Scared of snakes and bats? They might be your garden's best friends

And keeping rats from birdfeeders

Snakes and bats, like this cute little guy, are the champions of natural pest control and eco-friendly gardening. (Johannes Giez via Unsplash)

Hi, guys!

Today, I’m going to talk about two unpopular but necessary animals — bats and non-venomous snakes. They don’t exactly top the list of guests most people would want to invite into their gardens, but what many don’t realize is that they serve an essential purpose in the ecosystem and can significantly benefit your plants, as well as your personal outdoor time.

Let’s start with snakes. If garter snakes are slithering through your vegetable garden, consider letting them. They’re not interested in you (or your plants). What they’re after are the voles that chew through your root crops and the slugs that leave bite holes in your basil leaves.

Even some larger snakes, like rat snakes, are shy, non-venomous, and laser-focused on rodents.

If you’ve ever had your bulbs raided by chipmunks or your newly planted seeds nibbled by mice, you might start seeing a little forked tongue as a gift.