Snakes

Do you have an uninvited snake guest? The Critter Guy can help!

You've had a snake in your home. Maybe you only noticed some shed snake skin, or you saw what looked like a snake tail disappearing into some duct work. If you got a good look at the snake, try to remember the shape of its head and neck and the color and pattern of the skin on its sides. Keep the skin if there is one. The vast majority of the time, snakes we have encountered in homes are non-venomous Eastern rat snakes, which are very common to our area. Our recommendation for handling a snake in your home is to make some noise, then leave the room and allow the snake some time to vacate. Snakes are very good at finding their way in and out of your home and will likely leave once it feels safe to do so. However, you should definitely give us a call right away to schedule a full inspection so we can identify entry points and seal them up to keep any snakes from coming back in the future.

Emergency Snake Removal

We are regularly called on for emergency snake removal services at all hours of the day and night. While we do offer this service, the likelihood of the snake still being in your home by the time we are able to get there is low. Typically they leave pretty quickly when they feel threatened. Emergency snake calls usually result in an emergency call fee, which does include a thorough inspection and minor seal-up. Keep in mind this service can also be performed during a routine appointment call as well for a lower cost to you. Additionally, the most likely culprit is the non-venomous Eastern rat snake.

Common Snake Types

There are many kinds of snakes in our area, both venomous and non-venomous. Following are some common snake species, so you can know a bit more about what you're dealing with.

Black Snakes

There are many different kinds of snakes that are commonly called a black snake. King snakes, Eastern rat snakes, and black racers are the most common ones. Eastern rat snakes are among the most common black snakes we encounter, and they have a few other names, like "black ratsnake" and "pilot snake." These snakes are fairly harmless but certainly not what most people want sharing a home with them. Oftentimes we get calls from customers reporting they have seen "a small copperhead snake" when it is in fact a juvenile Eastern rat snake. Juvenile Eastern rat snakes mimic copperheads in their appearance until they mature and lose their look-alike coloration. These agile snakes are good at climbing, making them difficult to keep out of yards and gardens, so we usually recommend habitat modifications to discourage them from hanging around the outdoor areas of your property.

Rattlesnakes

The rattlesnake has a distinctive color pattern and a rattle on the end of its tail that lets you know just what you’re dealing with. Unless provoked, these snakes are surprisingly mild-mannered. We don't often see these ecologically-beneficial native snakes in urban or suburban settings. If you do come across one, leave it alone and it'll soon be on its way. However, if your day is being ruined by a rattlesnake in a really inconvenient position, we encourage you to give us a call.

Copperheads

Copperheads are a somewhat common species of venomous snake. They are especially dangerous because of their quiet nature and habit of stealthily blending into their surroundings. It can be very easy to get in harm's way without even knowing it. It is fortunately very rare that these snakes are found inside a home, but we frequently get calls for copperheads in yards. Sometimes they are just juvenile Eastern rat snakes which mimic copperheads in appearance, but rarely we have had calls from customers whose dogs have been bitten. We do have several options of preventative fencing that can help with this particular kind of snake, which have been proven to work in certain settings. If you have had problems with copperheads on your property, get in touch with The Critter Guy for a consultation and evaluation.

If you need professional nuisance snake removal, exclusion, or control services, please give us a call!