About Snakes

Understanding Snakes: Coexisting and Protecting Your Property

While snakes are vital to the ecosystem for controlling rodent populations, finding one on your property can be alarming. Understanding what drives their behavior is the key to safely deterring them from your home or business.

Broad Classification of Snakes

Snakes are limbless, ectothermic (cold-blooded) reptiles belonging to the order Squamata. Globally, they are broadly classified into families based on physical traits and venom delivery systems, such as Colubrids (mostly harmless, common snakes), Elapids (fixed-fang venomous snakes like cobras and kraits), and Viperids (hinged-fang venomous snakes like vipers).

Why Snakes Invade Properties & What They Survive On

Snakes do not enter properties to harm humans; they are purely driven by basic survival needs:

1. Abundant Prey (Food Source): Snakes are strict carnivores. They survive on a diet of rodents, frogs, lizards, birds, and insects. If your property has a mouse or rat problem, snakes will naturally follow the food source.
2. Shelter and Temperature Control: Being cold-blooded, snakes rely on their environment to regulate body temperature. They seek out properties for shade during extreme heat or warm, insulated hiding spots (like crawlspaces, woodpiles, and basements) during cold weather.

Venomous vs. Non-Venomous Snakes

Distinguishing between venomous and non-venomous snakes can be difficult since traits vary by region, but key differences generally include:

1. Pupil Shape: Venomous snakes often have vertical, slit-like pupils (like a cat), whereas non-venomous snakes usually have round pupils.
2. Head Shape: Venomous species typically have triangular or spade-shaped heads due to large venom glands. Non-venomous species generally have narrower, rounded heads that blend smoothly into their necks.
3. Bite Marks: A venomous bite often leaves one or two deep puncture wounds from fangs. A non-venomous bite usually leaves a horseshoe-shaped track of small, uniform teeth marks.
4. Sensory Pits: Many venomous snakes (like pit vipers) possess heat-sensing pits located between their eyes and nostrils to track warm-blooded prey, which non-venomous snakes lack.

What Do Snakes Fear?

Snakes are solitary, defensive creatures that actively avoid conflict. They primarily fear:

1. Large Predators: Humans, large dogs, cats, and birds of prey are perceived as existential threats. A snake's first instinct when encountering something larger than itself is almost always to flee or hide.
2. Vibrations and Disturbance: Because they lack external ears, snakes "hear" by sensing ground vibrations through their jaws and bellies. Heavy footsteps, loud lawnmowers, and frequent human activity frighten them away.

Effective Techniques to Deter Snakes

1. Eliminate Rodent Issues: The most effective snake deterrent is removing their food supply. Keep trash sealed and address any underlying rodent infestations.
2. Clear the Landscape: Keep grass mown short and trim low-hanging shrubbery. Snakes avoid open, short grass because it exposes them to predators like hawks.
3. Remove Harborage Points: Clear away piles of lumber, firewood, rocks, and debris close to the building, as these create perfect snake hiding spots.
4. Seal Entry Points: Inspect the foundation, doorways, and utility lines. Seal any gaps or cracks wider than a quarter-inch with heavy-duty materials like concrete, mortar, or galvanized hardware cloth.
5. Modify Water Sources: Fix leaky outdoor faucets and avoid overwatering lawns, as standing water attracts frogs and rodents, which in turn attract snakes.