For Release May 9, 2000

AGRI-VIEWS
by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

A phone call the other day reminded me how seriously many people despise snakes. I don’t mean a passing dislike, but a serious hate! I truly think that these people would drive their car in a ditch if they thought that they would kill the snake that crossed the road ahead of them. These are fine folks, that would go out of their way, with whatever garden tool was handy, to end the life of a simple little garter snake who appeared in their yard. It must rank right up there with some folk’s fear that every bee and wasp out there is going to get them.

First of all, let’s get a few facts straight. A snake that you encounter is not out to get you. From their point of view, you are a monster, a very large, scary monster. All they really want to do is get away from you. If they feel that you have cut off their path of escape they may act aggressive. This is simply an attempt to get you further away from them so that they can get away. If you corner them, and act aggressive, they are going to try to protect themselves the only way they know how, by striking out at you.

All snakes will coil up and strike at you. Coiling up reduces the amount of vulnerable flesh that’s exposed. Some snakes will even vibrate their tail and try to imitate a rattlesnake. They may lunge out at you and strike. They can appear quite intimidating! All snakes will bite. Once again, if they are cornered or feel threatened, they are much more likely to strike at you. Many of the smaller snakes can do nothing more than apply a good pinch. Some can bite quite hard. Some, like the water snakes, have a bad disposition, a powerful bite, sharp teeth and an anticoagulant compound in their saliva. If you are bitten, you will bleed profusely. But the bite is non-venomous and you will survive.

There are nearly two dozen species of snakes that have been found in Geary County. Three of these are poisonous. In nineteen summers of hunting, fishing and birdwatching all over this area, I have found one poisonous snake, a small copperhead, dead on a road. Of all the dozens of snakes brought into me every year, only one was poisonous, a dandy Timber Rattlesnake that was run over with a pickup. Yes, there are poisonous snakes in Geary County. Yes, you may encounter one. But the odds are, that you are more likely going to encounter a nonpoisonous snake.

Homeowners call me, wanting to buy a repellent to place around their yard to keep snakes away. There are snake repellents sold, but they are of questionable effectiveness and apparently work on only some species of snakes, not all. One thing to keep in mind: if the product keeps snakes out, what if you already have a snake in the yard? Won’t it then keep the snake in?

You are better off to keep a neat, attractive yard that is not attractive to snakes. All snakes are good. They eat a lot of insects and rodents, among other things. Keep grass and vegetation neatly trimmed and at a respectable height. Don’t allow brush or debris piles to develop.

Learn to just ignore snakes when you come across them. You don’t have to kill every snake in your yard. More than likely, the snake was just passing through looking for a meal. They are not on a mission to move into your home. They are just trying to survive. Let them survive, and you may find that you are plagued by fewer rodents, insects and other critters that you aren’t very fond of either!

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