Nextgen Pest Solutions is an emergency snake removal company providing same-day service in Georgia and Florida. We trap and remove all snakes and provide home and commercial sealing/exclusion services to prevent snakes from returning. We warranty all of our work and offer a renewable yearly warranty if you would like to have continued permanent snake control. Call now for a free quote or to schedule an inspection. View our free resource: How to Get Rid of Snakes – An Ultimate Guide for methods you can use.
Many people have a strong aversion to snakes, however the fear of snakes is not innate, it is taught. We carry forward many stories of snakes which depict them both as crafty and evil, and some stories depicting snakes as a symbol of rebirth, fertility, and renewal. Watching a snake slither by, our brains conjure up many stories, myths, and legends told through the ages. You may think of the serpent that deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden bringing death and sin into the world, or the Irish legend of St. Patrick banning every snake from Ireland after being viciously attacked. To this day there are no snakes on Ireland! Greek mythology brings us Medusa, the Gorgon creature with snakes for hair, long sharp claws and teeth, and scales covering her body. However, the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl is depicted as half snake half human. In the Aztec version of the creation story, Quetzalcoatl transformed himself into a snake and ripped a giant sea monster in half, thus creating land and sky. The Native American Hopi Tribe has performed a snake dance for 1,000s of years. They meticulously gather and bathe snakes then dance with them in their mouths and around their necks. This ritual is aimed at encouraging rainfall and abundance from the land.
Whether our fear of snakes stems from legend or truth, the fact is, the fear is real. Snakes in our homes and yards are unacceptable to most people. Thankfully, professional Nuisance Wildlife Control Officers (NWCO) are trained and experienced in the removal of snakes. NWCOs know the species of snakes and can determine whether they are venomous or not. They have specialized equipment to protect them during the snake extraction. Most importantly, they have the courage and ability to safely remove a snake from your home.
One specimen of Vipera berus, common European adder, photographed in nature
Snakes in Georgia and Florida
There are more than 3,400 species of snakes in the world, but only 50 species of snakes in the United States. Nextgen Pest Solutions operates in Georgia and Florida so we will briefly discuss the snakes most often found in these two states. There are 46 species of snakes found in Georgia and 50 species of snakes found in Florida. Of these species, only 6 are venomous; that means the great majority of the snakes you are likely to encounter are not venomous and are actually beneficial. Snakes are a vital part of the food web and play an integral role in reducing rat and mouse populations. Some species of non-venomous snakes actually eat venomous snakes. Knowing the difference between a dangerous/nuisance snake and a beneficial snake can make the difference in battling an insect or rodent infestation in your home.
6 Venomous Snakes of Florida and Georgia
Southern Copperhead – Copperhead are between 24”-40” inches and are tan/brown bodies show a dark hourglass figure. In Florida, the Copperhead has only been confirmed in areas west of Tallahassee near the Apalachicola River and its tributaries. In Georgia, the copperhead is common in the metro Atlanta area. Copperheads are considered somewhat aggressive and are responsible for most of the bites in the Southeast each year. With prompt medical attention, a healthy adult will usually recover from a copperhead bite.
Cottonmouth aka Water Moccasin – These snakes are semi-aquatic meaning they are found on both land and water. They can be found near fresh-water, but are most common near cypress swamps, river floodplains, and wetlands. When threatened, the water moccasin may open his mouth wide as if ready to strike. This exposes the white interior of his mouth, hence the name cottonmouth. There are many species of harmless water snakes that are often killed unnecessarily as suspected cottonmouth. Cottonmouth are one of the more sedate venomous snakes.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake – The average adult size of the Eastern Diamond is between 36”-72”. It has diamonds with brown centers and cream borders down its back. The tail is usually a different shade of brown or grey and ends in the characteristic rattle. This rattlesnake is the most feared of snakes because it can strike from a distance of 2/3 its body length. For example, a 6-foot rattlesnake can strike from 4 feet away. Contrary to popular belief, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake does not always shake his rattle before striking. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are found all throughout Florida including the barrier islands and the Florida Keys. In Georgia, they are concentrated in the south and do not usually enter homes.
Timber Rattlesnake – The timber rattlesnake may grow up to 6′ long. He is usually gray, and may have a pinkish, yellow, orange, or brown stripe down his back. The tail is uniform black with a segmented rattle. Timber rattlesnakes are only found in north Florida but are common in the Coastal Plain of Georgia and localized around suitable denning spots in the mountains of Georgia. The timber rattlesnake population is declining due to suburban development and overhunting.
Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake – Pigmy Rattlesnakes are the smallest of the rattlesnakes averaging between 12”-24” in length. The body is light to dark gray with transverse blotches of charcoal or black stripes running down his back. The tail is slender and ends with a small rattle. The Pigmy Rattlesnake is aggressive, it will not back down if approached and will strike if it feels threatened. However, due to their small size, a bite is seldom fatal to a healthy adult. Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnakes are common in Florida, particularly around the canals of South Florida, and some southern and coastal areas of Georgia.
