Snake Trapping & Control

If you have a snake infestation on your property, don’t assume you know how to perform proper snake removal. There’s a chance the snake is venomous, and even the tiniest misstep could put you in grave danger. Instead of risking a snake bite, contact Animals Happen for a pre-qualified snake control expert equipped with the proper snake removal equipment. These wildlife technicians are trained in safe snake removal practices and can protect your home, family, and pets against snakes. Call us today at 833-633-1120 to begin the snake removal and prevention process.

Common Snakes Species In North America

Snakes have a long, scaly body with no legs or ears. Their forked tongues aid in scenting, and certain snake species can unhinge the bottom half of their jaw from the top half of their jaw to swallow their prey whole. As cold-blooded reptiles, they regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun for long periods of time and must hibernate in colder climates.

Snakes come in various colors, ranging from black, brown, and tan to green and orange. They can be solid colors or have patterns on them.

Snakes can be found in a variety of environments. Water snakes, for instance, spend a significant amount of time submerged. Green snakes are often found in trees. Most species prefer cool, dark, and moist environments such as mulched gardens, basements, barn lofts, overgrown lawns, and abandoned lots or fields.

Venomous Snakes

Cottonmouths, copperheads, water moccasins, coral snakes, and rattlesnakes are among the venomous snakes found in the United States. Although death from venomous snake bites is uncommon, a person who has a severe envenomation or allergy to snake venom can die from a venomous bite. In the United States, an estimated 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, with about 5 of them dying. If people did not seek medical help, the number of deaths would be much higher. ¹Go To Source cdc.gov -“VENOMOUS SNAKES”

Non-venomous Snakes

Despite the fact that non-venomous snakes pose a minor threat to humans, you should respect their space. By eating insects and small mammals, these snakes play an essential role in the ecosystem. Just like venomous snakes, non-venomous snakes will attack if they sense a threat is nearby. Snakes found in backyards are often protecting their eggs, and one wrong step will end in a painful bite. Common non-venomous snakes in North America include:

• Rough Green Snake
• Milk Snake
• Common Garter Snake
• Western Ribbon Snake ²Go To Source nps.gov -“Non-Venomous Snakes”

Habitat Of Snakes

Snakes can be found almost everywhere on the planet. Forests, deserts, swamps, and grasslands are all places where they can be found. Many snakes live in underground burrows or under rocks. Some snakes, such as the cottonmouth water moccasin of North America, spend part of their lives in water.

Snakes, despite their widespread distribution, do not enjoy the cold. This is due to their cold-blooded or ectothermic nature. This means that, unlike warm-blooded creatures, they cannot regulate their body temperature. If it’s cold outside, the snake will be cold because their bodies don’t use energy to generate heat. Many snakes hibernate in underground tunnels when it gets cold. Others seek out warmer environments, such as human homes.

Distributions Of Snakes In North America

Hawaii and Alaska are the only U.S. states without snakes. Alaska has zero snakes because of the extreme cold that the state experiences. Since snakes are cold-blooded, they wouldn’t survive long in the freezing temperatures. Hawaii has a perfect climate for snakes, but luckily, they have no native snake species. Since Hawaii is an island, snakes can’t travel there naturally. The only way for snakes to get to Hawaii is if a person brings snakes there, but it’s illegal to own snakes in Hawaii.

What Do Snakes Eat?

Snakes are unquestionably carnivores. Slugs, worms, insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, other reptiles, birds, and mammals are among the prey items that vary by snake species. The majority of prey is swallowed whole while it’s still alive. The prey item is moved in the direction of the stomach by thorn-like teeth that are curved backward. A quick strike often catches the prey in the mouth, and the process of overpowering and swallowing begins.

The prey is usually small in comparison to the snake if it is nonvenomous. A few species can use constriction to subdue larger, immobilizing the victim before swallowing it. Poisonous snakes can subdue large active prey items by striking them and injecting a complex proteinaceous substance into them, which starts the digestion process while also killing the victim. Many venomous snakes will immediately release their prey, giving the poison time to work, and then track them down later using heat-sensing pits, sight, or scent. ³Go To Source tpwd.texas.gov -“Snake FAQ”

Dangers Of Snakes In Or Around The Home

Snakes look for food and shelter in both homes and yards. Snakes are generally shy and prefer to avoid human contact. They lay their eggs in tall grasses, woodpiles, decks, barns, and sheds. Snakes pose a real threat when the reptiles gain access to people’s homes through gaps or cracks in the foundations of buildings.

