More snakes = less disease! Snakes eat vectors and carriers of many diseases, including The Plague and Lyme disease.

Snakes are effective, all-natural pest control. Snakes won’t raid your garden or chew up your wires, but they will eat the critters that do. And due to their non-competitive nature and ability to fast for long periods, vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths) are more effective at controlling prey populations than bird or mammal predators.

Still don’t want vipers for neighbors? Make friends with other snakes! Kingsnakes, racers, and other non-venomous snakes eat venomous snakes. Others, like gophersnakes and bullsnakes, compete with venomous snakes for food.

Most bites happen to people who try to handle or kill snakes; the rest are due to people not watching where they put their hands or feet.

Once you spot a snake, the risk of a bite is virtually zero since you can keep a safe distance.

Snakes presumed dead can and do bite.

Shooting snakes can result in people getting shot because their size and shape make them easy to miss.

Don’t feed or water pets or wildlife on the ground.

Eliminate debris piles and other shelters for snakes or their prey.

Reduce water and lush or overgrown vegetation that attract snakes and their prey.

Horse hair ropes, mothballs, and other commercial repellants don’t work.

Use lights when walking at night.

Create clear, wide paths for safe walking.

Look before placing your hands and feet.

If you can’t see, use a long stick to disturb vegetation and hidden animals.

Don’t use bird netting or glue traps (it is difficult to safely extract trapped animals).

Keep pets indoors or under control.