There are some who believe that the only good Snake is a dead snake. Over half of the US population fears Snakes, more than any other country in the world. Fear often stems from misunderstanding and the more you learn about these creatures hopefully the more you can accept them.

Essentially legless lizards, snakes are just one of the many creatures that do your garden good and Garter Snakes are the best. Shy, non-aggressive and non-venomous, garter snakes are often mistakenly called ‘gardener’ snakes. This may be a slip of the tongue, but the title is actually quite fitting! They are commonly found in gardens after all and are beneficial to their home in numerous ways. A voracious eater of bad bugs like grasshoppers and termites and vermin like mice and moles, this streamlined predator loves snacking on things that most of us would rather not have around. No matter what anyone else tells you, snakes do NOT hunt humans, but they are strictly carnivorous so you won’t catch them taking even the smallest nibble of your prized veggies and flowers. They are quiet creatures that keep to themselves and do not disturb the soil or pester the plants. They don’t dig holes, they only slip into holes made by their prey (mole tunnels and mice burrows suit them just fine!) They fear humans and avoid us outright, and by the time you’ve spotted  one and registered in your mind what it is the critter has already darted away.

Snakes have the unfortunate luck of falling into the same category as bats and spiders : what I like to call the Scary But Good Club. Spiders, bats and snakes are all incredibly beneficial to the garden, yet people are so averse to their appearance and potential threat that their innate disgust leads to killing some of one’s best allies against garden pests. The truth is that out of the 3000 species of snakes only an exceedingly small percentage are venomous and an even smaller percentage presents any real threat to humans. In fact, more people are killed each year by bees than by snakes.  If we can live and work among beneficial pollinators despite their potential to sting, then we should be able to extend the same amount of respect for gentle garter snakes. With that said, I don’t encourage carelessness when it comes to dealing with these reptiles. When you see a snake, treat it like all other wild animals and leave it alone. Even if you identify it as a garter snake its best to err on the side of caution and move away from it slowly so it can get back to doing its thing.

Remember “a snake in the grass” can be a good thing!

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