Nova Scotia’s Harmless, Helpful Snakes

As temperatures rise in the Maritimes, our cold-blooded wildlife will be waking up in the coming months and Snake Season will soon be upon us! I’d just like to remind my neighbours that ALL of our Nova Scotia snake species are completely harmless. There are NO dangerous venomous snakes in Nova Scotia! In fact, all of our snake species perform vital services for us and our ecosystem.

There are only 5 species of snakes who call Nova Scotia home. Our largest and most common species, the Maritime Garter, and their close relative, the Eastern Ribbon snake, feed primarily on amphibians and small fish, and are especially helpful at keeping frog populations healthy & disease-free. A sizable garter will also make short work of pest-rodent nests, so they’re a welcome addition to any property. Our two smallest species, Ringneck & Redbelly snakes, feed almost exclusively on slugs and other small invertebrates, making them every gardener & berry-grower’s best friend. Our stunning Smooth Green snakes also help gardeners by feeding on insects & arachnids, including caterpillars & spiders.

All five of our species are completely harmless to you & your pets, and they all fill a vital role in our ecosystem as both predators and prey. Just let them be, and they’ll do you no harm. Snakes can’t damage your property or your garden. They don’t bite unless frightened or handled, but even if you do get bitten, snakes have slender, curved needle-like teeth that are designed to simply hold prey, not chew. Many of our snakes can’t even break human skin, but a harmless snake bite is just that… harmless. Disinfect as you would with any animal-bite and you will be amazed at how quickly those tiny pinpricks heal. A scratch from a pet cat is far more damaging than any garter snake bite.

So if you encounter a snake in Nova Scotia this spring, just let it go about its slithery business. It can’t hurt you. If you absolutely MUST move a snake, put on a leather work glove to reduce the chance of a bite, pick up the snake and drop it in a pillowcase, or other breathable cloth bag, then simply release it somewhere nearby.

I realise most people will never love snakes the way I do , but if you can find it in your heart to simply let them live, that makes you a hero to me! You might just save a snake’s life simply by sharing this post!