Ditto everything Lisa said ... keep a rag handy and if you see any near you - swoosh the rag in their direction and they'll go away.

Me? I see them mostly when I'm mowing the lawn. I pick them up and move them to the wood pile where they'll be safe from the mower. Garters are great garden companions. I save toads from the mower too.

Funny story. One of my past dogs used to walk next to me when I was mowing. If I saw a toad (we have LOTS) I would stop the mower, pick it up and move it to the wood pile. I always told the dog "lets move Mr. Toad to the wood pile". Eventually ... the dog started seeing the toads first and would go out in front of me and "nose" them forward and "herd" them to the wood pile. I think I had the only toad herding dog in the world.

I have rattlers in my yard. Have had them get in my garage. Also have rat snakes that look so much like the rattlers. We have the little garden snake also. I am so afraid of them all I want them all gone.

I've never seen one here in the city. But I grew up in the country and saw them all the time when I was little. My daughter has a pond in her yard in Colorado and "the boys" (aka Granddogs) love to find snakes in there and bring them in the house. They're quite proud of themselves.

DOG HOUSE MOM: love your toad herding dog! Cute!

Lucky you! I get copperheads in my yard. I always use a walking stick when going in the woods to make a movement before I step. They like my farm pond.
I would love to see some garter snakes. They are harmless and useful. I do understand the eck factor for some people.

I did find a ring neck snake in my laundry room many years ago. It was newly hatched, so it could have wiggled in under the outer door. This cutie is about 5" long and harmless.

Good luck with the snakes.
peace

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Buck up there Girl! We Canadians are a tough breed! Now you might freak at bit at my suggestion.

Have some one help you CATCH one and HOLD it for a while ( okay a little one). Then you can see how delicate and silky they feel. The more you get to know them the more you will appreciate them and be less afraid. Still, I am ALWAYS startled when I come across a snake but not frightened
MaryKatherine

If there is a way in the critters will come

I understand how you feel. I was raised in the country but still don't like snakes. In one town we lived, there were times I looked in the back yard and could see at least a half a dozen of snakes at one time. I would take the kids out we me when I would hang out clothes thinking that their running around would scare the snakes away.

I love your story, Dog House Mom! When my son was about 4 he told me that the problem with snakes is that they snake up on you. I name the garter snakes that live around my house. I look for them when I go outside to eliminate the startle factor.

That is exactly right, Mary Katherine.

Garter snakes eat more than bugs, they eat mice too.

There were lots of Garter snakes around my grandmother's house. As a child I played with them. Now I prefer to see them first and it has been a few years since I picked on up. I think being startled is normal when something moves unexpectedly.

I once saw a writhing mass of mating snakes, it was about the size of a basket ball. Fascinating.

The only times we have had a snake inside is when the cats brought them in. We have had many cats that like to play with snakes, but none that killed them.

My step mum is from NZ where they have no snakes. She lives in my grandmother's house for 4-5 months of each year, the summer when the snakes are out. She has gotten used to them, thank goodness her heart is strong.