Pulling weeds or spreading mulch can produce an unwelcome surprise when something underneath suddenly starts moving. A snake tucked beneath mulch, leaves, landscape fabric, a flowerpot, or a piece of wood may have been resting there long before you disturbed its hiding place. Your first instinct might be to grab a shovel, move closer for a better look, or even reach down if the snake appears small and harmless, but that’s exactly what garden snake safety guidance tells you not to do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends never touching or handling a snake and warns that brush, leaves, and debris can conceal them. If a snake suddenly appears in your garden, these precautions can keep a routine afternoon of yard work from turning into a medical emergency.