Snake phobia can sometimes take precedence over the pests’ actual problems. Snakes will eat young chickens, but they prefer to eat easier prey. Snakebites from venomous snakes can be painful and even fatal. When bitten by a snake, the victim must seek medical help right away

Snake Bites & Attacks

Snake bites must always be treated with extreme caution. Some are dry bites, which aren’t as dangerous and will most likely cause swelling, but others are venomous bites, which can be fatal if not treated carefully and quickly. If a snake has bitten you, seek medical help right away because it could be a life or death situation.

Snake bites can be divided into two categories. The second is more severe than the first:

• Dry Bite: Snakebites that do not release any venom are known as dry bites. These are mostly seen with non-venomous snakes, as you might expect.
• Wet Bite: This is far more dangerous. They happen when a snake bites you and injects venom into you.

When poisonous snakes bite, they voluntarily release venom. They control how many toxins they release, and envenoming or poisoning occurs in 50 to 70% of venomous snake bites. Even if the bite isn’t severe, every snakebite should be treated as a medical emergency unless you’re certain a non-venomous snake caused it. Any delay in seeking medical attention after being bitten by a venomous snake can result in serious injury or death in the worst-case scenario. ⁴Go To Source my.clevelandclinic.org -“Snake Bites”

Signs Of A Snake Infestation

Finding snake evidence isn’t always easy, especially in the winter when the creature may seek shelter inside your walls to avoid the cold. Snakes, unlike rodents, do not leave a trail of destruction. They often hide for months once they’ve gained access to your home. However, there are some warning signs to look for in your home:

• Droppings: Snake droppings have a distinct appearance. They resemble bird feces, but they occasionally contain hair and bones from their prey.
• Tracks: If you inspect a dusty area or crawlspace, you may notice tracks that indicate a snake has passed through.
• Skin Sheddings: As snakes mature, they shed their skin. The dry, scaly skin could be a whole sheet or a crumpled heap near an entrance into your home’s walls.
• Odors: Many snakes have a distinct aroma. If you notice a strange smell in a crawlspace or other area that wasn’t there before, it’s something to be concerned about.

Snake Removal & Exclusion

Contact a snake removal specialist if you find a snake on your property. You must get snake removal as soon as possible! Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll be able to kill or remove a snake on your own safely. Because snakes play an important role in the ecosystem, and some snakes may be protected from indiscriminate killing in certain states, trapping and removing them is often a much more effective solution.

Snake trapping experts provided by Animals Happen guarantee the humane trapping and removal of all snakes on your property. They can also perform snake proofing and exclusion services that will keep snakes from returning in the future.

Snake-Proofing

The best option to curb snake populations under control is to eliminate potential food and shelter sources. Snakes are deterred from making homes on residential lawns by removing refuse piles and mowing the grass regularly. Wildlife control professionals can also identify entry points into the home and seal them to prevent any wild animal from gaining access.

Eliminating a rodent population will aid in the prevention of snakes because rodents are a common food source for all snake species. If you’re interested in snake-proof your property, contact Animals Happen for a local snake removal professional. Snake control experts can conduct a thorough inspection of the property and make habitat modifications that deter the critters. They can also install wildlife-proof fencing that will keep most nuisance species out.

Have Snakes Been Found In Your Home?

The first thing to do is give the snake plenty of space. As stated above, snakes will bite if they feel threatened. The next thing to do is contact Animals Happen right away. Snake removal should only be performed by trained wildlife professionals with the experience and tools necessary to perform safe snake removal. Once you contact us, Animals Happen will dispatch a pre-screened local snake trapper to handle the situation (almost always the same day). Those inexperienced with snakes may not be able to identify a venomous species that pose a significant risk. Rather than taking a gamble, call Animals Happen at 833-633-1120 to get the snakes removed today!

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Sources:

1. “Venomous Snakes | NIOSH | CDC.” Cdc.Gov, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 28 June 2021, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/default.html.
2. “Non-Venomous Snakes – Big Thicket National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service).” Nps.Gov, 27 Feb. 2021, www.nps.gov/bith/learn/nature/non-venomous-snakes.htm.
3. “Snake FAQ — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.” Tpwd.Texas.Gov, tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/snakes-alive/snakes-alive#what-do-snakes-eat. Accessed 19 July 2021.
4. “Snake Bite: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 2 June 2020, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15647-snake-bites.
5. “snake (n.)”. etymonline.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
6. “General Snake Information”. sdgfp.info. Archived from the original on 25 November 2007.
7. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists’ League. 511 pp.