What do to about Snakes (Palm Coast: apartment, house, new construction)

[vpdianne]

Can anyone suggest a company that can treat for snakes. I have found three on my property, two of them in the house. I live in new development and I think the new construction has distrubed their natural habitat an the rain has not help either.

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by vpdianne

Can anyone suggest a company that can treat for snakes. I have found three on my property, two of them in the house. I live in new development and I think the new construction has distrubed their natural habitat an the rain has not help either.

outside, do nothing, for the house you need to locate where they are coming in and block their access.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by vpdianne

Can anyone suggest a company that can treat for snakes. I have found three on my property, two of them in the house. I live in new development and I think the new construction has distrubed their natural habitat an the rain has not help either.

If they are not poisonous snakes, keep em there. Just seal off cracks/crevices in your home. Snakes eat real pests like mice. I wish we had some snakes around here to eat all of the mice!

[Samrai309]

Most likely, your new development has unfortunately upset the natural habitat of the area. As the ecosystems continue to be invaded as development continues, unfortunately most of the organisms have no where to go. I have had a few run ins on my property since living here in Palm Coast the past two years. I have some undeveloped land to the side and behind my house. Thankfully encounters have all been outside. A few black snakes, a late night encounter with a corn snake climbing down the side of my garage (they are excellent climbers) while taking the dog out, and a scary encounter, again with the dog, near my garden with a Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. Being from NY, I did not recognize the sound of the warning rattle, and after reading, was surprised I got one. I yanked the dog back. That snake apparently died, trying to crawl through my chicken wire fence around my garden. I beleive I startled the snake. Must have just eaten something because it was a big bulge. Since I am a high school biology teacher, the snake became a show and tell for the class. But I left them ALL alone. Been almost a year since seeing a snake.

I agree with the previous posters--leave the outiside ones alone as they are very beneficial. If they are coming into your house, find out where and seal up the area. Think about your garage too. Do you leave it open? Very easy for them to come in and get into the house at some point, especially if it is a climbing snake. Another consideration--do you have a lanai or screened in porch? THey can get in if the door is left open on the porch. Friend of ours had one go in to their house that way. Good luck. A little precaution will solve your problem in the most humane way.

[vpdianne]

Thanks to everyone for the great information. I am checking the dryer vent also I am keeping the pool screen closed from now on. Apparently I am not the only homeowner that is having an issue with snakes. We have 7 very large ponds in this development and sightings of snakes is a everyday occurance. They were here first, so I will just take percautions and learn to live with them, but just not so close.

[EchoCharlie]

I concur with the above posters. To reiterate it:

I had a rat problem (in the garage and outside the house) a few months after I moved in. I would trap/bait them constantly! After a few months of fighting, I had a snake start hanging out (Black Racer). I no longer have rodent problems, but We still see the Racer (and now a BIG Gardener snake) every now and then.

Figure they aren't starving. They eat rodents, frogs, lizards and other snakes. So which would you rather have?

I agree having them in the house would pose a slight issue. If you can find how they are getting in, AWESOME! I've been told (could be rumor) that Moth Balls are a repellent and they do not like crossing Diatomaceous earth. Those are just things I've heard though!

If it is a new development and new housing, isn't pest control included for the first 12 months or something? You Might be able to call warranty - the builder did not seal the house properly? I don't know - Just thoughts. Hope it helped some!

EC

[HeavenSoldier]

I thought their was a local musuem somewhere in Jax that captured snakes for you? Call animal control and ask. God Bless

[littlelou]

Moth balls work. The apartment I lived in in Charlotte had a bad problem with Black Snakes climbing the stairs to the 3rd floor to get to the birds nests on the "decorative" archways. Fun Fun coming home at 11:00 pm from a long day at work then evening classes to climb the stairs and meet a 6 foot snake. I screamed loud enough to wake the dead!!! Then the water moccasins from the "pond" behind my building had babies and the babies liked to lay on the cool cement of the breezeways. Luck for me I missed the babies but we always had the odor of Moth Balls around that building. You have to keep replacing them...the smell fades and the snakes come back. We found if we ground them up and spread them in the grassy areas behind the building the odor wasn't as bad to Humans...but kept the snakes at bay.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by apvbguy

outside, do nothing, for the house you need to locate where they are coming in and block their access.

Perfect advice.

They should not be coming inside the house, but otherwise, do nothing.

The snakes you'll most commonly see are Black Racers/Garter snakes - they are completely harmless and are actually beneficial as outlined above.

Now if the snakes you see are truly Water Moccasins/Cottonmouths, then you have a real concern and should call a trapper.

BUT just because they are black snakes hanging out near water does not make them Cottonmouths. A Cottonmouth is a pit viper that has a broad triangular head shape, while a Black Racer has a slim head.

Pictures of Cottonmouths:

http://images.google.com/images?q=co...mages&ct=title

Pictures of Black Racers:

http://images.google.com/images?svnu...=Search+Images

[Karla with a K]

Sorry but moth balls are a myth. They are also dangerous if you have dogs,cats and kids that could accidentally eat them.