--Jesus' words (when referring to serpents) were allegorical -- the word "serpent" is representative of Satan and demons - Satan is referred to in scripture as a serpent; indeed, the first time we see Satan in the Bible, he comes in the form of a snake.--
This has been an unfortunate problem for REAL snakes, most of which are quite beneficial killers of truly harmful rodents. Too bad Satan didn't take the form of a rat, or worse, a rat flea!
Yep, I usually pass by the harmless ones, and kill the poisonous ones.