In the crawl space under my house. Black snakes. They're continually getting themselves tangled in the chicken wire that holds up the insulation. Then they slowly starve to death and stink like an emmeffer.

Current statistics:

-4 snake skins removed

-2 dead and stinking black snakes removed

-1 tangled live black snake removed

-1 black snake on the run; dad spotted him but he got away and can't find him again

-1 gray and black baby snake stomped to death on the road by my dad because he thought it poisonous

How do I get these guys relocated and ensure they never come back?

Dad wants to do a shake down and pull the insulation out, but I don't want him to have to hassle with it.

Any ideas?

mongoose

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First of all, I got a terrible shiver just reading your post.

[Indy Jones]Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?[/Indy Jones]


From what I've read, the only way to get rid of them in confined areas like yours is to seal the area off so the snakes can't get in. None of the home remedies like snake repellants really work.



Good luck!

Another thought....do you have mice/rats/rodents under there that would be a food source attracting the snakes?

Rodents down there? Not sure. I do NOT step foot down there anymore. I can't believe I EVER went down there to begin with. I'd venture to say they're eating big fat crickets. My yard is their playground, and they're all very big and fat, hopping everywhere. GIANT crickets, if you will.

"Asps. Very dangerous. You go first."

Maybe check with a professional 'pest remover?' My cousin goes to people's homes and removes things like raccoons and such... maybe someone out there does the same with snakes?

I thought about suggesting a critter catcher. I know there are a few in the area. But I figured if you catch a couple and there are more out there, they're going to come back if the area is attracting to them in some way.

“Bad dates.�

Pepper areas directly around the outside of your house with mothballs. Make certain you hit “access� areas, i.e. dryer vents, small openings around your crawlspace, etc.

Once complete, smell hands. Repeat as necessary.

I know they're creepy, but black snakes are GOOD snakes. It's the ones that have "jowls" that you need to worry about.

I've heard that if you sprinkle diatomaceous earth (basically very finely ground seashells) there, they'll move on. They are good for slugs and other soft, gooey bugs because they tear open their skins and they basically ooze to death. Snakes aren't that fragile; maybe they don't like their bellies scratched?

We used good ole moth balls down in the garage for years. seemed to work.

I was told that the diatomaceous earth was finely ground clay.and if mixed with liquid(like your lungs) that it solidified.

they must be looking for Winter quarters.poor little black snakes.

I've heard that mothballs work also. I don't acre what kind of snake it is (posionous, non poisonous, small, big, etc..........) I don't like em. (Yeah I'm a guy and I'm afraid of snakes ) To me there is NO good snake.

I walked across the road from my house one day to check the mail. I noticed a very small (maybe 6 inches at the most) garter snake in the driveway next to my truck. By the time I came back across the road from checking my mail, the little sucker was gone. Freaked me out the rest of the day. It's funny how you never look for snakes until you see one; then it's like you watch your steps everywhere you go.

Heather,
I wouldn`t bother with them. They are about togo and hide for the winter. If anyone would like togo looking for rattle snakes myself and a friend of mine look for them this time of the year in Green Ridge. They come out onto the roads at night trying to keep warm from the daily sun on the dirt roads.
I can`t say what roads they are on you might know the area. Last year we found a 52inch rattles as round as a pop can. For all the PETA people out there we don`t kill any we just like to find them. They are indangered snakes.

I can't just ignore them, guys. They're crawling in the chicken wire that holds up my insulation and then they get stuck and starve to death...and then the stink. The smell of rotting snakes is not pleasant. Makes me gag.

So I must remove them for their own good and to stop the smell.

We need rain! I knew an old southerner who told me if you find a dead black snake, hang it over a fence and it will rain in 2 days!

Please prop one of those stinky things on a fence- quick!

Brian

Heather,

My guess is that there are snake experts all over the place and you can probably speak to one who is local -- try a google search or call your local ag extension office and ask around. You might get very good free advice from a snake guru.

Alternately, get rid of the chicken wire and replace with something with gaps either too small for a snake to get into (i.e. 1/4" steel mesh) or (probably better)gaps large enough that the snake does not get trapped (i.e. fencing with 3"-4" gaps). Either will still hold-up your insulation but should not trap the snake.

::::shudders::::
I don't have any advice, spiders and snakes are just plain icky lol.
I'm such a girly girl when it comes to any creepy crawlers!

Gross, Brian! No way! My neighbors would think I'm a voodoo lady or somethin' weird.

Too gross for me. Not picking up anything dead. Decoration or not.


Thanks for all your help peeps!

Snake!

Well, at least he wouldn't get caught in your chicken wire!

I used to work on a farm with a guy that would just reach out and grab any snake he saw. It didn't matter what kind of snake it was. Very creepy...

Good thing, then, that he never saw the snake in that pic!

Looks like that snake has eaten pretty well!

TOOL

Looks like this snake bit off more than it could chew.

Snake food

Oh, that is soooo gross!

