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10 Ways to Love and Respect Reptiles and Amphibians

Author Bio

Emma Gallagher is a Brit living in North Carolina. She grows organic gardens and... Read More

Frogs, lizards, toads, and snakes make it to the top of many a list of the most feared creatures around. They slither, slide, hop, and scatter around with their slimy, warty, and scaly skins!

Though healthy caution of some members of the reptile and amphibian population is wise (a number are highly venomous), there is no need to scream in terror at the sight of these wondrous critters.

Reptiles and amphibians can often be amazingly beneficial to have around, while others can be respected and admired from a safe distance. We just need to take the time to learn a little about these creatures’ habits so that we can all live harmoniously.

Here are a bunch of articles, celebrating, warning, and generally showing awe of these two incredible families of the animal kingdom.

1. Common Venomous Snakes

In the United States, the vast majority of snake species are non-venomous. There are only 22 species (37 subspecies) of venomous snakes in the USA. It’s good to have a healthy respect for snakes as potentially dangerous creatures, and it’s even better to understand which snakes which are and how to identify them. The first step to that is becoming familiar with what venomous snakes might live where you live, and from there, it’s just a matter of learning what they look like, where they inhabit, and how they behave. Learn more about How to Identify the Most Common Venomous Snakes in the United States.

2. Threats to Turtles

American Tortoise Rescue is a non-profit bent on protecting all species of turtles and tortoises, from the giants on the Galapagos to the sea turtles traversing depths of the Pacific to the eastern box turtle, one of the most commonly seen turtles in the wild. In this effort, ATR launched WorldTurtleDay.org to spread the love for and increase widespread knowledge about turtles around the world. These amazing creatures have been living on this planet since the time of dinosaurs and are still kicking! Take a look at these 7 Threats to Turtle Populations and How You Can Help.

3. Venomous Snake Encounters

For many people, a close encounter with a snake, venomous or not, is amongst the most terrifying experiences imaginable. It’s no matter that only 20% of snake species—one in five—are venomous. Of those, only about 1/3 of the venomous snake species have the potency to cause serious injury or fatality to a human. That means only 7% of snake species are scary on a practical level. However, innocent snakes suffer year after year due to misrepresentation and misplaced fear. So, maybe putting out another article about snakes will save a snake’s life or two. We are willing to give it a shot. Hopefully, folks are willing to listen. Plus, some of this information could save human life as well, should the unlikely venomous snake encounter with a venomous ever occur. Learn How to Deal with Venomous Snake Encounters.

4. Snakes for Good

Happening upon a snake in the yard can be a startling—to put it mildly—experience. Whether it’s an evolutionary instinct to jump back at the sight of a snake or another one of those ingrained cultural fears, a close encounter with the slithering kind usually shocks the system, even for those among us who admire the animal. Truth be known, snakes can be a good thing to have around, especially when they are outside and minding their own business. That’s because the snake business has little to nothing to do with biting humans—our big terror—and a lot to do with acting in ways that benefit humans. Take a look at these 3 Reasons a Snake in the Yard Might Be a Good Thing.

5. Garden Frogs, Lizards and Snakes

There are some people out there who spend a lot of time and money investing in keeping wild animals and critters from finding a home. There are all sorts of sprays, traps, electronic devices, noise machines, and old-fashioned scarecrows employed in the art of dissuading animals from coming around. But, there are also a ton of beneficial animals that can turn up in a yard. These are animals that cause very little mischief but might bring with them quite a lot of positive impacts. There are a whole lot of animals you want to see in the yard. You Want to See These 8 Animals in Your Yard.

6. Good and Bad Garden Reptiles

Reptiles are more often than not good friends in the garden. Very few are interested in gobbling up the green beans, but most of them are in quiet pursuit of those herbivorous and omnivorous animals that are searching for squash plants. Reptiles can help naturally control these “pests”. As people hoping to make peace with reptiles, it is important to get to know which ones are good to see in the garden (most) and which might cause a problem (not many). Furthermore, if we do spot those “bad” garden reptiles, maybe there are humane ways to send them on their way. It is really important to Get to Know the Good and Bad Garden Reptiles (and How to Humanely Handle Them)

7. Attracts Frogs

Frogs are beneficial wildlife to have in the garden. They are one of the best animals to have around really. They signal that the environment you’ve created is clean because they can’t survive in polluted environments. They have diets that are perfect for the gardener, naturally helping with pest control. And, like any wild animal, they habitually drop little pips of fertilizer as they hop to and fro. Rather than figuring out which frogs to attract, the more relevant idea is how to attract any native frogs or toads and why it’s worth doing. Learn about the Frogs That Can Make Your Garden Grow and How to Naturally Attract Them.

8. Copperheads

First of all, it’s worth noting that, like shark bites, snake bites are extraordinarily rare. More often than not, snakes sense humans coming from a long way away, and they wisely steer clear. Unlike many sharks, we are far too large for all (but a couple of non-venomous snakes) to be seen as a viable meal. For those of us in the US, the snake with the most bite offenses is the copperhead. While not a fun experience, it is the snake with the least venomous bite that tends to deliver “dry” bites, and rarely do victims not survive. Nonetheless, we don’t want them around if possible. Learn all about Getting Rid Of Baby Copperheads Humanely.

9. Frog-Friendly Gardens

As creators of these designed micro-ecosystems (gardens, lawns, home orchards), we have the power to extend invitations to our amphibian allies. We can do this by including the right kinds of habitats and toad necessities, as well as avoiding potentially harmful materials. So, let’s dig deeper into some of the reasons frogs and toads are so great for the garden, some of the differences between the two animals, and how we might better accommodate them as welcomed guests in our spaces. Learn more about why Frogs are Great for Your Garden and How to Make Them Feel at Home.

10. Dealing with Snakes

Snakes are amazing animals to have around because they perform vital services to their native ecosystems, not to mention the humans who have moved into their territories. At this point in the history of animal documentaries, snakes aren’t hunting humans. It is widely recognized that even the big ones would rather run away than have a confrontation with a person. That’s not to say they aren’t scary sometimes. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t be cautious when encountering a snake, or any wild animal for that matter. But, now is the time to appreciate them for the magical and mythical creatures that they are. And, maybe, with a little deeper understanding of what they are really up to, we can learn to interact with them responsibly and with a warranted sense of fascination. Here is What to Do When You Encounter a Snake.