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Mr. Bjelica’s research is focused on dice snakes, a nonvenomous, fish-loving species found from Western Europe all the way to western China.

Australia, for instance, has more venomous snakes than nonvenomous ones.

Despite their fears, the garter snake is a nonvenomous species, and as its other moniker suggests, helps keep gardens clear of other pests by preying on them.

Although Patel decided against keeping the tiny, nonvenomous visitor indoors—“we shoeboxed him and put him in the yard”—she in turn has urged other family and friends to join the group.

Officials said 124 snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous, were removed from the home.