Snakes are helpful to your home

Q. I am emailing you photos of a snake. I am worried whether it is poisonous and we need to be on guard for others.

Gigi from Boardman

A. Although they surprise us when we first notice them, snakes are not something to fear in the landscape. They are something to be aware of, but not feared.

They are helpful to our landscape and our homes, in that they eat mice, rats, voles and insects.

Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles. In spring, they are leaving behind their winter homes in search of food and to mate. When they emerge, they are in search of heat to warm their bodies. Thus, they will be seen around rocks and other surfaces warmed by the sun. Piles of firewood, scrap lumber and general piles in the landscape are places they will love to hide.

On hot days, they will need a place to cool. Thus, they will find shelter under shrubs and plants that touch or shade the ground. This is a reminder to prune shrubs at the base if you want them to find shelter in the neighbor’s yard instead of yours.

The best way to reduce snake populations in your yard and garden is to modify the habitat – reducing food and shelter that attracts snakes. Eliminate food sources for rodents, clean up piles and trash and store things in the shed instead of on the ground.

When you encounter a snake, avoid cornering it. That will just make the snake feel threatened and it will defend itself. Simply back away and let it go.

Try to remember what the snake looked like and how long it was. To help identify snakes and know which are venomous and which are harmless, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has produced a full-color guide with photos titled “Reptiles of Ohio Field Guide.” You can view the entire guide online at http://go.osu.edu/snakeid.

To learn more about dealing with snakes in your yard and garden, visit go.osu.edu/snakeinfo.

Eric Barrett is OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Call the office hot line at 330-533-5538 to submit your questions. Regular clinic hours are 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Thursdays.