My shop has a garage door I open every day in warm weather to get more light and fresh air. In the 20 years since I built the shop, there have been two snakes come in and check everything out (That I am aware of). The first incidence was about 2015 when I opened the storm door and started to insert the key into the entry door to go inside. I jumped backwards when I saw a large Copperhead Snake killed by being crushed on the hinge side of the door when I closed it the last time. I have custom built shelves behind that door, so he had to be on a shelf 5 feet high and either saw his chance to exit the building or bite me in the back as I left. He was hanging with a full 12 inches of snake on the outside of the door, so he moved fast when the door crack was open.
Today was the second incident with a snake. I saw a small black snake inside the shop near the garage door. I made noise to scare him out of the building and shook boxes he might be behind. Not that I was especially scared of him, but I didn't want him to get lost inside the shop and make a stink, if you know what I mean. I tried to get him out the friendly way for 15 minutes and was only chasing him from one hiding place to another one. I finally found a stump axe, which is mounted to a 6 foot handle, and stopped him with that. I hated to kill him, but preferred that to other outcomes.
Anyone else have similar problems? Anyone know of a way to prevent snakes from coming into the shop, besides the obvious?