Happy World Snake Day! Each year on July 16, people all across the globe celebrate snakes – a group of animals that are often underappreciated and misunderstood. Most snake species found in Virginia are naturally reclusive and avoid contact with humans whenever possible, which can perpetuate the negative myths and misconceptions people may have about them.
At the Wildlife Center, World Snake Day is the perfect opportunity to look back on the past year’s snake patients, the circumstances behind their rescues, and the lessons we can share to help people appreciate and protect snakes.
Snake Admissions at the Center
Since July 16, 2025, the Center has admitted a total of 64 snakes, including:
- 35 Central Ratsnakes
- 2 Dekay’s Brownsnakes
- 2 Eastern Copperheads
- 10 Eastern Gartersnakes
- 1 Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
- 1 Eastern Milksnake
- 1 Eastern Wormsnake
- 1 Green Smoothsnake
- 5 Northern Black Racers
- 4 Northern Ring-necked Snakes
- 1 Northern Watersnake
- 1 Red Cornsnake
While we don't know the circumstances behind every snake's injury, some of the most common reasons the Center received calls about or admitted snakes include:
Vehicle Collisions
Snakes (and most reptiles in Virginia) are more active during the spring and summer months compared to other times of the year. Consistently warm temperatures and abundant sources of food result in snakes traversing their environments more frequently. When roadways or parking lots intersect these natural habitats, snakes often have to cross them or may even bask on the pavement, putting them at risk of being hit. Always remain vigilant for wildlife crossing roadways, and be especially mindful of snakes during spring and summer. Be prepared to help injured snakes by keeping a Car Rescue Kit for Wildlife on hand!
Attacks by Free-roaming Outdoor Cats
Many snakes—especially young snakes and smaller species like Gartersnakes—are brought to the Center after being caught by free-roaming outdoor cats. Unfortunately, wild animals attacked by cats have a very low chance of survival due to both the severity of their injuries and the aggressive infections that commonly develop from cat bites and scratches.
Keeping cats indoors helps protect both cats and wildlife. Indoor cats generally live longer, healthier lives than free-roaming cats while posing no threat to native wildlife. It can be challenging to transition a free-roaming outdoor cat to an indoor-only lifestyle, but with patience, diligence, and enrichment, a successful transition is possible and can help keep snakes and countless other wild animals safe from harm.
Glue Traps
People often use glue traps to solve rodent problems around their homes or businesses, but what many don't realize is that these traps don't just catch rodents. They are indiscriminate, and wild animals can become trapped as well. Snakes are especially vulnerable, often becoming stuck as they attempt to prey on rodents or insects already caught in the traps. Animals caught in glue traps can suffer from dehydration and starvation, and many sustain severe injuries as they struggle to free themselves. While some snakes that arrive at the Center can be rescued, many are too badly injured or weakened to survive.
Never use glue traps to solve rodent problems. They are inhumane, indiscriminate, and frequently harm one of nature's most effective forms of pest control: snakes. Instead, explore humane alternatives on our Dangers of Glue Traps page.
Persecution by Humans
Many people have a deep-rooted phobia of snakes; our cultural traditions and stories often portray snakes as the “bad guys”, and this fear is reinforced in children. This fear can lead people to intentionally harm snakes. Snakes, however, pose little or no threat to humans at all – in fact, they are more fearful of humans than we are of them! Even venomous species are not aggressive by nature and will only strike as a last resort if threatened.
On the contrary, snakes make excellent neighbors, preying on mice and rats and helping keep rodent populations under control! To learn more about living side by side with snakes, visit our Snakes as Neighbors page.
Caring for Critters: Snake Sponsorship Special!
Help show some love to our least-sponsored ambassadors! From Wednesday, July 15, through Friday, July 17, the Center is offering half-off Caring for Critters sponsorships for our four snake ambassadors: Allegheny, Clifford, Elliott, and Ziggy. (This includes 12-month, 6-month, and academic sponsorships!) These ambassador animals play an important role in education and outreach, helping connect the public to the challenges wild snakes face and the importance of conservation and coexistence.
Sponsorship contributions help provide lifelong care for these ambassador snakes, including diet, habitat maintenance, enrichment, and routine veterinary care. They also directly support the Center’s outreach programs, ensuring that these animals can continue to teach the public as representatives of their wild counterparts.
Help Spread the Word!
World Snake Day is more than a fun fact on the calendar! It’s also an invitation to learn, share, and shift perspectives. Check out this video, which answers some of the most common snake questions and debunks some of the biggest myths we hear every year. We’ve also put together some practical tips for coexisting with snakes as neighbors, so please share it with your friends, family, and neighborhood groups!
