With the change in temperature, as well as summer coming closer and closer on the horizon, many people that enjoy getting out and about are beginning to think about one of the most common critters that they will be meeting with soon: snakes. While many snakes are non-venomous, as well as usually weary of humans, there are still some questions that should be addressed when dealing with snakes, especially as temperatures rise, to keep yourself safe during your outdoor activities.

Snakes, generally, are neither a primarily day-or-night time creature: often, they will come out at all times of day and night, as well as during most temperatures- except for extremely hot or cold times of the year. While this might be great during the summer, when temperatures might send them scurrying for a cool cover that they can rest in, it is not so great during the spring, when the temperatures are beautiful and snake-approved.



The short answer to if snakes come out at night depend on multiple factors, including whether the snake is primarily nocturnal or not. However, snakes are generally predators, eating things like small rodents- like rats- and reptiles, which, it so happens, are usually nocturnal. This leads the snake to an interesting dilemma: they can either find their prey during the day while it is sleeping- which snakes are known to be extremely good at- or they can go hunting during their prey’s most active time- at night.

While snakes do not have good eyesight, one advantage that they have while dealing with nocturnal prey is their infrared sensors. Most snakes, such as the pit viper, have these sensors inside of their heads which, while not helping with their eyesight, do ‘smell’ out their prey. This can be especially helpful during the night, as well as when going into the burrows of small rodents, allowing them to kill and devour their prey.

Another factor to if a snake is nocturnal or not is the ambient temperature of where they are hunting. Snakes are cold-blooded creatures, which means that their environmental temperature can affect their metabolism. During the summer, snakes will often find shady, cool places to stay during the day if the temperatures reach over their body temperature of 22 degrees Celsius; under 18 degrees Celsius, the snake’s metabolism slows, making it much more difficult for them to hunt. This means that if you live in a tropical area, where the temperature at night is not much lower than their body temperature, you might see more snakes hunting at night; however, in more temperate climates, these snakes will often not come out at night, instead preferring to hunt during the daytime when their body can move faster.

Read the How to get rid of snakes page for helpful information and to learn more about Do Snakes come out at Night?

Do Snakes come out at Night?