snakes have the possibility to hide and camouflage very well. Most experts advise that you leave them alone unless bother you or your family on a very frequent basis.

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