Snakes like hiding places, they are pretty solitary creatures that do not pose any risk unless they feel threatened. For instance, many house owners have heard of garden snakes but they have actually never seen any. If you love gardening it is possible to come across the skins garden snakes moult, otherwise they are well hidden in living environment and keep their distance from humans that encounters are very sporadic. Garden snakes are dull colored, either in tans and shades of brown, pale yellow, khaki or green, both humans and large animals like pets will scare them. The only issue is when the garden snakes are venomous, then you are in trouble, and most often, professional assistance is required to capture and relocate them in a wild habitat.
The most common garden snakes species is the Gartner snake, and it is found mainly in the Americas in almost all climates. Yards, fields, forests and ponds are part of its favorite homes, which is why a garden with all its vegetation variety proves perfect for such snakes. One can identify the Gartner snake by three yellow horizontal lines along the body; these creatures are small-sized and slender, feeding on fish, frogs and earthworms. In turn garden snakes become prey for other animals like raccoons and owls. Avoid contact with garden snakes no matter the species as their bite could be pretty nasty.
North American garden snakes hibernate in large nests together with other individuals, and it is during this period that many people collect them as pets. In certain parts of the continent a decline in the garden snakes population has been noticed, not only because collector's abuse but also because of the fragility of the ecosystems of which garden snakes are an integrated segment. Concerning the variety of subspecies identified as garden snakes, field guides often provide incomplete data. Even researchers do not always share the same opinion about the risk or safety of these snakes in human proximity.
For people who'd like to keep garden snakes away from their house premises, there are all sorts of repellents available in stores. The risk is potentially higher when you live in an area where both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes live and you find it difficult to make a distinction between them. Even so, the attempt of limiting the snakes' presence in the garden is not 100% successful since garden snakes have the possibility to hide and camouflage very well. Most experts insist that you leave them alone unless you come across them on a very frequent basis.
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