Harmless to humans, garter snakes eat the pests that wreak havoc in your garden.

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BACKYARD SNAKES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The

most feared animals in the United

States? Not lions or tigers or bears, oh my – it’s snakes! Most are harmless and surprisingly good for your garden.

These slithery creatures get a bad rap, yet very few are hazardous to your health, according to Alderleaf Wilderness College in Seattle. Venomous snakes are rare in most North American backyards. The typical snake that you’ll probably discover on your property or in the nearby woods is a garter (also known as a garden) snake.

If you get too close or provoke them, however, they may bite you

Even if the snake is nonvenomous, it could bite you if you don’t give it enough space or if it feels threatened. Since they’re cold-blooded, they can often be found lying on flat rocks enjoying the summer sun so let them be.

depending on which part of the country they’re in. They could be green, red, brown, black, orange, gray, yellow or a combination of hues.

Their bodies are striped

Another way to identify a garter snake is by a pattern of three light stripes on a dark body, although the pattern can vary. One narrow stripe runs down the center of the snake’s back, with a broad stripe on each side. They also have round eyes and double belly scales, which vary in shape and size. Most are two to three feet in length, but some species can grow even bigger to four feet. The Farmer’s Almanac says that it takes two years for garter snakes to reach maturity, and they can live to be 10 years old in the wild.

They find a yard so appealing because it has an abundant supply of everything they need to survive – water, shade, shelter and food. If you’re curious about your local snakes, here’s what you need to know:

They won’t harm you

If you’re concerned a backyard snake will come after you and your little dog too, stop worrying. Garter snakes are shy and just want to be left alone.

They have a varied diet

Snakes like to munch on frogs, lizards, mice, snails, earthworms and insects. What makes them so valuable in a backyard is their fondness for snacking on slugs and beetles, which can wreak havoc with your plants.

They come in many colors

One of the best ways to identify a snake is to look for its coloration, which varies,

They dislike well-maintained gardens

Garter snakes enjoy hiding out in tall grasses and shrubs. If you’d rather they not inhabit your yard, keep the grass low (one inch or less). Keep your flower beds well maintained too and snakes won’t be dropping by for a visit. If there’s standing water on your property, get rid of it and you’ll cut out a source of the snakes’ water supply.

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