Readers ask about snakes in their homes and gardens. Learn to identify common snakes like ratsnakes and watersnakes.

Alabama is home to many snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous. Learn which 11 species are common and what to do if you see one.

Most people’s mental snake-ID kit in the yard comes down to a couple of half-remembered rules: “triangular head means venomous,” “round pupils mean safe,” or some color rhyme they learned as a kid.