I’ve remarked quite recently that I’m not exactly an “animal rights” person, but this evening I was reminded of something else that really bothers me.
Folks, please don’t kill snakes indiscriminately.
In the first place, there are no snakes that want any more to do with you than you do with them. In the second place, a snake you encounter around your house is probably not venomous. The only potentially dangerous snake you’re even a little bit likely to see at home is the copperhead, and if you live in a subdivision of any age whatsoever, they probably moved out long ago. In case you have doubts, the subspecies of copperhead found around here looks like this photo. Look for a marking that looks like a Hershey’s Kiss.
(Now I’ll confess that I kill dangerous snakes close to the house. If I come out in the woods then I’m fair game, but I’m not having venomous reptiles in my yard.)
But the ones I’m far more likely to encounter—garter snakes, rat snakes, racers, and so forth—I leave alone. There is no interest served in harming them. I thank them for the look (and the photo, if I get one), and leave them to their business. Please consider doing the same thing. Killing them makes no more sense than killing lizards and turtles.
(Besides, the pythons will be here soon enough.)
photo credit: Tad 20D via photo pin cc
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