The cold-blooded, scaled, slithery creatures known as snakes are the #1 fear of people the world over, due to an ancient survival instinct in humans. That said, there are around 120 species of snakes in North America, 17 of them venomous. They live in various habitats, from watery to landlocked, but all have the same general characteristics—dark and easy to hide in. Outside habitats are easier to find and modify, but once there is a snake in your walls, it takes a more detailed approach to eradicate it.

Finding the Snake

Of course, one option for snake removal is to call a professional. If you are very afraid of snakes, the cost may be worth it to you to consider. If, however, you are a self-professed DIY-er with no fear, then the first step you must take is attempting to find the entry hole where the snake egressed originally. This could be an outright hole in the wall, loose boards, a crack in the fascia, or a chink out of the foundation. You can be assured that the snake is most likely not far from that entryway, as they must leave the house to hunt for prey, and it must be easy for them to return to their lair afterward.

Next, you must arrange to be at home, in the quietest environment possible, during the early morning or late afternoon hours, which are the times of day that snakes are most commonly active in their environments. (Night-time is when they leave their environment to hunt for prey.) During this time, you must really listen hard for any rustlings that may emanate from the wall in the general area you are surveying. It is possible to augment your hearing with devices that will help you to listen, from a plain, old stethoscope to a sonar device from a hardware store.



Removing the Snake

Once you have narrowed down the location of the snake within the wall, you must next set up what is called a “one-way exclusion tunnel.” It is a device that you can get from the hardware store that allows the snake to get out, but not to get back in. You will cut a small, easily repairable hole in the wall in the general area of the snake’s rustlings, and place the tunnel right over that opening immediately to prevent the snake from coming out and possibly escaping while you are standing there. To make certain that the snake does not get out and about in your home, you can place a snake trap, or better yet, secure a bag directly to the outside of the tunnel. This way, you can easily just close the bag with the snake in it and remove it to the outdoors.

Read the How to get rid of snakes page for helpful information and to learn more about Snakes in the Walls! How to Find and Remove Them

Snakes in the Walls! How to Find and Remove Them