Snake(s) In Garage

[Dmiles23]

About 2 months ago, I found a snake skin in my garage. I didn't think much of it as we occasionally find one in there, so I just got rid of the skin. This has happened 3 times since, and the most recent time I pulled out our garage freezer to find a plethora of skins under that. Does anyone have any ideas how to get this thing out of the garage? I've only seen it once, but we are starting to think there may be more than one in there. We can't even find where they may be living.

 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[trwi7]

First of all, what kind of snake is it? That's kind of important to know.

 

I could make a suggestion if you can give a definitive ID on what type it is.

[nate82]

You might have other pests in your garage besides a snake. Might want to put down some mouse traps or just let the snake(s) eat them. Assuming this is a garden snake and not another kind of snake that we have around here in AZ.

[AZBrewCrew]

Man....speaking of snakes. I'm on shift Friday night. Was out behind my station talking on the phone, heard what sounded like rushing water (garden hose behind our station); I start walking over to shut off the water and I literally panic. There's a rattler curled up next to the building. Talk about a close call. Thing was almost 5 feet long. I can't stand snakes

[Invader3K]

Dmiles, where do you live? If you're here in Wisconsin, I'm assuming this is just a garden snake or something else relatively harmless. You still probably want to get them out of there, as you don't want them getting into your house and spreading around the bacteria they carry.

 

Might be time to call a pest removal professional.

[jerichoholicninja]

I think what we're all wondering is: are you sick of these (ahem) snakes in your (ahem) garage?

[RobDeer 45]

Ha! This thread just gave me the chills!!!! I'm out!

[LouisEly]

I think you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking why they are in there to begin with. Is it a food source like nate mentioned? If so, removing the food source will cause the snakes to leave. How are they (or the food source) getting into the garage? Is there a hole in the garage? Is the door left open?

 

I think the snakes being in there is a symptom, not the problem.

[homer]

I was on a shoot the other day and was allowed to handled a 10 foot Burmese python. That thing was cool.

[Dmiles23]

Sorry I was AWOL for a couple days. It is definitely a garter snake in the garage. Like I said, I've only seen it once, but it was about 3 feet long and really skinny... probably about the size of a sharpie. But we have mouse poison in our garage, and occasionally find a dead mouse; but not very frequently. I'm not sure what their food source would be. In just doing some research, it looks like they eat frogs and crickets as well as mice.

 

We keep our garage closed a majority of the time, and aren't really sure how they get in. For a while we were thinking maybe one got stuck inside and couldn't get out... but that can't be the case any more. Our house is about 30 years old, so it's not like the garage is falling apart or anything. But they almost have to be getting in through a hole somewhere (??). We are located near Madison.

 

Has anyone used snake traps? And if I catch it, how far to I have to take it so it doesn't come back?

[trwi7]

First completely search your garage to make sure there are no holes where mice can get in. If you see the snake you can sweep it out with a broom if you don't want to touch it or if you're not afraid to touch it, try to catch it and put it in a bucket. Cover the bucket and take it someplace away from houses so it doesn't wander into any other garages.

 

But it wouldn't be a big deal if you just leave it there either as long as you're sure it's just a garter snake.

[DocLuna7]

I really don't think there is any way to make a garage "snake proof" per se. Those things are able to squeeze into or out of pretty much anything and it doesn't take a hole for them to find there way in. What a crazy problem to have though.

[FVBrewerFan]

Sounds like you do have a hole somewhere if mice and snakes are getting in. And you may have far more mouse activity than you think, which is attracting the snakes. Mice don't always take the poison, and even if they do they would be more likely yo go outside to get more oxygen and die out there somewhere, and you'd never know.

[JackNicholson1974]

Re: Mice.

 

Dont use poison. Use traps. With poison they wander off, die and stink up the place. I live in an old house (built 1888) so I always have mice. I cant stop it. But I know where their approximate entry point is into my kitchen. I have two traps in there (the black "tunnel" no-touch traps, reusable) baited with peanut butter. I usually get 1-2 week but since I have done that I have not found any evidence of mice anywhere else in the kitchen or house, so I have been happy with it.

[bani1717]

JackNicholson, Are those the traps that keep the mouse alive and you have to go release it somewhere? This summer I discovered an area where mice either live or regularly come into my house. It is in the basement right beneath the back door of my house. There is a little cubby hole type area (raised off the floor) beneath it where I have since set up a bunch of snap traps (currently have about 12 down there) with which I have caught about 25 mice in the past 2+ months.

 

I have done a little reading to try to determine the best way to get rid of them and was also considering taking out a little bit of our deck to see if it's obvious where they're entering. I have also considered calling a professional but haven't gone that route yet since they're not really a bother (I have never seen them anywhere except the little cubby hole in the basement).

[Invader3K]

My sister recently moved into a very old house (like about 100 years old) and had to pay professionals to "bat proof" the entire house. She was finding them regularly inside the living spaces of the house. Talk about expensive.

[Nottso]

I would have to guess that it/they are living under the freezer or at the very least hanging out there quite often. Under the freezer is very warm. Remember, we really can't "cool" anything. We can only move heat from where it is objectionable (inside the freezer) to where it is unobjectionable (under the freezer, where it can dissipate into atmosphere). Laying under the freezer probably feels as good to that cold-blooded varmint as laying on a warm rock in the sunlight.

 

That's the extent of my knowledge on the subject. What you do about it, I have no clue.

[CheezWizHed]

Call Samuel Jackson of course!

[CheezWizHed]

Don't use poison. Use traps. With poison they wander off, die and stink up the place.

 

De-con dehydrates the mouse so they leave the building (assuming there is no water source there) and look for water, where they die. I've used snap traps in my garage and continually empty them week after week. I switched to De-con and the mouse damage stopped. I've not found one dead mouse. You just have to keep the De-con away from places dogs, cats or kids are near.

 

FYI, garter snakes will eat insects and toads. They are too small for mice.

[bani1717]

My wife doesn't want to use poison because she is worried that even if we keep the poison in a place not accessible to our dog, our dog may find a dead mouse, eat it, and become poisoned. Does anyone know the science behind it and can comment on whether that is a legitimate concern?

[trwi7]

My wife doesn't want to use poison because she is worried that even if we keep the poison in a place not accessible to our dog, our dog may find a dead mouse, eat it, and become poisoned. Does anyone know the science behind it and can comment on whether that is a legitimate concern?

 

If you use something like D-Con, it is possible because the active ingredient (Brodifacoum) has a long shelf life and stays inside the dead animal. Luckily, it takes a lot to take down a human (if you have a bigger dog, it should be fine, even if it does find a few mice which seems unlikely to me.) However, if your dog is poisoned, which like I said is extremely rare the treatment is Vitamin K1, typically taken for 30 days after being prescribed by your vet.