Snakes, Why Does It Have To Be Snakes?!
Some of you may recognize this title quote from the great Indiana Jones, who, as virile as he was, appeared to be apprehensive about snakes when facing them on a temple floor. Snakes are definitely a charged subject and elicit a response of usually hate or love; rarely is it middle ground.
I recently received a picture of a magnificently marked ratsnake, gray morph. As I scanned the picture marveling at the patterns and colors, I then saw it had been killed, with a bloody head and lacerations near the end of its body. This made me and the person who sent me the picture so sad. Why? Why do we humans feel the need to kill all snakes we encounter? Most people have acquired a learned behavior to hate snakes. Some may have been taught by an elder to hate or fear snakes, some may have been misinformed, some may simply not be thinking for themselves and are readily swallowing the myths and stories they read or hear which only perpetuates falsehoods. Others may simply not like the way they look, no legs, scales instead of fur, small eyes and a long, forked tongue.
Okay, so why shouldn’t we kill snakes? Let me count the reasons.
1. As both predator and prey, snakes maintain critical balance in the food web. They help maintain a healthy, thriving ecosystem. As a prey item, snakes are food for raptors, weasels, bobcats, herons, fox, opossums (who are immune to snake venom) and other snakes. The kingsnake often snacks on copperheads and Timber rattlesnakes. As a predator, snakes eat rats and mice and other rodents. Rats and mice can cause thousands of dollars in damage to human and livestock/kennel food. Remember the plague that almost wiped out the human population years ago? It was caused by a bacteria that is spread by fleas and consequently infected people and animals. Rats and mice are hosts to fleas. Rats and mice may also carry other infectious diseases like hantavirus and salmonella to name a few. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks which can reside on rodents who are eaten by whom? Our friend, the snake! Snakes are our Earth’s natural and free form of pest control.
2. Sometimes, I think people may kill snakes from fear of being bitten. Let’s look at some statistics. According to this graph from the University of Florida and posted by Wild Snakes Education and Discussion.org, snake bites are very low on the human fatality list. You’re more likely to be bitten by a dog or struck by lightning. When attempting to kill a snake, you are putting yourself at a greater risk of being bitten. The snake will defend its life if cornered and attacked which means biting the attacker. How ironic!
credit: University of Florida and WSED
3. According to wsed.org, “Ending every snake you see then also necessitates the use of potentially hundreds of man hours manually eradicating rodents (laying traps/the use of pesticides) and that can also directly negatively impact an entire ecosystem of animals that are dependent on rodents as prey. Other predators that help keep those rats and squirrels in check, like hawks and owls, will then be poisoned as well as the ground water from which we drink.”
4. If all this info is not enough ammunition to give snakes some credibility, the venom from venomous snakes is used to treat many human illnesses including heart attacks, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, chronic pain and some cancers! Snakes just keep getting better!
Okay, so now you have some valid and amazing information to help you gain respect for this creature, but you still don’t want to encounter a snake. What to do?
You need to learn where they hang out. Snakes love log piles, low lying shrubbery, tall grasses, rock outcroppings - these all provide shelter for them. Don’t stick your hand or feet in places into which you can’t see. If you need access to an area like any of these, use a long stick or tool to rustle your way through, announcing your presence, giving the snake a chance to scoot. If you are hiking and crossing fallen trees, step onto the log and then over it. A snake might like to curl up just under the edge of a log.
If you still encounter a snake, give it room, admire it from a distance, giving it a chance to move along when it feels safe to do so. Be sure to keep your children and dogs away. Teach your children to respect, not fear snakes. We are big, scary things to snakes and most don’t want to be near us! If you encounter a snake in your yard that isn’t ready to leave and you are ready for it to, give it a light misting with a water hose. This should help it slither along. If you still need help moving a snake, check out Free Snake Relocation Directory on Facebook.
What venomous snakes are in the Chattanooga area? Two: the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Learn to identify these snakes! We do not have cottonmouths (aka water moccasins) in our area, they reside farther west. And remember, all snakes can swim! I often find people killing snakes and then asking is it venomous? Well, the simple solution is don’t kill any snakes, but also learn to identify snakes. I highly recommend Tennessee Watchable Wildlife. While we’re at it, let’s get poisonous and venomous straight. Remember this... venom is injected, poison is ingested. Snakes inject venom through their fangs.
Did you know snakes are ectothermic, meaning whatever the temp is outside is the temp they are? They have to warm up, sunning themselves on pavement or rocks, before beginning their day of hunting for food. If a snake eats when it is cold or the outside temps are cold, it may die, with the food not being able to process through its body. Snakes brumate (simply put, the reptile form of hibernation) in the cold months and do not eat. They may gather, sometimes in species specific groups, in a hibernacula during the cold months. Snakes just keep getting more and more fascinating!
Some of our summer campers learning about snakes up close!
I hope you’ve gained new knowledge, your curiosity has been piqued and you’ve developed a new respect for snakes. These vital and beautiful creatures need and deserve our respect and protection. Spread the word, don’t kill snakes and let people know why!
