Ninety percent of all snakes are harmless, but one in 50 million people die from a snake bite each year. Knowing how to avoid snakes is a handy skill to have.

• Eliminate snake entrance points around the home. Seal up cracks and crevices. Install tight-fitting door seals and thresholds. Repair screens and broken glass. Seal electrical and plumbing entrance points around the exterior of the home. Install screens on vents and exhaust pipe openings.

• Reduce snake habitats. Remove debris. Keep grass cut and eliminate tall vegetation. Keep tree and shrub branches trimmed up off the ground. Eliminate water features and fill low spots in the yard where moisture can accumulate.

• Get rid of food sources like mice and insects.

• Snakes hide in rock croppings, wood piles and cool dark damp places. Wear heavy leather gloves when moving wood or rocks or when reaching into dark spaces.

• Wear knee-high boots when hiking or working in tall grass or wooded areas. Stay on the path most traveled and use a walking stick when possible. Look up when walking under trees. Some snakes can climb.

• Avoid vegetation along the water’s edge in rivers, streams and ponds.

• When landscaping, use sharp materials such as rock chips, pinecones, volcanic rock and thorny branches.

• Get rid of an unwanted snake by ignoring it. Most snakes will slither away on their own without further intervention. If that does not work, consider calling a professional to remove it. Snake traps (including minnow traps) do work, but most snake repellents do not.

• Learn to spot a venomous snake by its triangular head, slit-shaped pupils, and of course its pesky fangs.

• Venomous snake bites appear as two distinct holes in the skin, while non-venomous bites are more likely to appear as curved tracks on the skin. When a bite occurs, stay calm and wash the affected area with soap and water. Tape a bandage two to four inches above the bite area to slow blood flow. Remove any rings, bracelets, or other adornments that may get stuck if swelling occurs. Immobilize the bitten extremity at or below heart level and head to the emergency room for evaluation.

— Have a question? Email Linda Cottin at hardware@sunflower.com.