Snake Proofing A Home

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Pinto & Associates.

Southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus). Photo: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org

Usually snakes are not a serious problem around homes. In fact, they are considered a good thing since they eat rodents. People should be encouraged to peacefully coexist with snakes in their yard. But many customers don't see it that way. And if snakes are actually getting into the home, that can be just too much to take.

Snake Proofing the Outside. If a customer has a snake problem, you have to think about why the snakes are there in the first place. They're there because there is a food source available. Most often it's because there are bird feeders that attract rodents that feed on the bird seed. The rodents then often attract snakes. Bird feeders should be kept away from the house and fallen seed cleaned up often. In a yard with a snake problem, birds should not be fed in late spring and summer, which is when snakes are most active. Birds have plenty of other food sources during this time so reducing the feeding is not harmful. Backyard ponds also attract snakes that feed on frogs.

It's possible to exclude snakes from a yard with special snake fencing but it's time consuming to install and expensive. Snake repellents sometimes work for some species of snakes.

Wood piles on the ground provide hiding spots. Wood should be stored off the ground on a rack. Rock walls also provide hiding places for snakes. They should be kept away from the house and the spaces between rocks sealed with mortar.

Mulch or compost bins should be sealed to keep rodents out. Rotting fruits and vegetables and open garbage cans also attract rodents, which attract snakes.

Sealing Openings. Snake proofing to keep snakes out means looking for gaps under doors, holes in walls or even openings on the roof that could allow snakes inside. Uncovered holes like a patio pool drain pipe are attractive to snakes as a cool place to rest and can provide a way to get inside. Snakes can enter garages and basements through drain pipes or a crack under the door.

Door sweeps and garage door thresholds are easy and inexpensive ways to seal openings that can allow snakes inside. Even pet doors can be an entry point for snakes. That's not only because snakes use the opening but also because pets capture snakes and bring them inside through pet doors.

Caulking and foam sealants can be used to seal cracks around the foundation or gaps between a patio or porch and the house or openings where pipes or wiring enter.

Roof vents and plumbing vent stacks often have large openings that allow climbing snakes, like rat snakes, to enter a building. These openings can be covered with hardware cloth.

Keeping Snakes Out. If a structure has a mouse problem, snakes will be attracted. Usually, once the rodents are removed from the structure, the snakes will leave as well. Standard rodent proofing includes sealing openings around pipes and lines that enter from the outside and making sure that doors, especially garage doors, have sweeps or thresholds so they seal tightly. Bird seed and dry pet food should be stored in tightly sealed containers. Keeping basements and garages clutter free reduces rodent nesting sites.

Removing Indoor Snakes. There are several ways to capture and remove snakes. The method you choose depends on whether or not the snake is venomous. Non-venomous snakes should be released. They are protected by law in most states.

1. If you've located the snake and are experienced at snake handling, you can easily pick the snake up with a pair of snake tongs and place it in a sack or large plastic container.
2. You can tip a large trash can on its side and use a broom or shovel to gently herd the snake into the can. Carefully replace the lid.
3. If you haven't found the snake, make a pile of burlap bags or rags where the snake was last seen, then moisten the pile so the snake will be attracted to the dampness. The entire pile, snake and all, can then be picked up with a shovel and placed in a trash can with a lid.
4. Glueboard traps set along walls can capture snakes (some are designed just for that purpose). You can release a snake from the glue trap by pouring vegetable oil on it to dissolve the glue.

The authors are well-known industry consultants and co-owners of Pinto & Associates. This information was adapted from "Dealing with Snakes in Florida's Residential Areas," UF/IFAS July 2007. For more information from the University of Florida, visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw257.