Not All Snakes Harmful, but Be Careful

Newswise — Be on the lookout for snakes driven from their dens by torrential rainstorms, but think twice before killing them. Most snakes are helpful and play an important role in the food chain, said Ken Marion, Ph.D., UAB Department of Biology. "Unfortunately, snakes terrify most people who end up killing them." Little brown snakes eat slugs that get into gardens and eat plants. King and Rat snakes feed on rodents, and King snakes eat other snakes, including poisonous ones. Though most snakes found around homes are harmless, leave any snake alone to avoid accidents. "And, watch where you are stepping and don't put your hands in places where you aren't sure what's there, like under logs or rocks."