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While snakes scare the living daylights out of me, I'm not afraid to handle snakes nor dispose of them if need be. But when I read that there were eleven non-venomous snakes Texans need to keep and let live in our backyards, I said "tell me more."

While I know the venomous snakes that I do not like want around, it all starts with the dreaded Diamondback Rattle Snake. Then there's the Copperhead, Cottonmouth that is also referred to as the water moccasin or the infamous Coral snake, of which we've all heard the warning poem "red and yellow kill a fellow."

<strong>Snakes do a great job at keeping destructive rodent and pest populations down</strong>

However, I've known for years that a Bullsnake does our habitation a huge service by keeping the rodent and Rattlesnake population down. Then there's the highly confusing "Diamondback Water Snake" which frightens me every time because it looks just like its name-sake cousin the Diamondback Rattlesnake.

While nearly all snakes are effective at keeping rodent and pest populations down, these snakes are "non-venomous" and are really our friends, kind of. While most reptiles can carry Salmonella and this bacteria has been seen in snakes, iguanas, lizards, and turtles, they can still make you sick.

So, if you handle any of the prior mentioned reptiles, thoroughly wash your hands after touching a snake to kill the dreaded salmonella bacteria. That stated, as with any snake it's best to give them their space and alert everyone of the snake's presence.

Furthermore, be aware that while snakes are common in Texas, some snakes may resemble venomous snakes, so beware and know which snakes are friends and which ones are foes.

Why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? And answers to 47 other kitty questions:

Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? Why do they have whiskers? Cats, and their undeniably adorable babies known as kittens, are mysterious creatures. Their larger relatives, after all, are some of the most mystical and lethal animals on the planet. Many questions related to domestic felines, however, have perfectly logical answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions related to kittens and cats, and the answers cat lovers are looking for.

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