There are fewer things as creepy as living in the same building with a snake or snakes. Even more disturbing is when a snake does a peek-a-boo with you and disappears. How are you supposed to find that snake or a snake in general in your house? The task isn’t as challenging as it seems.
Discovering a snake’s location in your house becomes easy if you go about the search methodically. Snakes like to hide in places where all their needs can be easily met. You can easily narrow down those spots and then work on getting rid of the troubling creatures.
Finding a Snake in the House
Before you start your hunt for a snake, you should do two things. First, be sure the snake you’re looking for isn’t poisonous. You can search online how to identify a venomous snake or investigate if there’s an abundance of them in your locality.
The second important thing is to shield every vulnerable part of your body with snake-proof attire. Wear anti-snake boots, gloves and pants to protect as much of your skin as possible from fang punctures.
Once you’re clothed accordingly, then begin your search. Follow the following steps to find the invader.
Shed Snake Skin
An obvious way of finding a snake in the house is to look for its discarded skin. A snake regularly sheds skin during its growth stages. You should start with the places that are to the liking of these reptiles, such as the attic, basement, shed and garage. Afterwards, branch out to other parts of the house.
Move around the boxes and furniture in these areas. Snakes often hide behind or under them.
Look for Holes & Cracks
Snakes tend to reside in cracks, holes and burrows. Look for cracks and holes in the foundations, walls, pipes, vents, roofs and yard. One of them might be occupied by a snake. Snakes are often found residing in damaged vents, drains and pipes.
Search for Food Sources
If you have noticed rodents and pests’ activity in any part of the house, closely inspect that area. As a matter of fact, the chances of snake infestation are sky-high in houses that have pests and rodents issues. Go to places where there’s leftover pet food or open garbage cans.
You may also get lucky and find a snake in your chicken coop or birdhouse. Snakes find bird eggs and chicken eggs palatable.
Standing Water
Many snakes like to soak in water. Look for water puddles, pools or open water containers in the house. There’s a high chance that you might find an escaped snake there. It could be there simply for a dip or a meal. Snakes like to linger near standing water bodies because they attract frogs, rodents, insects and bugs. Well, you know all these creatures are on top of the list of a snake’s menu.
You should also check open septic systems for the same reasons.
Warm Places
Snakes are cold-blooded animals and seek warmth. If you’re having a hard time finding the serpent, decrease the ambient temperature of your house by a couple of degrees. The action will coax the snake to seek cosier areas of the house. You might find the slithering creature near windows and heat sources. Much to your horror, you may even find one getting comfortable in your bed at night.
Pay Attention to Weird Noises
If you hear a hissing sound or weird noises when it’s quiet, it is a strong indicator of a snake’s presence. Following the noise source may lead you to the monster. Besides, you can stick a heating pad on the wall —in the room where you heard hissing sounds— and conceal it with a page or a newspaper. Place a hiding box near it. Snakes prefer to crawl along the edges of a wall. Check that cosy box after some time. You might find the object of your interest resting in it.
Pour Powder
Pour powder or flour near areas where you suspect snake inhabitation. The serpent will leave a trail while slithering over it. Following that trail will lead you directly to the doorstep of the monster’s hiding spot.
Wood Piles, Rock Piles & Leaf Piles
It has been proved time and again that snakes often take refuge in woodpiles, rock piles, compost piles, heaps of fallen leaves and piles of discarded boxes or containers. If there’s any inside your house or outdoors, look for the serpent there.
Dense Plantation
Snakes seek refuge on properties with dense plantations. An unkempt garden/yard or thick plantation is ideal for shielding the creature from predators. These cunning creatures take cover in the shrubbery and wait for the right opportunity to leap on their prey.
How to Get Rid of Snakes
Once you’ve located the snake’s hideout spot, think of a strategy to get rid of it. You can opt for any of the following methods.
Capture it in a Box
Place a container or box in a corner of the room. Keep all the exit points of the room closed to prevent its escape. Use a broom or large to direct the reptile in the direction of the box. Once the serpent gets inside the box, seal its opening. Carry it to a place where you can safely set the prisoner free.
It might seem like a daunting task, but you can successfully capture the reptile by placing bait inside the box.
Glue Trap
You can also rely on glue traps to capture the snake. Place glue traps near areas where you discovered the snake. When it gets trapped, transport it to a safe habitat. You can use cooking oil to unglue the serpent.
Contact an Expert
If you don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own, you can contact a wildlife expert. The professional will not only remove its physical presence from your property but give you crucial guidelines to prevent another snake encounter.
Modify Your Property
Another reliable and effective method is to modify your indoors and landscape. Seal the places from where snakes could enter. Eliminate their safe havens from your house. Redesign your garden/yard – focus on anti-snake arrangement.
Lessen Food Supply
Focus on diminishing their food supply. Take measures to eradicate pests and rodents from your building. Snakes will not linger in a place where their food needs aren’t met.
Conclusion
Snakes are among those unpopular creatures that very few willingly allow in their homes. Since the reptiles are shy, they hide in the most inconspicuous places. However, locating their shelters inside your house isn’t difficult if you know about their weak spots. You should then work on creating an anti-snake landscape to avoid a repeat.
