Living with Snakes

Every year, warm temperatures set the Zoo’s telephones ringing with calls from frantic homeowners who saw a snake in their yards. Most of the callers insist that THEIR snake is a Copperhead or Rattlesnake, and they want help getting rid of it or keeping it (and all snakes) away.  Most often, when the caller describes the snake, it turns out to be a harmless, highly beneficial creature.

Unfortunately, many people equate finding a snake with killing a snake. So, too many callers contact us after they have killed a harmless little snake that spent its entire life eating mice, rats and other pests that carry real diseases that can actually hurt people.

Because the Zoo staff cares about the health of North Carolina’s neighborhoods, we have created a short brochure to help these frightened people recognize, understand and make peace with the snakes that live in yards, fields and forests throughout the state. The brochure explains how to care for yard so that snakes will find it less appealing and how to deal with snakes safely if you see one.

To download the story about snakes on the plains, hills and mountains around North Carolina, just click on the title below, with our complements.