How To Get Rid Of Snakes
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How To Control Snakes And Effectively Trap Snakes
We are often asked by potential customers How to get rid of snakes. If you want to control snakes the information we provide here should help. If you’ve already spotted the snake (or snakes) you intend to trap, it’s a good idea to identify the species so you know what you’re getting into and if you’re dealing with a venomous snake (Copperhead Snake, Water Moccasin Snake, Cottonmouth Snake or Rattlesnake) or a common non-venomous snake found in Virginia (Black Rat Snake, Black Racer Snake, Garter Snake, Brown Snake, or Water Snake). This will help you pick out the right type of trap and decide how gingerly you need to treat the snake once it’s in your care. You can trap venomous snakes on your own, but this is NOT recommended and should normally be done by Virginia snake experts who will use extreme caution when doing so. If you have kids and pets around and are worried that someone might get bitten, you can always call a professional animal removal and control company specializing in snake capture and removal in Virginia and who will catch the snake and get rid of the snake will for you for a fee. The cost for snake removal varies by locality, the snake removal company and the species of snake that is causing you problems.
People asking “how to get rid of copperhead snakes” generally feel that their snake infestation is much worse than it really is, but to many people one snake is too many. There are four types of venomous snakes in North America: rattlesnakes (common in the Western states and identifiable by their rattles), copperheads (copper and black-striped) water moccasins (found in rivers and streams in the Southeastern US) and coral snakes (extremely rare snakes with a brightly-colored coral pattern – this snake is not found in Virginia). Rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins are all pit vipers, and they share a few characteristics: they have thick bodies, triangular shaped heads that are larger than their necks, and vertical pupils instead of round ones.
Most snakes found in Virginia yards, attics, garages and homes are nonvenomous and completely harmless. Finding a 5-foot king snake in the basement will almost certainly be alarming, but they pose no danger to humans or pets. Nonvenomous snakes do not have rattles, and they have round pupils. Common nonvenomous snakes you might encounter in a home environment include king snakes, rat snakes, garter snakes, gopher snakes, milk snakes and corn snakes. So you ask, “How do I get Rid of Copperheads?” or ” How do I Trap Snakes?” Many wildlife removal companies in Central VA don’t know how to get rid of and control snakes properly or lack the experience necessary to effectively find snakes that are hiding in your home. Continuing reading for the answers to effective snake removal and control in Central Virginia.
Have you found a snake nest in your yard? We offer great tips on how to deal with this scary situation.
Buy A Glue Board Snake Trap To Get Rid Of Snakes
This is the most common type of trap used to catch snakes, and it’s both effective and humane. These snake traps come in small or large sizes, and they generally look like boxes that you set up where you commonly see the snake you’re trying to trap. Snake traps usually come with bait already installed to lure the snake inside. When the snake crawls in, it will get stuck to the glue lining the floor of the trap. When a snake is caught, you open the trap and pour oil over the snake so it can get loose and glide away.
You can obtain a snake trap for a fee by calling our office. We have had great success with these traps in catching both small and large size snakes. Our snake traps can be used under a variety of situations and conditions. This is a very effective trap for homeowners wanting to know “How to get rid of snakes”.
Minnow-Style Snake Traps To Get Rid Of Snakes
These are good alternative snake traps in situations where you have a lot of snakes to deal with and you don’t want to have to purchase new glue inserts for a glue type snake trap. Minnow type snake traps are made of wire mesh and are cylindrical in shape, they have holes at either end that invert inside the trap. Just put a few eggs inside to use as bait. The snake will crawl into one of the holes to get the eggs, but it won’t be able to find its way out.
Minnow type snake traps are pretty inexpensive and easy to come by. The only drawback to using a minnow type snake trap is that you have to bait it yourself, and it’s a little more difficult to deal with the snake once you catch it, since the snake can crawl away as soon as you open up the trap. Because of this, a minnow-style snake trap is probably best used to catch nonvenomous snakes. For people with a more serious snake infestation who want to know How to Get Rid of Snakes, this trap is the best choice.
