Caught a Snake? Here Is What to Do

If you have a good population of snakes around your property, likely, you may eventually end up having to catch a snake, particularly if it gets inside of your house or garage. When you do catch one, what should you do? Continue reading to learn what you should do once you have caught a snake and some ways to prevent snake encounters in the future.

The Release

If you have already caught a snake, this is the most critical paragraph of this article that you can read. There are several things to be aware of once you have caught a snake, ranging from safety issues to legal issues. This paragraph is written under the assumption that you have the snake in a bucket, box, or bag of some kind and are not physically handling the snake. Physically handling snakes can be hazardous to your health, so you should avoid them at all costs.

First, and most importantly, you will want to check to see if the snake is venomous. The situation is much more dangerous, as the venomous snakes in the United States can cause serious injury or even death. If you can tell the snake is venomous, you will likely want to call a wildlife removal company, such as Complete Wildlife Removal, as these companies have years of experience dealing with dangerous snakes. If the snake is not venomous, you still need to be careful, but the heightened sense of danger is not present. You still need to be cautious because all venomous and non-venomous snakes can carry many different bacteria and viruses that can cause infections if humans are bitten. If you would like to learn about each snake species, it would be a great idea to look at pestcontrolsnake.com, as this website features many articles on commonly encountered snakes. 

Beyond the safety with snakes mentioned previously, another big concern with releasing a snake you caught is the legality of the matter. Removing snakes from your property and placing them somewhere else can be illegal in many jurisdictions. It is always smart to check local, state, and federal laws regarding snake removal in your area. If all else fails, contact a wildlife removal company, as they will be legally allowed to relocate your snake humanely. 

If the snake you caught is a tiny snake that you do not want to remove from your property but are just removing it from your home or garage, you can do it yourself. The best way to release a caught snake is to set whatever you are holding the snake in on the ground and let the snake leave under its power, and this keeps you safe from bites and causes less stress on the snake.

Prevention

Now that you have learned how to successfully, safely, and humanely remove snakes from your home, garage, or property, the next important step is to prevent any future snakes from getting into your home, garage, or property. Many different prevention tips can be employed to keep snakes from bothering you. Continue reading to learn more.

Seal Your Home

If you are mainly concerned about snakes being able to gain access to your home, garage, or any other buildings on your property, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent it from happening. To begin the process, you will want to examine your home or garage from top to bottom. Pay attention to the exterior and the interior, and pay special attention to the foundation, door thresholds, and any holes in your siding. Since snakes are long and slender, they can squeeze into the tiniest holes. Once you have examined, you will likely see whether or not you need to worry about sealing up your home or whether it is good to go. If you do need to seal up your home, one of the best tools at your disposal is an all-weather sealant, as it can be used to repair virtually any problem. Replacing door thresholds is also a common snake-proofing method.

Deterrents

A great way to keep snakes out of your home, away from your garage, and off your patio is to use deterrents. There are many different deterrents available that have been used to varying degrees of effectiveness by people. One of the best deterrents you can use involves planting plants that keep snakes away. This is most effective when you plant a border of these plants around the area you try to keep snakes out of. Some common plants that can repel snakes are lemongrass, marigolds, garlic, and onions.

Beyond plants, there are many different synthetic deterrents available to purchase on the market today. These vary ineffectiveness wildly, as some people swear by them and some think they are a waste of money. Before you spend money on snake repellent, be sure to check out reviews of the particular brand you are looking at. On the homemade front of repellents, many people have tried many different concoctions with varying degrees of success. A common deterrent is to mix water and lime juice, hot sauce, vinegar, or any other strong-smelling chemical and spray the mixture around your yard or anywhere you try to prevent the snakes from getting into. 

Clean Up Your Yard

One of the best ways to keep snakes off of your property is actually due to a snake’s biology. In general, snakes are only attracted to certain yards for two reasons: abundant shelter and safety and plenty of food. One great way to get rid of both of these attractants is to clean up your yard. By removing any fallen limbs, brush piles, or other accumulations of debris, you are cutting off hiding places, shelter, and fertile food hunting grounds for snakes. This will make snakes move on to the next property, and they will be much less likely to get into your home, garage, or other building.