Snakes are perhaps the most feared and hated reptiles. These irrational feelings toward snakes are caused by a lack of understanding and the superstitions handed down from one generation to another.

Most people shudder at the very thought of a snake because they do not understand the unknown. Snakes are not mysterious at all, and their colorful, fascinating life histories don't justify the anxiety many people feel about them.

Only four are poisonous. These are the  copperhead,  cottonmouth (water moccasin),  rattlesnake and coral snake. While venomous snakes should be respected and approached with caution, most snakes a homeowner encounters in an urban environment are harmless and beneficial because they eat mice and other rodents.