Location, Location, Location
Whichever type snake trap you use, set it up in an strategic area where you’ve seen snakes before. Common places to set up traps include garden areas, the basement, the attic, or around the foundation of your home. There’s no need to camouflage the trap – just set it up in an area that’s highly trafficked by snakes.
Make sure the snake trap is firmly closed when you set it. If you’re using a glue trap, be sure the latch that closes the box is clasped. If you’re using a minnow-style snake trap, set it up so that the cylinder is resting on its side, and place the eggs in the center of the trap.
Check The Snake Traps Daily – It’s The Law in Virginia
Once you catch a snake, you’ll want to deal with it as soon as possible. Don’t let it die in the trap. Virginia law requires that all traps be checked daily. It is also against the law in Virginia to transport or relocate any wildlife. Failure to check snake traps daily is both inhumane and unsanitary, since the snake will quickly die and begin to rot. Remember – check the trap every day to see if you’ve caught something.
If you’re using a glue board type snake trap, you might be able to open the top of the box to see if there’s a snake inside. Be very careful when you’re undoing the latch. You can also tell by lifting the trap to see how heavy it is. If you’re using a minnow-style snake trap, the snake will likely be in plain view, coiled around the eggs or other snake bait, patiently waiting for you to humane release it.
Freeing a snake is not usually dangerous; in most cases, the snake will be happy to slither away and leave you alone. But just in case, wear long pants and gloves when you’re freeing the snake. Watch the snake carefully and be ready to move out of the way if it decides to strike. Depending on which kind of trap you used, there are two different ways to free a snake:
If you used a reusable glue board style snake trap, unlatch the lid of the box and open it up. Pour vegetable oil over the snake’s body, making sure to cover the entire are that’s attached to the glue. The trap is designed so that the snake will be able to wiggle free from the glue once the oil gets between the snake’s skin and the bottom of the trap. By this time you should be standing a fair distance from the trap so you aren’t blocking the snake as it leaves the scene.
If you’re using a minnow-style snake trap, put on a pair of heavy gloves, since you’ll have to get a bit closer to the snake (though you still won’t have to touch it). Carefully open the two sides of the trap to separate them at the middle. Leave just enough space for the snake to crawl out. Move away so you aren’t in the snake’s path when it crawls out.
All snakes, even venomous snakes, play an important role in their ecosystems and should be released if possible. But if the snake is venomous and you’re concerned that someone could get harmed by it, you killing it might be the answer. The indiscriminate killing of snakes is illegal in Virginia. So if a snake isn’t threatening you or your family, consider sharing your yard with it instead of trying to trap and remove it. Rat snakes and gopher snakes are especially beneficial to have around. They’re as good as cats for keeping the rodent population down. King snakes go one step further and eat rattlesnakes and other poisonous snakes. In fact, if you get rid of a king snake, the copperhead snakes and rattlesnakes are more likely to move in on your property.
Habitat Modification – A Good Way To Get Rid Of Rattlesnakes And Control Snakes
Snakes, like all other critters in Virginia, have two basic needs – food and shelter. If you don’t like snakes, a great way to keep them away is to make your yard and property less snake-friendly. Snakes hang out in areas that are a little unkempt and wild. They like tall grass, brush piles, wood piles, and other sources of shelter. To make your yard less hospitable and uninviting, do the following:
Mow the lawn regularly.
Get rid of piles of rocks, leaves, brush, bricks, or anything else that a snake could use as shelter.
Keep your rodent population down by cleaning up acorns, sealing your trash, and removing other sources of food for rodents.
Seal gaps and openings in and around your home. If you’ve been finding snakes in your attic or basement, look for cracks and holes that might be letting them in. Make sure the doors and windows are sealed around the edges. Screen the chimney, vents, and any other spots that could serve as an entryway for a snake.
Snake Repellants – Do They Really Work? Nope – Snake Repellants Don’t Work!
