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.
Testimonials
Tom Hanson is awesome! We're renovating and the roof is opened up, so here come the rats. So gross. I contacted Critter Control via their website, got a call back within the hour, and Tom was on property the next morning. He studied our situation and gave thorough, thoughtful advice—which did not include using their services! Instead, he taught us how to manage the situation until we can deploy a more permanent solution. When the house is sealed up again, Tom and Critter Control will return to ensure the complete removal of all unwanted creatures. Thank you, Tom and Critter Control. We appreciate your great service!
Cooper was punctual, knowledgeable, and reassuring. His trained eye noticed things we would not have seen. His investigation was thorough and answered all of questions. Highly recommend.
Terrific. Kind, quick, reliable, reasonable. Knowledgeable and professional staff. Highly recommend. Thank you for your work on our properties. S
Critter Control has solved my problems for several years. I would recommend them to everyone. Their representatives are always prompt, knowledgeable, courteous and very helpful in solving problems.
Raymond was very pleasant and knowledgeable. He paid attention to detail. Good Job!! Thankyou!!
I am so glad I had Critter Control come and inspect my house! The problem was located and fixed immediately and since then I have not had any more problems with bats. Money well spent!!!
I connected Critter Control Orlando and was surprised, though elated that an actual person quickly answered. She was pleasant and efficiently scheduled a visit to my house to solve my varmit problem. The appointment was the next day. As arranged, I got a call from Ryan the next morning to tell me his eta. He arrived right on time and after explaining the procedure, got right to work. After a survey of our attic, he told us the problem and gave us a price to fix it. He explained exactly what would be done and an approximate number of visits it would take. I found Ryan to be easy to communicate with and an excellent customer relations person. I will be recommending Critter Control to my friends and neighbors.
We had a raccoon in the attic and this team of professional workers caught him after days of detective work. It was a pleasure working with them and having them at my house. I especially want to thank John and Kenzie!
After months of fighting moles in our yard ourselves and with the help of a landscaper, with no success, Critter Control caught a mole within a week. Very reasonably priced and very thorough. They’re the experts! We should have called them a lot sooner.
Justin was very professional and he and his team did the work quickly and thoroughly. This is a nice company to work with.