I never had a problem with snakes before. Now I think I'm catching my mom's phobia. Snakes are starting to really creep me out! I had a dream the other night that there were tons of snakes under my house and one was big like that burmese python in that pic!

If it ate a croc it could eat me.

When I had a problem with mice in my house, I had the same types of dreams! Mice running all over my bed...BIG MEAN MICE!

Naomi

Heather,
If you spread lime dust around under the house it will help keep the mice out and should keep the snakes away also. It burns the mousees little feets.

I couldn't do that.

It`s not all that bad. They just won`t walk on it. It also gives a bad taste in the critters mouth. Well if you won`t try it at least worn them that you don`t want them there. Then Up the rent lol then they will move.

Will do, Mcgee!

For now, I call it the snake dungeon. It would make a truly frightening haunted house experience for the neighborhood kiddiewinks!

"Miss Heather those snakes sure do look real! Wow!"

::evil laugh::

Heather,

Did your dad buy you any "snake-be-gone" or something like that at the Hagerstown WalMart?? I was there (think it was last Sat or Sun) and getting in line near the nursery section and this man comes up behind me and started telling me about his problem with snakes coming up through the chicken wire!

I was gonna ask him if he knew you, but I chickened out! Anyway, he was real sweet.
Kinda felt like a deja vu moment.

Wasn't my dad. To be honest, we haven't done anything with the snake situation. Haven't run into any. Looked for them twice in the basement, but didn't even see any shedded skin. Maybe they're gone. That would explain why I see mice now instead of snakes.

But I did remember to buy moth balls. They're still in the box on my counter though.

I feel so badly. I hurt Phillipe. No, more than that…I tortured him.

Last night, I went to throw something away in my trash and realized I forgot to put a new bag in trash can. There was already an empty, plastic cheese pouch in the garbage can, so I reached down to pick it out and put it in the new bag - ! ! ! #&*^*#$^#$&#*$&)$ Freaking mouse was in the pouch! I squealed and threw it back in the trash can.

I danced around for a minute…cussing…trying to fling the ickyness off of my hands.

I became angry and grabbed the whole trash can and set it outside on my porch. I just left it there. I figured he got in there, he could get out, right?

This morning I went to leave for work. Phillipe was in the trash can all night long. It was rainy and cold. He sat in cold water all night. I looked in and he was sitting on his haunches because the water was so high. His eyes were shut and his little paws were sagging to his sides, dipping in the water. I tipped the trash can over and laid it on it’s side so he could get out. He wouldn’t come out. The water ran all over him on it’s way out of the can. I went and sat in my car and watched him. He came out…moving all old and half dead. Kind of a crooked, off-balance teetering of sorts.

I was late for work so I left. I had spent money for a humane mouse trap yet wound up inadvertently torturing the mouse for a whole night. He’s probably still suffering. Hunched over, in the rain, on my porch. It makes me feel like crap.

Not to make you feel any worse but after you left the neighbors cat came over and had him for a snack

Why should Phillipe's fate be any different than any of your other boyfriends?

Heather,

Don't feel too bad, I bet he was just exhausted from trying to get out of there. I am sure he will be fine.

It did remind me of an experience I had. Some co-workers decided to try and find a home for an adorable little kitten, they said he was too rambunctious. They said they were going to take him to the vet and have him neutered and declawed so they would have an easier time finding him a new home.

I felt bad for the little guy and I told them if they would just get him neutered, but not declawed, I would take him home to my other two cats. I thought having a kitten around would be cool.

So after the procedure and convalesence, the little boy comes to my house. Terror reigns! The first hour he was there, he crawled up on a shelf in the kitchen and somehow knocked it off of the wall and broke one of my favorite coffee cups. I cleaned up that mess. A short while later, he managed to get on the counter and break a plate. I cleaned that up.

Went to bed, a short time later, I hear this very loud CRASH downstairs. I ran downstairs to see what happened and it seems that the kitten and one of the older cats were playing around on the furniture and this resulted in one of the very expensive antique 'John Jelliff' attributed chairs that we had just purchased earlier that same day was badly broken (as in unusable!)

This was the last straw for my ex. He took the kitten and threw him out the back door and told me "DO NOT let that cat back in the house and if it was still around in the morning, take it to work and give it back" to my co-worker.

I heard that poor kitten mewing for a while but I was afraid to open the door!

The next morning, I went to look for the poor thing and when I opened the back door, the little kitten was right there, trapped between the back door and the screen door all night!

I dutifully returned him to the previous owners.

To this day, they swear he is the best behaved cat they have ever owned

Came home for lunch. No corpse or any other evidence. I fear if he lived he may retaliate and take my kitties hostage or bite me in my sleep.



That was a good one.



Poor webbie's kitty stuck in the door all night! Serves him right - he became well-behaved and gained a good home for life.

I'm sending my 2 to webbies for the weekend! Just leave them betwen the doors and i'll come get them sunday night

Yes, I have discovered the way to adjust a cat's attitude. I could market boot camp for kittens....

....for rowdy (pun intended) posters on forums also.