A Snake in Your Amazing Blades
Amazing Blades Landscaping specializes in making the outside of your home or commercial property look and feel perfect. But being outdoors sometimes means you have to share your perfect little piece of South Carolina paradise with some not so savory reptiles. We mean of course our very helpful, slightly slithery, and sometimes dangerous friend... the Snake. This time of year it is not uncommon for you to find those sneaky little reptiles curled up in the corner of your yard, and we are often asked, "What should I do when I see a snake?" Amazing Blades Landscaping would like to offer some useful information and tips on what to do when you find a snake in your Amazing Blades.
Wait... Snakes are a Good Thing?
First, it is important to understand that that snakes are not only a beneficial creature, but seeing one in your yard is usually a sign of a healthy environment. Snakes hunt disease carrying insects and small rodents that can cause huge amounts of property damage. So even if seeing a snake makes you want to run inside, having one campout in your yard for a little while could be beneficial for both of you.
Aren't Snakes Deadly?
In the South Carolina region, there are close to 40 different kinds of snakes and about 75% are... Not Poisonous. Most of the snakes you will find in your yard are of the non-venomous variety. Black Snakes, Corn Snakes, Green Garden Snakes, and many others are quite common in South Carolina and are perfectly harmless to humans. If you see one out and about, remember they hunt for mice, rats, and other rodents that can damage your yard or property. Just leave them alone and let them do their thing.
Ok... But What About the Venomous Ones?
The most common types of venomous snakes in South Carolina are the Copperhead, Coral Snake, Cottonmouth, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Eastern Diamond, and Timber Rattlesnake. Needless to say, if you find yourself on the bad side of one of these guys, you might be in for a bad day. It is still good to remember that even though these snakes tend to be more aggressive, they will still run away when face-to-face with a human if they are given the chance. If you spot a snake you think may be poisonous, leave it alone. If you need to get around it, give it a wide berth, and try to keep your eye on where it moves to.
Snake Bitten... AHHH!
So, if you haven't listened to anything we said (or just have really bad luck) and end up with a snake bite, what should you do? First, Stay Calm and Don't Panic. This will be the most important thing you can ever do. Then, seek medical attention as soon as you can. This could mean calling 911 or just driving yourself to the hospital if that will be faster. Don't waste time trying to catch and kill the snake to bring it into the hospital. This just wastes time and raises your heart rate. Even if you think the snake was not poisonous or are not sure you should still go to the hospital. Even non-venomous snakes can carry bacteria in their mouths that can cause a nasty infection and the wound will need to be cleaned and dressed. Here is some more information about what to do when you have gotten snakebite.
https://www.wikihow.health/Survive-Being-Bitten-by-a-Venomous-Snake
I Still Don't Like Them... Now What?
There is no effective way to keep snakes out of the environment, however if you have one on your property that you just can't stand, the best thing to do is have it removed by Animal Control or a professional of some kind. Many of the "traps" you can buy in a home improvement are not very effective or are incredible inhumane. Most importantly... just leave it alone. Once it is done hunting, it will likely move on to an area with more to munch on.
Resources:
https://www.dnr.sc.gov/education/pdf/VenomousSnakesSC.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_snakes_of_South_Carolina
https://carolinawildlife.org/rescue-advice/
https://www.wikihow.health/Survive-Being-Bitten-by-a-Venomous-Snake