We hate to say it, but it’s almost snake season. Nova Pest wants you to be prepared and alert while spending more time outdoors this fall enjoying the cooler weather. While not all snakes are venomous and truly are more afraid of you than you are of it, they can quickly become a pest if they are frequently seen around your home where your family spends most of their time.
Snakes are more active in fall than any other season.
Why are they more active? There are a few reasons.
- Snakes go into a form of hibernation in the winter when temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This means they spend time out and about in the fall time looking for a cozy place to settle down for the colder weather.
- Since most snakes are born in the spring time, they are finally old enough in fall to start looking for their first meal. Don’t worry – they’re not looking for human meat. These young snakes are typically looking for field mice, small rabbits, bird eggs, and other smaller prey.
- Some species of snakes mate in the fall. These snakes can be found out in the open looking for a mate while the weather is nice.
“If I see a snake, what do I do?!”
Great question! Our easiest answer is: Don’t panic! Do not try to catch or kill the snake. The best option is to slowly back away from the snake, and keep eye contact with the snake. As we stated earlier, snakes really are more afraid of you than you are of it. More than likely, the snake will try to find an escape route once they’ve noticed your presence. If the words “keep eye contact and back away slowly” make your heart race a little, it is also OK to take off running the other direction. Snakes are not fast on their bellies. You can outrun a snake, but it is highly unlikely that the snake will chase you once you start running.
Preventative measure you can take.
We get it. You want to stay as far away as possible from these critters. As with any pest, there are preventative measures you can take to make it less likely that you’ll run into a snake this fall. Here’s some preventative measure you can take:
- Do an inspection of the outside of your home to make sure there are no cracks and crevices a snake can crawl into.
- Store firewood in an elevated space. Keep your yard free of debris piles and clutter.
- Be very careful around leaf piles, tall grass, large rocks, and other piled up areas. Snakes like to hide in crowded areas like this to stay protected from predators.
- Keep your head up. If you are walking in a heavily wooded area, snakes will crawl from branch to branch without ever touching the ground.
We hope that as the weather cools down and fall moves in, you will find more fun outdoor activities to do with your loved ones and enjoy the outdoors. If you find a snake hanging around your yard or in your home, contact a pest professional immediately to help with an elimination and prevention plan.