snake trap

[Pat Evans]

I have a snake in my basement and no idea how to get rid of it. Last night I found a lot of broken glass on the floor and discovered that something had knocked several vases off a storage shelf. The insulation directly above the shelf was pulled down from between the joists. While cleaning up the mess, I discovered a snake skin on the shelf among the vases. I went back later and found another place where the insulation was pulled down and I am certain that it had not been pulled down earlier. Apparently the snake is moving around on top of the basement wall and also between the joists above the insulation.
I have had no luck finding the snake. How do you trap a snake?

[rob mason]

Holy Cow! That would scare me senseless...

There are glue traps that you could set out, but you run the risk of the snake not actually slithering onto the traps. I've heard that mothballs repel snakes, so once you do get rid of it, might try using those to keep others from coming back.

Post some pics once you catch the guy...

[Lee Schierer]

Do you know anyone in Hawaii? If so have tehm ship you a mongoose. They love snakes.

Otherwise, a snake likes two things, food to eat and a warm place to sleep. Provide either of the two and you should be able to catch the slithering critter. Make a box and place heating pad in it. The snake will like the warmth and hang around.

[Jeff Mohr]

Seeing how it is a climbing snake that almost certainly rules out most native venomous snakes in your state as pit vipers are mostly ground dwelling animals. Chances are it is a black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) and is probably looking around for food. Best shot at catching it is seeing it and grabbing it.

Good luck! ;)

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I've heard that mothballs repel snakes,

Yipper skipper they do.

[Joe Pelonio]

Do you know anyone in Hawaii? If so have tehm ship you a mongoose. They love snakes.

Otherwise, a snake likes two things, food to eat and a warm place to sleep. Provide either of the two and you should be able to catch the slithering critter. Make a box and place heating pad in it. The snake will like the warmth and hang around.
Sure, just bring in some mice!:D

Seriously, they do have traps and also repellents.

http://www.snakeguard.com/

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/snake-trapping.htm

[Von Bickley]

Pat,

I hate cats, but if you have one or can borrow one, I have seen cats kill snakes. It's something to watch.....:)

[Tim Thomas]

I would:

1) Check into a hotel
2) Call a pest service
3) Pay the pest service when they present me with a dead snake
4) Return home

I'm not a fan of messing around with snakes, poisonous or not. :D

[Wright Woodall]

Sure, just bring in some mice!:D

Seriously, they do have traps and also repellents.

http://www.snakeguard.com/

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/snake-trapping.htm


We had a mouse problem right after we moved into our house.

After a while we realized we hadn't seen any mice recently.

That's when I found the snake in the house.

It was a gray rat snake about 4.5' long, and personally, I'd rather have one of those in my house than mice of any size.

I sealed up the hole he was using to get from the crawl space into the house and didn't tell the LOML about it for several months.



Still, I can understand not wanting a snake (even a nice one) in your basement. Some good suggestions above. Good luck.

[Matt Ocel]

I hate snakes!

My wife has three of em.