topic Re: Snakes under the house in Community Chat

Snakes under the house

qvcaddition — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:59:22 GMT

Did anyone see the news, maybe it was just local her in Sonoma county.

A lady saw a snake go under her house and called the man who takes care of removing them.

He found 97 snakes under her house, some babies. They were not garden snakes, but had rattlers.

He said with the drought they are looking for water and if water is under your home when you water, that is where they will go.

Now I'm scared. Also they like to follow lizards. A few months ago a baby lizard came in my kitchen back door. I got it out, but a few weeks later saw him in a corner of the house outside. Haven't seen since, but last nights news made me scared. Ugh.

Re: Snakes under the house

nana59 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:09:36 GMT

there would be a For Sale sign on my lawn.......

Re: Snakes under the house

x Hedge — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:11:19 GMT

They may be nesting there for a steady water supply, but what in the world are they eating?

What is providing a sufficient diet for 97 snakes in a reasonable radius around that house?

And gee, you'd think maybe she'd notice skins being shed in the yard before they got to 97!

Re: Snakes under the house

golding76 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:14:02 GMT

That would be a nightmare that I could not successfully forget.

I, too, would want to sell the place.

Re: Snakes under the house

SilleeMee — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:23:52 GMT

I bet the stench is horrendous. I saw a show about a house that was infested with snakes and the homeowners said the first thing they noticed was the awful smell....yuck!

Re: Snakes under the house

LindaSal — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:20:28 GMT

This is too scary to even think about! There must be some way to deter them?

Re: Snakes under the house

Azcowgirl — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:00:16 GMT

We returned Wednesday from a two week RV trip. I went to turn on the back yard hose, and heard a sound that sounded kind of like a hissing bug. I turned around to reach for the faucet, and there was a coiled rattler, two feet from me. I ran in the house and yelled for DH.In the 15 years since having this house, it is the first time encountering one. A western diamondback..Scared the begeebers out of me. We called animal control and they said they don't deal with rattle snakes , so DH was able to catch and dispose of it. Now I tip toe rather gingerly when going near the backyard.😳

Re: Snakes under the house

laluzdelmundo — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:56:15 GMT

Google Idaho family abandons snake-infested house. Their problem was just garter snakes and they ended up abandoning the house and declaring bankruptcy.

And I thought my big problem was with ANTS! Ha! Tho for a while it seemed my house was above a giant ant farm, eventually the infestation was mostly controlled and now I only have an occasional intrusion. And did I just jinx myself?

Re: Snakes under the house

gertrudecloset — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:02:31 GMT

@nana59 wrote:
there would be a For Sale sign on my lawn.......

LOL

Re: Snakes under the house

occasionalrain — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:40:31 GMT

On the plus side, you wouldn't have mice or rats.

Re: Snakes under the house

Jk9 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:53:13 GMT

Always a concern for us living out in the country. We periodicallly check under the house and the dogs are great about outside patrol and control. The snakes are losing their wild homes and don't have places to go. Big farms in our area are being sold when the older owner dies and the family doesn't want the land. Huge housing developments going up quickly. We have seen more copperheads in the last 3 years than in the 12 previous that we have lived here. Yes they follow the rodents and lizards. They hunt at night around here so you won't necessarily see them out in the yard unless you go out looking for them.

Re: Snakes under the house

icezeus — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:03:30 GMT

The first thing that I did while debating to open this thread was to make sure that there was not an attachment. I hate snakes, and do not want to see any pictures of them.

Like others, my house would be going up for sale. I cannot even imagine. Thank God I am on a slab. Also, if there is a way for them to get under a slab please do not share the news with me. (smile)

Re: Snakes under the house

colliemom4 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:14:36 GMT

I had a friend that lived in a beach house and said snakes were always under it and she couldn't wait to move. They do live in sand and many places.

I've seen so many in my life time though I'll never like them.

Re: Snakes under the house

faeriemoon — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:20:01 GMT

Do you mean under the foundation or under decks and porches?

(I'd be out either way.)

Re: Snakes under the house

Karie2022 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:42:58 GMT

@icezeus wrote:
The first thing that I did while debating to open this thread was to make sure that there was not an attachment. I hate snakes, and do not want to see any pictures of them.

Like others, my house would be going up for sale. I cannot even imagine. Thank God I am on a slab. Also, if there is a way for them to get under a slab please do not share the news with me. (smile)

Omg...that's the first thing I thought of as well....hope there's no pictures....I'm the same, terrified of snakes and alligators.....I guess I'll never live in Fla....

Re: Snakes under the house

RedTop — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 20:15:52 GMT

I read this story online.

The way it read, there were 22+ adult females that had given birth under the house; August to October are when they have their babies, and it is not unusual for female rattlesnakes to gather today in a secure location to give birth. 55+ young snakes were removed initially, and on a follow up visit, additional snakes were caught. Snakes do not eat every day, but am sure they found their birthing spot near food sources.

It sounded like the foundation to this home was rock based, and there were holes allowing easy access for the snakes. I feel sure there will be several return visits to insure all of the snakes are captured.

All snakes look for dens in damp, dark, quiet, out of the way spaces, where there's little activity.

Re: Snakes under the house

qvcaddition — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 22:09:00 GMT

@RedTop

@RedTop wrote:
I read this story online.

The way it read, there were 22+ adult females that had given birth under the house; August to October are when they have their babies, and it is not unusual for female rattlesnakes to gather today in a secure location to give birth. 55+ young snakes were removed initially, and on a follow up visit, additional snakes were caught. Snakes do not eat every day, but am sure they found their birthing spot near food sources.

It sounded like the foundation to this home was rock based, and there were holes allowing easy access for the snakes. I feel sure there will be several return visits to insure all of the snakes are captured.

All snakes look for dens in damp, dark, quiet, out of the way spaces, where there's little activity.

On the news channel 7_twice they said 97 but did not say if under a slab. The snake catcher said 97 including babies.

Re: Snakes under the house

Kitty Galore — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 22:38:50 GMT

I'd be out of this house in 2 seconds flat ! Hate snakes, worse nightmare , can't even look at pics of snakes , have a hard time even writing the word 😖

Have a question do all types have babies August through October I live in Ny? And where do they go in the winter, underground.? We have a deck that is damp and dark underneath and is pretty quiet , no neighbor's close at all so naturally I'm thinking about it and certainly don't want to look under there !!

Re: Snakes under the house

haddon9 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 22:47:21 GMT

OMG!! Thank goodness here in southeastern PA the major wildlife are deer, foxes, bunnies, toads and geese!

Re: Snakes under the house

RedTop — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 23:27:55 GMT

@qvcaddition ,

No, the snakes were not under a slab; the house had a crawl space, and the foundation was rocks, not cement blocks or brick.

@Kitty Galore

Garter snakes and black snakes mate after they come out of hibernation. Garter snakes give birth to as many as 40 babies. Female black snakes lay eggs and then move on; many eggs are eaten by predators, but they usually hatch in the warm summer months. Copperheads also give birth to live young in August to October.

We have dealt with the issue of MANY black snakes over the years; they are in our big wood pile, but also den under our sidewalk and brick steps.