Snake experts seem to agree that most repellents aren’t effective, but they might be worth a try if you’ve exhausted other ideas. If you must, you can try putting one of the following substances in your garden, chicken coop or wherever you have a snake problem:
Spray a solution made with fox urine around the perimeter of your property. Some say that snakes are deterred by the smell of their predators’ urine. You can find this solution in home and garden stores.
Try putting rags soaked in ammonia around the yard. This substance is said to repel snakes and other animals.
Put human hair clippings around your garden. The smell of the hair is said to keep snakes away.
When all else fails call Central Virginia best snake removal company – Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services at (804) 729-0046 or toll-free at (888) 824-7383. Our Wildlife Control Technicians are experts at snake removal and the removal of other critters that are threatening the safety of you and your family or damaging your home.
Choosing the Right Snake Removal, Snake Control and Snake Trapping Company in Virginia
Animal Removal Wildlife Control Operators understand a snake in a Virginia home is an emergency that cannot wait until the next day. Snake removal is dangerous and should only be done by a trained wildlife removal professional. Virginia’s three most dangerous venomous snakes include the timber rattlesnake, Eastern Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin), and Northern Copperhead. These dangerous snakes can cause serious injury and even death. Venomous and nonvenomous snakes are commonly found in homes, commercial properties, and industrial areas of Richmond Virginia. If you encounter a snake you should immediately distance yourself from the snake. If possible, keep visual contact on the snake and call a Richmond VA snake removal expert to remove the snake from your home or business.
Our Service Areas for Snake Removal, Snake Control & Snake Trapping in Virginia
Our Richmond VA Snake Removal, Snake Control & Snake Trapping Experts can solve any snake problem including copperhead snakes in the home, snakes in a business, snakes in the attic, snakes in the crawl space, snakes in the basement, snakes in the kitchen, snakes in the house, snakes in the walls, snakes in the ceiling, snakes in the shed, snakes in the garage, snakes in the yard, snakes in the woodpile and all other nuisance problems found throughout all of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia including the cities, towns and communities of Afton, Albemarle County, Alexandria, Amelia County, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Ashland, Barboursville, Bellwood, Belmont, Bensley, Bermuda Hundred, Bon Air, Boyd Tavern, Brandermill, Bumpass, Burke, Central VA, Centreville, Chamberlain, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Chester, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Crozet, Cuckoo, CVille, Dale City, Doswell, Dumbarton, Earlysville, East Highland Park, Enon, Ettrick, Fairfax, Fair Oaks, Ferncliff, Fluvanna County, Fredericksburg, Genito, Glen Allen, Glenora, Goochland County, Gordonsville, Gum Spring, Hadensville, Hampton, Hampton Park, Hanover County, Harrisonburg, Harrogate, Hening, Henrico County, Highland Springs, Hopewell, Innsbrook, Jefferson Davis, Kents Store, Keswick, Lake Anna, Lake Monticello, Lake Ridge, Lakeside, Laurel, Leesburg, Lewiston, Lignum, Locust Grove, Louisa County, Maidens, Manakin, Manakin-Sabot, Manassas, Manchester, McLean, Montrose, Motoaca, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Mineral, Moseley, Newport News, Norfolk, North Courthouse, North Garden, Oilville, Orange County, Palmyra, Pantops, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Powhatan County, Reams, Reston, Richmond, Richmond County, Robious, Rockville, Rockwood, RVA, Salisbury, Sandston, Sandy Hook, Scottsville, Shannon Hill, Short Pump, South Rockwood, Spring Run, Staunton, Stoney Point, Suffolk, Tidewater, Troy, Tuckahoe, Va, Varina, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, Winchester, Winterpock, Woodlake, Wyndham, and the surrounding areas of Virginia.
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Contact Us at (804) 729-0046 or toll-free at (888) 824-7383 for snake removal, snake control, and snake trapping services in the Richmond VA and Charlottesville VA areas.
So you live in Virginia and have a snake problem you want to solve? Let us help get rid of snakes and control their presence on your property. We can help you learn How to Control Snakes! You can also visit Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services. They have great information on capturing snakes and techniques on how to get rid of snakes in VA.