Snakes in your yard mean you’re doing it right

From the Help Desk: A recent article in the Fall 2025 National Wildlife Magazine inspired a follow up to a previous article suggesting accepting some garden pests. According to the article “If you see them in your yard, you’re doing it right.” You do not have to like them, but you do not need to destroy them. Here are some more unlovable ones to reconsider and enjoy their benefits.

Snakes!

Ecological benefits We are discussing nonvenomous.

• Pest Control As efficient predators, snakes help control populations of rodents, insects, and other small animals that damage crops and property. A single snake can prevent thousands of rats, voles, moles, and mice from entering an ecosystem annually.

• Disease Prevention By preying on rodents, which often host ticks and fleas, snakes help reduce the spread of zoonotic diseases like Lyme disease and the bubonic plague.

• Food Chain Balance Snakes serve as both predators and prey. They are an important food source for larger animals such as birds of prey (e.g., hawks), and other mammals, contributing to the flow of energy in the food web.

• Ecosystem Health Indicators Snakes are sensitive to environmental changes and pollution, making them valuable indicator species. A healthy snake population often signals a stable and balanced ecosystem.

• Nutrient Cycling and Seed Dispersal Snakes contribute to nutrient cycling through decomposition and may also help disperse seeds from the prey they consume, aiding plant regeneration.

Benefits to Human Health and Economy

• Pharmaceutical Development (most venomous) Snake venom contains complex proteins and peptides that have been instrumental in developing numerous life-saving drugs.

• Agricultural Value (nonvenomous) By naturally controlling rodent populations, snakes protect valuable crops and stored grains, preventing millions of dollars in damage and helping to stabilize food prices.

Common nonvenomous Coastal Virginia Snakes: Garter, Rough Green Northern Water, Eastern Black Racer, and Hog-nosed Snake

How to attract snakes to your yard?

Create a hospitable habitat by providing three main elements:

~ food sources

~ water sources

~ ample shelter