Snake Removal

Snakes are not all bad, their activities help keep down the number of rodents, insects, and other small animal pests. There are more harmless snakes than venomous, and in Colorado where 29 snake species call home, only 3 of them are venomous. The venomous snake species in Colorado are the western massasauga rattlesnake, the midget faded rattlesnake, and the prairie rattlesnake. 

The majority of snakes that get into people’s homes and commercial buildings are usually harmless rat snakes, king snakes or milk snakes, and other non-poisonous snakes. Despite the fact that many snakes are harmless, the sight of these creatures is still scary. 

If you find a snake in your home or around your building, don’t try to handle it, call First Choice Wildlife Services for emergency snake removal. Handling snakes is potentially dangerous and if it’s a venomous snake, a bite can be fatal. 

A bite from a poisonous snake will introduce venom into your body which will make you really sick. A bite from some venomous snakes can be fatal if not quickly treated. A snake bite is always an emergency and you should treat it accordingly.

How to prevent snakes 

Snakes will only show up on your property if there is something there that it wants. Like every other wildlife animal, snakes are constantly looking for better shelter with access to lots of food. All snakes are carnivorous and their diet comprises a wide variety of animals from small insects like worms to small animals like rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, fishes, other snakes, etc. 

If you happen to have a lot of these small animals that make up a snake’s menu on your property, don’t be surprised if you find a snake curled up in the corner of your lawn. By identifying things that attract snakes and adequately taking care of them, you can significantly reduce the chances of a snake showing up on your property. 

Overgrown grasses and unkempt lawn: An unkempt lawn will attract snakes because several snake species are adapted to hiding beneath tall grasses. The cover that the grass provides helps these animals stay out of sight and hunt better. Short and well-trimmed grass will not only deter snakes but will also deter some other animal pests as well. 

Piles of wood: Again, this is a perfect living environment for snakes. These creatures mostly prefer to stay hidden and a crack within woodpiles is more than enough to keep them concealed as they wait for an unfortunate rodent, bird, frog, or lizard to prey on. Ensuring there aren’t any woodpiles or piles of anything at all around your property is a good step towards keeping these reptiles away.

Keep garbage well covered: Garbage attracts insects and small animals, which will attract snakes. Properly sealed trash cans will keep insects, rodents, and reptiles away. 

Can I use snake repellents to prevent snakes?

There are a number of products marketed as effective snake repellents. But there is scientific evidence that backs claims that most of these products are not actually effective. 

Some of these snake repellents include mothballs, sulfur bombs, peppermint oil, and citrus sprays. Some of these chemicals will only end up polluting your environment, the only reliable method of excluding a snake is by trapping and removal.

Methods of snake removal

Removing snakes can be done in two ways. But before trying to capture or remove a snake it’s important to first identify the snake species. If it’s a venomous snake, then you will have to be extremely careful not to frighten it into a defensive and attack mode. Snakes can be removed either by manual removal or snake traps.

1) Manual snake removal

If you are dealing with a non-venomous snake, then you can attempt to pick it up with your hands and put it in a snake bag. Alternatively, you can use a snake tong to capture the snake to avoid being bitten. It’s important that you leave this job to experts so that you don’t endanger yourself. A frightened snake is an aggressive snake and may attack you.

2) Snake traps

Another method is by setting a snake trap. There are different types of snake traps, and you have to be familiar with them to understand which is perfect for a given situation. Not everyone can set a snake trap because it requires a good understanding of a snake’s behavior including its favorite meal to decide on the most appropriate bait for the trap.

Call First Choice Wildlife Services

Because of the challenging and time-consuming nature of snake removal, we recommend calling a professional to sort the problem out for you. If you need help dealing with a snake or other wildlife, contact us!

We here at First Choice Wildlife Services have over eleven years of experience solving snake problems and can guarantee excellent service. We service the areas of Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and many other areas in Colorado.

Give us a call at 970-460-4044 to schedule our services!