Hubby only kills ones he’s sure are dangerous (rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, etc). We hate to do that because they eat problem pests too. But we have little kids so can’t take the chance. King snakes and rat snakes though are treated with great respect!
I hate chipmunks. They eat food that my kids would have eaten. And they carry fleas! Bah.
Rat and King snakes [kings, especially, hence their name] will cheerfully chow down on the venomous snakes.
Another very good reason to leave them be.
The guy up the hill dropped off one rat and two garters a couple weeks ago.
It’s not much but it’s a start.
[odds are the big roof rats will eat the smallish snakes, instead]
:(