Snake Sightings in Your Yard? There's a Reason

(MOBILE, Ala.) - Along with your May flowers, snakes are also likely to pop up in your yard this time of year. But exterminators say this year with a lack of April showers, they're taking more calls than usual to get rid of them.

"My wife was outside in the yard, watching our two-year-old son and just happened to look down. At her feet, there were two snakes there," said Dave Barrett. "You don't want your two-year-old running around in the yard to get bit, it's kind of scary. "

That's where nuisance wildlife specialists like Michael Niemeyer come in. Niemeyer says he's been getting quite a few snake calls lately.

"This year I've seen more than usual, and I think that's due to the lack of rain we've had," said Niemeyer.

With drought conditions we're experiencing, the mice and rats snakes eat are getting closer to homes in search of water, drawing the snakes in with them.

"They have to go in search of food some where, and it may be in your back yard," said Niemeyer.

Biologists say not to fear. While there are six venomous kinds of snakes in Alabama, three of them aren't commonly found in the Mobile area. And most snakes you come across are not poisonous.

"If you see a snake, just turn around and walk the other way, leave it alone. They don't chase people. More people get bit trying to kill a snake than any other time," said biologist Susan Clement.