Of the 12 species of snakes in the region, 10 species are not venomous. Snakes bite humans only in self-defense, they do not perceive them as a food object. Snakes eat rodents, amphibians, fish, insects and other small animals. Snakes bite people only when they feel threatened. If a person accidentally steps on a snake, the snake may bite because the snake will assume it is being attacked. Most snake bites occur when people try to catch or kill them. Snakes prefer to avoid humans.