Snakes seem more plentiful this year. If you’re afraid of snakes, this news is probably going to alarm you. Among the 32 snake species found in Kentucky, four are venomous. Copperheads, cottonmouths, as well as the timber and pygmy rattlesnakes, are native to Kentucky.
In April, the Poison Control Center received 71 calls about snake bites, up from 19 calls last April. Officials say they receive on average about 10 times the number of calls about copperhead bites than all other venomous snakes combined. But by far, the 
majority of snakes you normally encounter are harmless.
Snakes get a bad rap, and non-venomous snakes help keep the rodent population down. Some like the King Snake even kill the most common venomous snake, the Copperhead. Recently, some folks are noticing a spike in snake sightings. Why are people seeing more snakes than usual? Experts blame Mother Nature and the mild winter we had. Because of that, the rodent population, especially mice, is booming. So are the snakes that feed on them.
Rat snakes, also known as Chicken snakes, love to get into houses. Make sure they stay away from your home by checking the joints between siding and brick on the exterior, and sealing cracks in the foundation. Cracks around garage doors are a favorite entry point. Search for rodent dens on your property and eliminate it, since snakes follow their prey. Finally, remove debris around the foundation of your home – it’s a favorite hiding place for the creatures. If you do spot a snake, don’t panic! I know of some people so terrified of snakes that they overreact and hurt themselves or someone in their family just trying to get away from it. The best way to keep snakes away from your house is to remove places for them to hide or that would attract prey species. That includes lumber, woodpiles, tin and other debris. Keeping grass mowed and the lower branches of shrubs trimmed will make your yard less attractive to snakes. Another reason so many snakes are being spotted is that this is a peak time for snakes to venture forth and lay their eggs.
One of the big mistakes people make is killing King snakes or black snakes they find in their yards. IAs I stated earlier, these snakes kill and eat venomous snakes. “Everybody always says a good snake is a dead snake.” But would you rather keep a 
black snake around or do you want a copperhead around? Black rat snakes, King snakes and racers are the most commonly spotted large species. I know firsthand that King snakes are very docile and friendly. However, timber rattlesnakes and copperheads do live in the region – though timber rattlers are rarely seen. It’s unlikely a snake will bite you unless it thinks you’re a threat. Most of them are more of a flight risk, than a bite risk.
However, that’s not to say non-venomous snakes don’t bite if provoked. But the bite is harmless. Most bites and injuries come when people are trying to catch or kill them. For the most part, a snake is as afraid of you as you are of it. If you respect it’s space and don’t mess with it, chances are they will be on their way. Every snake plays an important role in the ecology of our world. So just leave them alone. If there is a snake threatening a pet or in your home, then it may need to be eradicated. But other than that, just give them their space and you won’t have any problems. If you enjoy reading this blog, feel free to comment and please hit the like button at the bottom of this post.