Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! We thought today could be a fun time to discuss some of our under-appreciated native animals: green anoles, rough and smooth green snakes, and green tree frogs. All of these little guys are critical parts of our ecosystem because they help control pest populations. Unfortunately, they’re all also experiencing population declinesContinue reading “Our Structurally Green Wildlife”
Tag Archives: snakes
Should You Kill the Snake that Bit You?
You likely heard this myth growing up, especially if you had a misguided scout leader or grandpa! The idea is that, if you get bitten by a snake, you should immediately kill it so you can bring it with you to the emergency room. Supposedly, the snake’s carcass will allow doctors to know whether theContinue reading “Should You Kill the Snake that Bit You?”
Camels Kill More Tennesseans than Copperheads
We were alarmed and saddened yesterday to see the tragic news about a dromedary camel in Obion County, belonging to Shirley Petting Zoo. The animal went on a rampage and killed two men, trampling a police vehicle before finally being shot to death. This comes just a few months after a similarly bizarre and shockingContinue reading “Camels Kill More Tennesseans than Copperheads”
Don’t Exterminate Your Exterminators
We’re so lucky that our ecosystem is full of animals who work behind the scenes to keep our homes, lawns, and gardens free of pests! One single owl, for example, can kill twelve mice per night, while a skunk will spend weeks digging up every rat’s nest in a neighborhood. Coyotes are probably the bestContinue reading “Don’t Exterminate Your Exterminators”
Happy World Snake Day
It’s World Snake Day! 🎉 🐍 We love the sneks, danger noodles, and noperopes of the world and have had the honor of rehabilitating two of them (and also hosting several wild noodles on our properties)! This fellow, Raphael, was a kingsnake admitted earlier this year after being tangled in garden netting and getting himselfContinue reading “Happy World Snake Day”
Don’t Move Reptile Eggs
This beautiful Eastern box turtle was spotted laying eggs in Fairfax, Virginia. Fortunately for her, the photographer left her and her eggs alone. Many other reptile moms aren’t so lucky: often, a person will find reptile eggs and will move them either indoors or to a different outdoor spot. This is often fatal for theContinue reading “Don’t Move Reptile Eggs”
Copperheads Aren’t Very Dangerous
Although copperheads are venomous, they aren’t nearly as dangerous as many people believe. They are incredibly shy, elusive snakes who greatly prefer to hide rather than to bite. A copperhead will only bite a human if it’s directly provoked, such as when it has been stepped upon or handled. In the unlikely event that aContinue reading “Copperheads Aren’t Very Dangerous”
Bobcats Eat Venomous Snakes
Venomous snakes aren’t bad or evil. Like all other animals, they have an important role to play in our ecosystem. Among other things, snakes help to control populations of rats and mice. This in turn helps reduce the incidence of diseases these rodents might carry. Nevertheless, you probably don’t want venomous snakes living too closeContinue reading “Bobcats Eat Venomous Snakes”
Rough Green Snakes are Excellent Neighbors!
This little gem is a rough green snake, one of our most beautiful native reptiles. Rough green snakes are excellent neighbors. They eat large numbers of cockroaches, termites, ants, crickets, earwigs, and centipedes, and also occasionally snack on newborn rats and mice. Green snakes aren’t venomous and almost never bite humans, even when provoked andContinue reading “Rough Green Snakes are Excellent Neighbors!”
Tennessee’s Slender Glass Snake
Only a lucky few will see one of these rare creatures within our beautiful state— and most will mistake them for snakes! Slender glass lizards are endangered within the state of Tennessee due to human disturbance of their habitat and the introduction of unnatural predators like outdoor cats. They usually live in open grasslands andContinue reading “Tennessee’s Slender Glass Snake”
For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue 