snakes in Puerto Rico (house, buy, to live)

[Sandhillian]

We just found another snake in the house, the third since we moved here. We live next to vacant land, so I thought we might have a problem with mice but did not expect snakes. When we first moved to Puerto Rico, our realtor told us there were no snakes on the island. Obviously, he lied. Last September we had two snakes which everyone we knew said was unheard of and probably due to the unusually heavy rainfall. Since we haven’t had much rain lately, there goes that excuse.

Before anyone posts me – yes, I know they probably were not poisonous. I don’t care. I HATE SNAKES!!!!

[alexis91]

In my house I have never seen a snake. They art more common on forest areas, but are little.

[STT Resident]

Here on St Thomas I've seen a LOT more snakes than usual this year and have rescued literally dozens which my cats have brought in. Even though you hate snakes, treat them kindly! They're absolutely harmless!

[InNeedOfAnswers]

Would it be possible for you to take a picture of the snake and post it here? Maybe you have a snake nest under or near the house. Check around for holes, etc. If you find out exactly what snake it is, it may help you find signs for locating their nest.

[chacho_keva]

Hey, the reason you don't have problems with mice is because you have snakes!!! Ever gave that a thought? I would not kill the snakes. They serve a purpose. If at all possible, just sweep them out of the house.

When I lived on the island as a child with my parents, our house was up against the side of a hill. There was nothing but dense, lush vegetation behind our house. We'd get snakes inside and around the house every now and then. Also, an occassional bat would fly into the house once in a while. Good thing my dad played baseball. Whenever a bat would fly in, it would be like nighttime batting practice for the old man! Great memories!

[nycricanpapi]

Originally Posted by chacho_keva

Hey, the reason you don't have problems with mice is because you have snakes!!! Ever gave that a thought? I would not kill the snakes. They serve a purpose. If at all possible, just sweep them out of the house.

When I lived on the island as a child with my parents, our house was up against the side of a hill. There was nothing but dense, lush vegetation behind our house. We'd get snakes inside and around the house every now and then. Also, an occassional bat would fly into the house once in a while. Good thing my dad played baseball. Whenever a bat would fly in, it would be like nighttime batting practice for the old man! Great memories!

I prefer mice or rats than snakes lol. Gotta love those NY rats lol.=) I never have seen snakes, only in pet stores lol.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by chacho_keva

Hey, the reason you don't have problems with mice is because you have snakes!!! Ever gave that a thought? I would not kill the snakes. They serve a purpose. If at all possible, just sweep them out of the house.

When I lived on the island as a child with my parents, our house was up against the side of a hill. There was nothing but dense, lush vegetation behind our house. We'd get snakes inside and around the house every now and then. Also, an occassional bat would fly into the house once in a while. Good thing my dad played baseball. Whenever a bat would fly in, it would be like nighttime batting practice for the old man! Great memories!

Bats eat mosquitoes. You might want to rethink that one now that you're grown up. Bats carrying rabies are far less probable than mosquitoes carrying dengue in the Caribbean. The little bitty island snakes are nowhere big enough to eat mice unless those in PR are WAY bigger than those on my island.

In response to InNeedofAnswers' query, the majority of snakes in the Caribbean are simple grass snakes. They bear no fangs and no venom and live a docile life but are prey to such as mongooses and swooping hawks. The local boa is rarely seen and isn't in any way, shape or form, akin to a boa constrictor. It's a very protected species.

I think that one of the reasons the grass snakes have been more prolific on St Thomas of late is that the local mongoose population (one of their biggest predators) took a bit of a nosedive in the last few years because of a virus which substantially reduced the mongoose population. Long after we are dead and gone, some animals will continue on.

I would be very leery about indiscriminately trashing every little creature which crosses your path and with which you're unfamiliar but gives you the heebie-jeebies because that bug may well be protecting you. Cheers!

[J double R]

Nobody posted about bats carrying rabies.. It was merely mentioned offhand - but great implication.

OP, if you don't like snakes, your best bet is to move to an urban area.. if you don't like wildlife, don't live where the wildlife does.

[Sandhillian]

The first two snakes were little but the last one was a normal size, similar to a bull or garter snake. I did not kill any of them, although the person who was doing some repairs on our house killed the second one. Interestingly, I grew up in a rural area where there were plenty of rattle snakes (among other types) but we never had one come into the house. Now I live in Ponce, a city with a fairly large population, although as I mentioned we do have vacant land next to our house. I guess it is the price I pay for choosing to live on the fringe of a city and trusting our realtor.

[joelaldo]

Originally Posted by chacho_keva

If at all possible, just sweep them out of the house.

I kind of agree with chacho. Just sweep them out. they're not hostile and not poisonous. They're not a huge problem on the island. All of them are imported...there's no native species of snakes on the island. *****hole people buy snakes and after they realize they can't take care of them, they dump them.


Years ago i found a ball python (not native to PR) in some bushes. It was CLEARLY used to interacting with humans because I was able to pick it up and it didn't even snap at me or ball up as i reached for it.

Snakes are amazing creatures... sorry you hate them.