Snake in your yard? Here’s what to do

In this lesson: the correct response to a snake in the yard. It is easy enough for anyone.

As a wildlife rehabilitator and naturalist, I frequently get calls from people who have seen a snake in their yard and are looking for someone to “come get it.” I understand that snakes make some people apprehensive, but ultimately, noticing a snake outdoors should provoke essentially the same response as observing any other animal.

Snakes are a natural part of the environment and seeing a snake is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Furthermore, most snakes are perfectly harmless and no snake wants to hurt you. People who understand snakes universally appreciate having them around, but you don’t have to like them to realize that they are living animals that deserve to be treated with respect.

If you see a snake that you are not positive is harmless, simply take three steps back and walk away. You don’t need to kill wildlife to be safe.

If you see a snake, simply avoid it. Snakes are a part of the natural world. They are around you all the time. You seeing one does not mean you are any less safe than you were a moment ago. In fact, you might be safer for having seen one, as it can be easily avoided and act as a reminder to keep your wits about you when outside.

Under no circumstances should you attempt to harm or kill a snake. Doing so simply increases your chance of being bitten and may even be illegal in your area. Removing one snake from your area does not make you any safer than removing one car from the road would make driving safer.

Wildlife, including snakes, lived on “your” land long before humans moved in. We often think of snakes as intruders, but in truth, it is we who destroyed their home to build our own. The only educated response is to learn to live peaceably with all wildlife.

If you feel you must do something

If you absolutely feel that you must take some sort of action, a few gentle, short bursts of water from your garden hose is often enough to bridge the language barrier and encourage the snake to move along. Again, though, it is better to simply give the snake space and let it move along on its own.

If you want to see fewer snakes in your yard, there are ecologically-friendly things you can do, and they are in Seeing fewer snakes. Be advised that there is no way to ever make the outdoors snake-free, so you should still practice situational awareness even if you do all of them. Also note that products sold as snake repellents do NOT keep snakes away, despite any convincing anecdotes you may have heard, and most of these products are poisons that you really don’t want in your yard.

Alternately, if you are a nature lover that would like to see more snakes, there are tips for that, too, in Seeing more snakes: a friendlier yard.

The snake you saw

Ultimately, the snake you saw was just trying to go about its life. It doesn’t want trouble any more than you do. In all likelihood, the snake you saw was perfectly harmless, but whether it was or not, there is no need to interfere with it. Simply let it go on its way and everyone will get home safely.

If you are still apprehensive, take a little time with the rest of this course. Knowledge overcomes fear every time. This could be an excellent learning opportunity for you and your family. And if you want to know what it was, Where to get an identification tells you how to find out safely.

Take this further

• A sentence that works out loud: “It’s not there for you. It’s there for the mice. Give it room and it’ll be gone.”
• Next: How do most snakebites actually happen?