I must say I am much more laid back than some people. I live on a conservation lot in Florida. There will be snakes, there will be deer, there will be armadillos, there will be raccoons and there will be a million other critters, most of who I am not even aware of. As long as I KNOW there are snakes near/in my garden pond (and in the retention pond just a few feet from there too), and as long as I am aware that there are alligators in the pond, and as long as I am aware that there are bobcats in the woods, and as long as I am aware that there may be spiders of any kind, possible scorpions, possible venomous critters of any kind...as long as I am aware that these critters may share my space with me then I am ok. If/when I identify the rabid/venomous critters in my space, I will find a professional to help me deal with that. Otherwise, I need to be a conscientious gardener. The snakes that I currently have near my pond are not venomous. Are they looking to (or have they already) started a family? Perhaps. But these snakes are the good guys. They help remove the harmful bugs and other critters from my yard. Will I scream if they suddenly pop up where I least expect them? Oh hell yeah! But will I make a concerted attempt to determine if they are beneficial or harmful? You bet. And will I make sure I give them space and leave them be if it is determined that they are harmless? Yes again. We, as humans, need to learn to live with the critters that Mother Nature placed here. We need to learn the place that these critters play in our lives rather than attempting to eradicate them from our environment.
***** Stepping off the soapbox and heading back to the lanai to enjoy the critters. *****