Snake under porch

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We have a cement porch out the front door. It is a solid block of cement and too large to move. When we had to re-run the water line I noticed that there was a hole under the cement. I filled it in but something keep moving the dirt out to get back in.

Today we found a snake skin part way into the hole. It seems that Mr. Snake has found a home. This does not bother me, I have three snakes that stayed in the well over winter, ranging from 6 - 8 feet long. But the well is a couple hundred yards from the house.

Well, Mrs. is just not too happy. I put moth balls in the hole thinking that Mr. Snake may not like the smell and find another home. Any other ideas?

Thanks.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), July 17, 2001

Answers

This sounds like around my house. I have put moth balls around for years, and read lime sprinkled around will deter them, I really don't think any of it works. Black snakes love our houses. When you see one theres always another one behind. They follow scent trails. We caught one trying to get to the house full of eggs last year. We made sure she didn't make it. I have had 2 in my flowers out the back door. Never got them. I can't stand to think they are around, but I know they are. A Hoe is the only true way to get rid of them.

-- junie beach ('foo@bar.com'), July 17, 2001.

If you're interested in catching the buggar alive and relocating him, rather than killing him you can make a live trap.

We doubled chicken wire (but you can use any sort of wire) and molded it into a longish tube, closed on one end.

The other end, we fit a homemade funnel (out of the same wire) so that the small end of the funnel leads into the trap. Very much like a live fish trap, or a minnow trap; except longer. Also, leave a "door" so you can easily add bait to the trap and release the snake.

As for bait, you could try a fresh egg or even a mouse purchased at the pet store. If you think the mouse could fit through the mesh of the wire, put the little guy in his own little cage inside the trap.

To keep other snakes from finding that comfy spot under your porch, sprinkle sulfur in the area. They should find a different home!

Good luck!

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), July 17, 2001.


There is a commercial snake repellent product called Snake-Away. I have not tried it, but have read the website, and there have been a couple of studies conducted about its effectiveness...I seem to remember that the results said that it was effective.

We had a rattlesnake in one of our sheds a couple of years ago. I still get an antsy feeling when I go in there. We put out mothballs there (couldn't find any Snake Away) and it seemed to work....but he might have just moved on to a different place!

-- Pam Smith (pamsmith52@hotmail.com), July 17, 2001.


Borrow a neighbors barking dog or teenage son. Snakes live in the country because they like the quiet life. The snake will quickly disapprove of its neighbors and find a more tranquil place.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), July 17, 2001.

I'm probably going to be in the minority here, but what's wrong with having a non poisonous snake as a neighbor? Mice avoid them like the dickens and I would prefer the snake over them any old day. Mice get into all kinds of mischief around the homestead (holes in the walls, chewing wires, eating animal feed, etc.). Save the snake skin; it is very effective for keeping mice away from the interior; maybe the smell of the snake repels them? The countryside is FULL of mice; think about the alternative.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 17, 2001.


I agree with j.r.g, we have an old farm house we live in with black snakes that reside under all the old concrete porchs, and there are three on the house, so we have several "resident" black snakes in close proximity all the time. Honestly, I never see them (except for their shed skins) except perhaps once or twice a year! And they have NEVER exhibited any agressive behavior at all, just tried to disappear as fast as possible.

Please don't try to discourage their "residence" near you, they will not bother you at all, and, remember, black snakes prey on pit vipers, so where there be black snakes, there be NO copperheads or rattlesankes at all!!! They are the pit vipers natural enemy! Us "old timers" really appreciate our black snakes, "Pap" would have skinned me alive if he ever found out I had chased away a black snake!

BTW, the active ingredient in "Snake Away" is napthalene, which is what mothballs are, so use moth balls to remove your snake, IF you absolutely must! Tell your other half to read this post and reconsider her opinion on black snakes, if I can live with them, so can she. It is the "country backwoods" thing to do.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), July 17, 2001.


Why get rid of the snake. Is he causing you problems? Is it posionous? If not leave him and let him take care of the mice near the house.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), July 17, 2001.

I like to live in peace with the non-poisonous ones too, but am sympathetic to those that get freaked out by snakes, since my friends are. You don't need a trap to catch it if you notice its habits and when it comes out just pick it up or scoop it into a box (yes, wear gloves, though the bites aren't poisonous they can get infected) and transport it over 1 mile away to be sure it is out of your territory. You might fill the hole with cement when it is out and about.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), July 17, 2001.

You've had some good advice re the snake. they are very helpful to us. Given the choice of having rats or mice around, the snakes win hands down. If you must catch it and release it somewhere else, just put any closed-in box close to the hole, add a source of warmth(a heating pad,on low, under just part of the box, and a hole for the snake to get in. The next morning it will be snug and happy in the box. No trouble.

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), July 17, 2001.

The old hoe is my bet. I'd sell my home before I lived withthe snakes.

-- Laura Leek (LauraLeekis@home.com), July 18, 2001.


I knew this question would bring out the snake lovers. They are cold blooded and hardly ever eat. anyone have one in their house, actually if a mouse can get there so can a snake. I have lots of stories, hate the things, only good one is a dead one.

-- junie beach ('foo@bar.com'), July 18, 2001.

Junie beach, you prefer having pit vipers instead of black snakes? They both share the same territories, personally I would rather have something that would NOT try to kill me around !!!

Do you also have an irrational fear of large, furry spiders too? Just because a creature is different looking than us, does not mean we have to fear it.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), July 18, 2001.


Find a small child that loves snakes and hire him/her to remove it to a distant location. (I would recommend determining the type of snake first and making sure it isn't poisonous - in Maine we don't have any that are poisonous.) My 5 year old son will catch any snake, any time. He has no fear. He has been bitten by several garter snakes around here, and it doesn't bother him. I've met several other youngsters in my time who were the same way (his mother, for instance!!!) He thinks catching and carrying around snakes is big fun, and would be thrilled to death to be paid for such a job!

-- sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), July 19, 2001.

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