A slithery snake is the last thing you want to see in your home. But as a couple pulled up to their home in Houston, their headlights illuminated a black serpent climbing its way up the side of their house.
From there, it disappeared into a woodpecker hole.
That was definitely a shock! Instead of panicking, these savvy homeowners called Critter Control.
Types of Snakes in Texas
After the technician arrived, their first order of business was to try to determine what kind of snake they had on their hands. In southeast Texas, there are 39 snake species that it could be.
Importantly, the technician wanted to discover if it was a venomous snake or not. The seven possible venomous snakes include Southern Copperheads, Western Cottonmouths, Timber rattlesnakes, Western Diamondback rattlesnakes, Western Pygmy rattlesnakes, Dessert Massasauga, or the Texas Coral snake.
The technician was fairly confident that it was not a venomous snake based on the homeowners’ description of a black snake. Most of the venomous snakes in Texas have relatively colorful patterns. Although the description of a black snake could point to a cottonmouth, the home was several miles away from any ponds or lakes.
Why do snakes get in your home?
With the confidence that the snake was not venomous, the technician investigated the hole on the side of the house. He determined that the hole led into the attic. So, he climbed up into the attic to search for the snake.
Snake droppings greeted him to confirm that a snake was indeed using the attic regularly.
The reasons why this particular snake was in the attic could vary. In many cases, snakes will wiggle into an attic on the hunt for a food source. If there are rodents in an attic, that is a sure attractant for snakes. Luckily for these homeowners, the technician did not find any evidence of rodents.
But based on the sweltering heat of a Texas summer, it is possible that the snake was seeking shelter from the heat.
How Snakes Get in Your Home
Snakes can worm their way into small spaces and squeeze into your home. Disconcertingly, snakes can climb. With that, they can scale the side of your house looking for an opening.
How Can Snakes Be Controlled: Exclusion and Traps
Snakes are excellent at avoiding detection. In Houston, our technician searched the attic for signs of a present snake. After ensuring that the attic was snake-free, they sealed all of the openings on the side of the house.
Exclusion is the most effective way to eliminate a snake presence in your home. But it can be more difficult to exclude snakes from your property. However, a specialized snake-proof fence or boundary of lava rocks could prevent snakes from becoming regular visitors.
Since the snake was not deemed a threat, the homeowners decided that traps were not necessary. If the snake had been venomous, the homeowners may have pursued trapping methods that would ensure the snake was removed from their property permanently.
Wildlife Control Reviews
Our current technician is very good. He always calls us the day before so we know when he is coming. He also has done a very good job keeping pocket gophers in check.
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Espanola, NM
Mike did our service today. He was awesome! He addressed and resolved a couple of critter issues we were having. It's really helpful to be reminded when he was coming and texted me when he was on his way. Thank you for the great service!
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Rodent Control in Santa Fe
We appreciate that your company was able to rid our property of the squirrel activity that we observed. We were concerned that the squirrels would dig under the foundation of our house (which had happened to a neighbor in our area).
Thank you for doing what you said you would do to eliminate this squirrel activity.
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Ground squirrel control in Rio Rancho, NM
We personally have a bad infestation for a while, Critter Control has been stellar in the customer service/ communication department, We are still working on the infestation but CC has been absolutely above and beyond our expectations with some of our projects hurdles.
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Wildlife Control in Philadelphia
It has been very effective at reducing the number of mice, lizard, and snake sightings. During one visit Edgar removed a rattlesnake he came across. We may see a snake maybe two to three times during the spring and summer months, but it has been far less than before.
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Wildlife & Rodent Control in San Diego
Melinda is a true professional. She has helped us maintain a "critter-free" home. Whenever a mole decides to visit our property, she is right on top of it. Her recommendations about mosquito control made a big difference for my boys to be able to enjoy our backyard.
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Mole Control in St. Louis
We use Critter Control to deter snakes. We haven't seen any since using the monthly service. They are quick to answer questions and explain snake behavior. Also, if any are found they remove them with no extra charge.
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Snake Control in Destin, FL
Have been using for almost 10 years after a record rat invasion. The help I had back then was like a super-helpful friend taking a few weeks to rid me of that invasion. Over the years I have had a few other representatives. They are always nice and helpful.
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Rat Control in Austin, TX
Very informative and very knowledgeable staff in the field. Also they keep you up to date of how things are progressing.
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Wildlife Control in Detroit
Knowing my critter control professional & his familiarity with my property, especially when emergency wildlife issues arise.
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Wildlife Control in Quad Cities
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
bat droppings.
Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
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Bat Removal in San Diego
Daniel did a great job pigeon proofing. We have a huge pigeon problem in our neighborhood and the pigeons were roosting in the gutters of my house and my two next door neighbors, who also had nests in their gutters and under their air conditioner. Pigeon poop filled our gutters, and was piled on the outside floor when I bought the house. Since Daniel's pigeon proofing, and my neighbors also pigeon proofing their gutters, fireplace chimney, air conditioners, and removal of nest, I rarely see pigeons any more. Only the lovely native sparrows, robins, vermillion fly catchers, and mourning doves visit our property now.
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Bird Control in Albuquerque