Noting more snakes near your foundation or garden?
Here in the Greater Houston area, late February and early March mark the time when snakes start to emerge from hibernation. While the weather can still oscillate between hotter days and colder ones, it’s generally warm enough in the afternoon to get copperheads and Texas rat snakes moving and searching for food.
If you see more than one, you might have a problem. Snakes are as prone to moving into homes as rats are…primarily because rats are one of their favorite foods.
What are the signs that snakes have entered your home?
Key signs include:
- Shed skins in your attic or anywhere in the house.
- S-shaped trail in dusty or dirty surfaces.
- Musky odors.
- Hissing, rustling, or scratching sounds in your walls.
- Droppings, which are often white or chalky.
- Unusual behavior from your pets, including a refusal to enter rooms.
These signs may go hand-in-hand with signs that rats or mice have entered your home.
Do snakes damage your home or pose a threat?
Snakes don’t do damage in the sense that they don’t tear up insulation or chew on your wiring. However, they’re still a danger, and they can still reduce the value of your home.
- The droppings smell just like any other droppings do, and the odor can become persistent.
- If a snake dies in your walls, the home can be rendered unlivable once the corpse decays.
- A copperhead can be extremely dangerous to pets and people alike, as they can still bite.
While it might be nice to think the snake will sit around your attic taking care of your rodent problem for you, the truth is they’re quite mobile. It’s not unusual to find them behind appliances, in storage areas, and in dark, quiet corners of the home. The idea of a snake loose in the house is terrifying to most people!
Plus, if you have snakes then you almost certainly have rats or mice, which will do direct damage to your home. The two infestations often go hand-in-hand.
What steps should Houston homeowners take to prevent snakes?
You’ll need a professional exclusion services once snakes move into your home, but there are prevention steps you can take if it hasn’t happened yet.
Remove shelter by:
- Clearing away brush piles
- Stacking firewood off the ground
- Keeping your grass trimmed
Remove food by:
- Removing bird baths and bird feeders
- Keeping pet bowls picked up when the pet isn’t actively eating
- Keeping your home clear of food waste
- Taking care of leaky pipes immediately
Rodent control is snake control, so by working to prevent rats and mice you’ll work to prevent snake infestations as well.
What should you do if you think you have snakes in your Houston home?
Our humane exclusion methods work for snakes too, and we’re very adept at catching them safely.
If you suspect snakes, contact us to schedule a free inspection today! You deserve a clean, wildlife-free home.