Common Iowa snakes take up residence in yard

Plant a backyard prairie, create a dense flower bed or pollinator habitat, and fascinating wildlife will flock to a yard. Snakes might be among them.

When we moved to our home that became Winding Pathways in 2010, the entire yard was mowed. Wildlife was limited to those common in the sterile desert of sprayed and mowed suburbia.

We soon began altering the land by seeding prairies, removing trees from our small woods to encourage spring wildflowers, and installed bird houses. We also diversified our forest by planting several native tree species long absent, and never have used insecticides. Now, five years later, the yard is transformed. Summer is a delightful season of varied blooming plants and amazing wildlife activity. Birds and butterflies constantly delight us, but one new tenant sometimes gives a startle.

Our diverse habitat encouraged two snake species to take up residence. One August midday we sat by a window overlooking our tiny pond. Movement caught our eyes as we watched a slender garter snake gracefully thread its way through the stones by the water's edge. A few days later a brown snake tried hiding from us in mulch surrounding a newly planted tree.

Garter snakes of several species are common across most of the United States and aren't unusual in yards. Easy to identify, they usually are only about 2 feet long with colorful stripes extending from head to tail. Garter snakes eat insects, worms, frogs and almost any other small animal they find. Nonpoisonous and shy, they quickly shift into high gear and flee when a person approaches.

Brown snakes sometimes are known as DeKay's snake. These tiny creatures, often only the size of a large nightcrawler, hide under leaves and logs in moist, woodsy areas. They're common near lakes and rivers across the eastern half of the United States and sometimes live in yards.

Brown muted colors help them hide from the wild turkeys and a host of predatory birds and mammals that enjoy snapping up one for lunch. Like garter snakes, brown snakes eat snails, slugs, insects and earthworms.

Some people fear any snake, and most are startled when they see one, but there is no need for concern during an encounter with garter or brown snakes.

Nonpoisonous and shy, few even get big enough to bite a person - something they're not inclined to do.

We're delighted to share our yard these two snake species. They are as fascinating and beautiful as goldfinches and cottontails.

' Marion and Rich Patterson live in Cedar Rapids and own Winding Pathways, a business designed to encourage and help people create and enjoy wondrous yards. For information check windingpathways.com