Eastern Coral Snake – The Eastern Coral Snake is a slender snake of about 2 ½ feet in length. The Coral Snake is characterized by bands of black, yellow, and red rings circling his body. The yellow band is much thinner than the red and black bands. The Coral Snake is often confused with the Scarlett Kingsnake with a similar coloring. You can tell them apart with a simple rhyme. “Red on yellow, kill a fellow (Coral Snake), red on black, venom lack (Kingsnake).” Coral Snakes are found throughout all of Florida and the Coastal Plain of southeast Georgia. Coral Snakes are secretive and are often found hiding under debris and leaves.
Pythons in Florida
No discussion of snakes in Florida would be complete without mentioning the Burmese Python. Although non-venomous, the Burmese Python is considered an invasive species and Florida Fish and Wildlife encourages people to kill them whenever they are caught. Burmese Pythons are one of the longest snakes in the world, with the record in Florida being 18 feet in length. Burmese Pythons are semi-aquatic and have established themselves in the Florida Everglades representing a threat to this fragile ecosystem. They have no natural predators (other than humans and large alligators) and eat, mammals, birds, and even alligators. They consume native endangered species. Female pythons lay between 50-100 eggs per year. Because of the ecological significance, if you see a Burmese Python, FWC has asked that you contact them.
Spider yellow belly ball python (Python regius)
How to Remove a Snake From Inside Your House
When a snake finds its way into your home, more often than not it is a small, non-venomous snake, but not always. You should always assume a snake is poisonous. Snakes usually sneak inside through gaps under the front door, a sliding door left partially open, or damaged window molding. The garage door is often a snake entry point. Snakes may enter your home in pursuit of prey, a rat or a mouse, or looking for a safe place to lay eggs. Climbing snakes may be lured into your attic by rats, mice, or even bats nesting in your attic.
If you wake up to a snake coiled up in the bathroom, do not approach the snake unless you can 100% identify the species. If you are unsure of the species, call a professional for removal! Close the door of the room that the snake is in and put a towel under the door, so he does not slither off. If you ascertain the snake is nonvenomous and you want to try to remove it yourself, you have a few options.
Broom – If you are lucky, the snake is curled up next to a door. You can simply use a long-handled broom to sweep the snake right back out into the yard.
Pail and Broom – If the snake is not near an entry point lay a tall pail or bin sideways on the floor near the snake. You may need someone to hold the bin steady as you carefully sweep the snake into the bin and lift it until the snake is at the bottom of the bin. Carry the bin outside and release the snake into a patch of tall grass.
Box, Bucket, or Basket – If the snake can not reasonably be swept or carried out of the house, at the very least isolate the snake. If you can get a pail or a bucket of some sort over the snake, this prevents him from slithering into another room out of sight. Remember to weigh down the bucket, snakes are strong! There is no shame in calling a professional wildlife trapper at this point.
Snake Glue Traps – Just as glue traps are made for targeting rats and mice, there are extra large glue traps designed to trap snakes. Before you decide to set out glue traps for a snake that may be hiding in your home, know that you must check it every day and you must be prepared to remove the snake from the trap once it is caught. Never place glue traps for snakes outdoors or where children or pets may become entangled in them. If you catch a snake on a glue trap, pour vegetable oil on the trap. Vegetable oil will dissolve the glue and allow the snake to free itself.
Snakes in Basement
Although snakes regularly get inside of homes through doors and windows, they are particularly attracted to basements. Snakes are less likely to encounter humans in the basement, the temperature is somewhat constant, and an unfinished cracked basement may provide a steady supply of rodents and insects. After frequent freezing and thawing, the foundation of your home shifts and cracks. These foundation gaps and windows in poor repair allow snakes to slither indoors and create cozy protected dens.
When night-time temperatures begin to cool, snakes may be attracted to the warmth of your home. Snakes enter basements through gaps in the siding and foundation. This space holds in the warmth from the day which is important for the cold-blooded snake. You can remove a snake from the basement following the same suggestions as above. Once the snake is removed, think about ways to modify the environment so that another snake does not enter. Trim grass or remove bushes along the foundation, seal up the gaps and cracks along the foundation, or initiate a rodent program to remove the snake’s food source.
Snake Removal from Under My House or Deck
Spaces underneath your home are optimal snake nesting sites. Just like humans, snakes seek food, water, and shelter. The crawl space or under side of your deck provides food… rats, mice, frogs, insects, warmth, protection, and possibly even an avenue to get indoors. If the snake under your home or deck is not venomous and is not accessing the interior of your home, consider allowing it to stay. Snakes act as natural rodent control and can reduce or eliminate rats and mice. If you simply can not tolerate the idea of a benign snake under your house, consider trapping and relocating the snake. Of course, you cannot allow a den of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes to take hold underneath your home, like this situation in Texas. If in doubt, always call in a professional snake removal expert.
Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)
How to Keep Snakes Out of My House
If you find a snake in your home, after the immediate concern with removal is alleviated, think about modifying the environment. There is a reason the snake came inside. Are there access points along the perimeter of your home, or are there rats in your attic? Is the grass high providing cover for the snakes? Environmental modification is the best way to prevent snakes from entering your home.
As the weather turn cooler, snakes begin to look for a suitable hibernation spot. They crawl along your home’s foundation, slither up the walls, and across roofs drawn by the warmth of your home. A snake can enter any opening large enough to get his head into. A snake may hibernate if he stays in a cold unfinished basement, but he can stay active all winter if he enters the warmth of your home.
Snakes indoors may be indicative of a rodent problem in your home. As with all wildlife control, sealing up your home to prevent access is the key to prevention. If there are any wild animals, snakes, rats, bats, ect) in your home currently, consult a Wildlife Trapper before sealing your home. If you are simply trying to keep snakes out of your home, thoroughly inspect the exterior of your home. You will need to seal up all holes and gaps greater than ¼ inch. Install weather stripping under doors and around windows. Don’t forget about weather stripping your garage door. Install hardware cloth over plumbing hookups, wiring entry holes and vents. Properly sealing every hole outside your home will ensure no species of nuisance wildlife will take refuge in your attic, basement, or living space.
How to Keep Snakes Out of My Yard
As a general rule, if there are snakes in your yard, you likely have rodents in your yard. As with most animals, snakes populate areas with a food source. If you reduce the rodent population, the snake population will decrease as well. Keeping your yard clean and tidy is the best way to keep snakes out of your yard. Here are some simple tips to reduce rodents and in turn snakes in your yard:
Keep your grass cut. The term for a treacherous person, “snake in the grass” was first used by the Roman poet Virgil, but he was right. Snakes prefer to stay concealed in tall grass. Not only does shorter grass make your yard less attractive to snakes, your neighbors will appreciate your effort as well!
Get rid of leaf and wood piles. Lawn debris is the perfect cover for snakes as they await their prey. If you must keep fire wood, consider placing it on a rack at least a foot off the ground.
Feed your pets inside. Although snakes do not eat dog and cat food, rodents do. If rats are feasting on your pets’ food, the snakes are sure to come around.
Pick up fallen fruit. Rodents are sure to find fallen oranges, mangos, and other fruit that falls from our fruit trees. Again, snakes will linger when there is a steady stream of rodents coming through your yard.
Limit bird houses and bird feeders. Many species of snakes eat birds right out of their nests. Enticing birds to enter and reside in a bird house in your yard will draw snakes into your yard. Although the joy of watching the cardinals and blue jays enjoy the bird seed you’ve placed out for them is enjoyable and entertaining, they can create quite a mess. Once again, the bird seed scraps can attract rodents, which attracts snakes.
There are several products that are believed to act as snake repellents. Most experts believe that these repellents are not effective and based upon unscientific research. However, there is little harm in trying them if the idea of a snake cruising through your garden is unacceptable.
Napthalene – Napthalene is the ingredient found most often in commercial snake repellents; it is essentially moth balls. If you choose to use a product that contains naphthalene, make sure that it is labeled as a pesticide. Simply tossing moth balls into your yard, may trigger a fine from a regulatory agency. Placing products containing napthalene in crevices and other areas where snakes are a problem may irritate them to the extent that they move on. It should be noted, that mothballs can be toxic to children and pets if ingested. Do not use them if you have children and pets.
Sulfur – Powdered sulfur can be placed around your home. It is believed that it irritates their skin such that they will not return to the area. Take caution though, it has a very strong odor.
Ammonia – Some people believe that placing rags soaked in ammonia in snake prone areas will repel them.
Clove and Cinnamon Oil – This pumpkin pie scented option is by far the most pleasant of the natural snake remedies.
Garlic and Onion – The same chemical (sulfonic acid) that makes us cry when we chop onions, may also irritate snakes and cause them to leave the area.
Nextgen Pest Solutions Snake Removal Service
Nextgen Pest Solutions has trained Wildlife Control Officers who can properly identify and remove snakes from your home. Wildlife calls are dealt with on an emergency basis and your snake will be dealt with quickly and professionally. Nextgen Pest Solutions Snake Trappers have the tools and experience which enable them to safely remove snakes from your home. The trained eye of our Nuisance Wildlife Team can also inspect the environment around your house and provide snake prevention tips for the future. Our Wildlife Team can seal your home so that mice, rats, snakes, racoons, squirrels, and other nuisance wildlife can not enter.
Nextgen Pest Solutions has offices throughout Florida and Georgia and we consider it our pleasure to service your pest control needs. If you have a snake in the house, or a racoon in the attic, call today for prompt and professional removal.
