Snakes are perhaps the most misunderstood critters on the planet. From ancient mythology to modern cinema, they have been unfairly cast as villains, symbols of danger, and creatures to be feared and eradicated. This intense fear, known as ophidiophobia, often overshadows the absolutely crucial role of snakes in maintaining healthy ecosystems across the globe, including right here down under.
It’s time to shed the old narratives and recognise the indispensable contributions these legless reptiles make. Far from being simple predators, snakes are important cornerstones in the intricate web of life.
This detailed guide aims to clear the air, providing a thorough, evidence-based look at why snakes are important. We’ll explore their vital functions, debunk common misconceptions, and highlight their surprising value to human health and science.
Essential Roles of Snakes in the Food Web
The single most significant reason why snakes are important is their function as both mid-level predators and prey within food chains. They act as a critical bridge, connecting lower trophic levels to higher ones.
Disrupting this link has ripple effects that can devastate an entire habitat. They are a keystone species in many environments.
Why Snakes Are Important to Agriculture
In agricultural settings and human-populated areas, snakes are important because they are natural pest control champions. Their primary diet often consists of rodents such as rats and mice, which are notorious for destroying crops and spreading serious diseases.
- A single rat can consume or contaminate a substantial amount of food over its lifetime, posing a massive economic threat to farms globally.
- Snakes provide an effective, chemical-free method of population control, significantly reducing the reliance on toxic rodenticides.
- The presence of native snakes near grain storage can save farmers substantial income by protecting their harvest from hungry pests.
Fueling the Wild: Snakes as Vital Prey for Other Animals
While they are excellent hunters, snakes are also important as a consistent food source for a variety of other native wildlife. They form a vital part of the diet for iconic Australian predators, demonstrating their foundational role in the ecosystem.
- Birds of Prey: Kookaburras, falcons, eagles, and the powerful native wedge-tailed eagle all regularly predate on snakes. Their sustained presence helps maintain healthy populations of these raptors.
- Mammals: Native marsupials like quolls, and even some introduced species like foxes include snakes in their diet when available, creating a complex feeding hierarchy.
- Other Reptiles: Large monitor lizards (goannas) and certain large, non-venomous snakes are known to consume smaller snake species, regulating the overall reptilian community.
Sensitive Barometers: Snakes as Environmental Indicators
Like amphibians, snakes are important bio-indicators. Because they are cold-blooded (ectotherms) and rely heavily on external temperatures, they are highly sensitive to changes in their environment. They have a narrow tolerance for pollution and habitat disturbance.
- A diverse and healthy snake population suggests that the area has clean water sources, undisturbed habitat structure, and a stable food supply.
- Declining snake numbers, particularly among less common species, often serve as an early warning sign of severe habitat degradation, pollution, or the acute impacts of climate change.
- Their long life cycles also mean they accumulate toxins, making them excellent barometers for environmental contamination within the local food web.
Unpacking Snake Misconceptions and Fear
The widespread fear of snakes is rooted in long-held myths and significant misunderstandings about their natural behaviour.
The Myth of Unprovoked Aggression
One of the most common fallacies is that snakes will actively hunt down or aggressively attack humans. This is profoundly untrue. A snake’s greatest desire is to conserve its energy and avoid confrontation with anything it cannot eat, especially large, perceived threats like humans.
- Defensive Bites: Almost all snake bites occur when the snake is surprised, accidentally stepped on, or deliberately provoked (e.g., trying to catch, pick up, or kill it). They bite as a last resort, seeing humans as a threat, not as prey or a target.
- Warning Signs: Many species, especially highly venomous ones, often display clear warning behaviours before striking. This can include loud hissing, body inflation to appear larger, or adopting a defensive ‘S’ shape posture. Respecting these signs is critical for peaceful, safe coexistence.
- No Malice: Snakes lack the cognitive capacity to feel malice or aggression toward a human. Their actions are purely driven by instinct and survival mechanisms.
Debunking the Blanket Fear of Venom
The focus on the deadliest species creates a blanket fear that harms harmless snakes. Of the nearly 3,000 snake species globally, only about 600 are venomous, and fewer still pose a serious threat to a healthy adult human.
In Australia, while we have many highly venomous species, the overall risk remains exceptionally low due to the effectiveness of our modern anti-venom and the snake’s inherent shyness.
- The number of people killed by snakebite in Australia is statistically negligible, often single digits annually, far fewer than deaths caused by lightning, drowning, or even horse riding incidents.
- Killing a non-venomous snake because of a fear of venomous ones is ecologically damaging. Non-venomous species like pythons are doing essential pest control duties that benefit local communities.
The Problem of Mistaken Identity
A major issue that contributes to unnecessary snake deaths is simple misidentification. Non-venomous species are frequently mistaken for dangerous ones and killed out of sheer panic. For instance, the highly beneficial, non-venomous native pythons are often targeted due to their size.
Learning the basic characteristics of local snakes and, more importantly, understanding that the safest approach is to leave all of them alone, is the most responsible and ethical behaviour. Why snakes are important cannot be overstated when considering this issue; killing any snake removes a key, functioning link in the local food chain, leading to ecological instability.
Why Protecting Snakes Is Important
Despite their vital roles, snake populations worldwide, including many species in Australia, face significant threats. The combined pressure of human activity and deeply ingrained fear is pushing many species toward localised extinction. Snakes are important, and their protection requires a fundamental shift in human perception and behaviour.
The main threats to snakes include:
- Habitat Loss: Urban sprawl, agricultural expansion, and land clearing directly reduce the areas where snakes can safely hunt, breed, and hibernate.
- Road Mortality: Snakes often bask on warm roads to regulate their temperature and become frequent victims of traffic, leading to significant population declines in busy areas.
- Direct Persecution: The uneducated killing of snakes out of fear remains a major non-natural cause of death for many species across the country.
- Climate Change: Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns affect their breeding cycles, prey availability, and overall ability to survive and thrive.
What we can do as a community:
- Promote snake education and awareness in local communities to replace fear with respect.
- Maintain natural bushland and recognise the importance of habitat corridors for safe wildlife movement.
- Practice simple, safe snake management techniques, which primarily involve fencing off safe areas, keeping lawns tidy, and most importantly, leaving the snake alone or calling a licensed wildlife rescuer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the facts clearly demonstrate why snakes are important ecologically, medicinally, and scientifically. They are not merely creatures to be feared but essential custodians of our environment, providing countless benefits from pest control to life-saving medicines. By replacing fear with knowledge and fostering respect for these magnificent reptiles, we ensure the health of our shared planet.If you encounter a snake near your home or business, remember that the safest and most ethical action is to always leave it alone. Never attempt to catch, trap, or kill a snake. For professional, humane removal and relocation, contact a local, licensed snake catcher at 0427775959 immediately.