SPRINGDALE (KFSM)– Wildlife has been moving into people's backyards and homes following May's torrential rain.
Snakes, alligators, and turtles are just a few of the animals that normally live along waterways, but may be found in neighborhoods after flooding.
"They just go where the water goes,” said Jonathan Lusk, owner of the Reptile Museum in Springdale. “Which, often, is into people's yards, garages and basements.”
The Reptile Museum is home to many snakes, most of which aren't commonly found in Arkansas. Lusk said snakes are the most likely reptiles to wander into neighborhoods.
"It washes them out of their natural habitat, maybe a hole in the ground,” Lusk said. “Or, around the sides of the banks of rivers and creeks.”
Lusk said homeowners shouldn't be too concerned about wild snakes.
"Most people think every snake in the water is a cottonmouth,” Lusk said. “But, nine-out-of-10 times, its just several kinds of water snakes.”
Lusk said snakes are typically looking for somewhere warm to stay.
"One case, they found a copperhead in a baby seat in the back of someone's car,” Lusk said. “Because, they had left their windows down overnight.”
Lusk advised anyone who comes across a snake in their neighborhood to call animal control. Although many snakes in Arkansas are not venomous, there are a few that should be avoided.
"It’s best just to leave [the snake] alone, because they are kind of being disturbed, and taken out of their natural habitat,” Lusk said. “They're not in a very good mood, and they are just looking for a way to escape.”
According to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, the venomous snakes in Arkansas include copperheads, rattlesnakes and coral snakes.