Garter Snakes in the House (6612)

Snakes are actually more of a benefit than a pest, but their occasional appearances inside houses may distress the residents. Snakes are born in August, with each female producing a number of offspring. As fall approaches, the young snakes (about six inches long) wander into buildings seeking cover. Once inside, they are attracted to warm, moist areas. Most of them will die before spring.

If you think you're harboring a snake in the basement or other part of the house, place a moist cloth in a warm, dark corner. The snake will hide under the cloth and can be removed. Glue or sticky traps commonly sold to catch mice or rats can be used to capture snakes indoors. Staple, tape, or glue two or three glue traps adjacent to each other, creating a surface 10 to 12 inches long. Place the traps in a dark, warm corner or hidden area of the room or house. There is no need to put BMT on the traps. Once the snake is caught, carefully remove the trap and snake. There are no pesticides registered for use against snakes in the house.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

Feel free to forward, post or reprint any of the "Solutions" in their entirely, but please credit http://www.solutions.psu.edu/ as the original source of information, and please do not change the content.