What can I do?
1. Provide hiding places
Snakes require shelter from their many predators such as hawks and crows that are
quick to make a meal of them. Suitable hiding places may consist of rocks or decaying
logs, brush piles, or patches of dense shrub or herbaceous vegetation.
One of the simplest ways to provide shelter for snakes is to leave natural coverobjects
— fallen logs, bark, and rocks — in place. You can also leave areas of
uncut vegetation in an orchard or in a perennial border. Using hedges to
divide the property into different areas enhances its appearance and
provides hiding places and travel corridors for snakes and other small
wildlife.
You can also construct special structures for snakes. These can range
from simple rock and brush piles to elaborate rock walls. Dry-stack rock
walls (built without mortar) are particularly suitable, because the crevices and
cracks between rocks provide abundant and varied hiding places for snakes and
lizards. If you decide to start with rock or brush piles, make sure that the piles are
stable and relatively large (about one metre wide at the base). Careful placement of
these structures is also important: locate them adjacent to borders, hedges, or a
compost heap.
2. Provide warm sites
Snakes and lizards derive most of their body heat from the environment and therefore
require suitable warm “sunning” areas. Raising the body temperature helps these
reptiles digest their food and assimilate energy. The availability of warm sites is
particularly important for females when they are producing eggs or young. In contrast
to garter snakes that give birth to live young, the Sharp-tailed Snake
lays eggs.
If you are fortunate enough to have a rocky hillside or a
knoll that receives sun for at least a part of the day, make
sure to protect it and restrict foot-traffic in that area.
Prevent erosion by restricting activities immediately
upslope, as soil and silt can fill the cracks between
rocks. Keeping such slopes free of Scotch Broom and
other invasive plants that will shade them is also
beneficial. Adding rocks of varying sizes to the base of an
exposed hillside is one way to improve habitat for snakes, and
placing new rock walls and rock piles on south-facing slopes or where
they receive sun is another.
In the garden, snakes may take advantage of warm conditions under black plastic
sheets that are used to control weeds on vegetable or flowerbeds. You can provide
warm sites just for snakes by placing sheets of tin or black asphalt roofing in sunny
locations — about 60 x 60 centimetres (2 x 2 feet) sheets work well. These covers are
more durable than plastic sheets and last for many years. If these covers are used,
however, take special care to place them in low-traffic locations to avoid injury to the
animals sheltering underneath.
3. Provide a pesticide-free environment
Chemical pesticides and herbicides can harm wildlife either directly or by
contaminating their food supply. Chemical slug bait containing metaldehyde is
Did you know?
Adding hiding places is
an excellent way to
attract snakes.
South-facing rocky slopes
provide egg-laying and
nursery sites for the Sharptailed
Snake.
Did you know?
hazardous not only to wildlife but also to children and family pets. Whenever
possible, use alternative methods to chemical pesticides to control garden pests
Encouraging snakes to inhabit your garden is a natural way to control slugs. In
particular, the Sharp-tailed Snake and the Northwestern Garter Snake are voracious
feeders on slugs. Depending on the magnitude of your slug problem, you might
need to use a combination of control measures. Effective measures include trapping,
hand-picking, and use of barriers. Frequent cultivation of the soil and using a
drip-irrigation rather than a sprinkler system will also help reduce the slug population
in your garden.
4. Tread gently
You can reduce the accidental death of snakes, lizards, and other small
animals by taking a few simple precautions. When moving rocks or
repairing old rock walls, be aware that these cover objects may have
become home to animals — take special care to avoid accidentally
crushing animals that might be sheltering there. When mowing tall
grass, first walk through or stir the area, so that any concealed snakes
have a chance to move out of harm’s way. Similarly, when using a
weed-eater, first stir the area with a stick to alert snakes to your
presence — they will quickly slither away.
5. Encourage and protect native vegetation and habitats
When creating wildlife habitat, imitate patterns found in nature. Replace straight
lines with irregular patterns and avoid large monocultures of single plants. Large
“tidied up” areas and weed-free gardens provide poor habitat for snakes and other
small wildlife. Sometimes natural patterns may initially look unstructured, but you
will soon grow accustomed to viewing the landscape with snakes and other wild
creatures in mind.
Instead of imported ornamentals, use native shrubs and herbs. In the Gulf
Islands, plants that occur in habitats occupied by the Sharp-tailed Snake include
salal, ocean spray, Nootka rose, and western trumpet honeysuckle. Because native
plants are adapted to local conditions, they usually require less maintenance and
attention than fancy imports. Several local nurseries provide a wide selection of
native plants and can help get you started.
One of the best ways to protect wildlife habitat is to leave some of your property
in its natural state. Even small patches of natural areas can be effective as habitat
both for small animals such as reptiles and for native plants. Conservation covenants
provide a way for landowners to ensure long-term protection of special habitats on
their properties. Many local conservation organizations and land trusts provide
assistance with setting up such stewardship agreements. Tax credits or other
incentives are often available for landowners that engage in stewardship agreements
or donate land for conservation.
6. Enhance access to habitats
Natural landscapes are a mosaic of interconnected habitats, providing a variety of
conditions for wildlife. Reduce the distance between habitat patches for easy access
to animals. Snakes are more likely to use the structures you have provided, such as
rock walls or brush piles, if they are not isolated in the middle of large open areas.
Efforts to maintain and restore wildlife habitat on your property reduce
fragmentation of the landscape and create habitat networks in your area. What you
do on your property, however small, can make a difference.
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