Whether you hear an unmistakable hiss or glimpse a silent, slippery creature, you’ll know when snake. There are a few reasons why you might want to catch it. One is for qualified research purposes, especially if you or someone else has experienced a bite or it is an invasive species. Another is to get rid of a snake on your property, especially if it is venomous or in the house. Last but not least is keeping a non-venomous snake, such as the garter snake, as a pet.
If you have a snake you want to catch, it can be tricky to do so, and with the different methods out there, how do you know which one is best? Here you will find information on how to catch a snake, also with bare hands, in the house, in your garden, in the wild or in a trap, and how to do it safely, depending on whether the snake is venomous or non-venomous is.
How do you catch a snake at home?
Snakes are usually shy people and normally do not enter the house. However, they can seek shelter in extreme weather, if you have a rodent infection, or if you bird nest around.
Garter snakes deserve a special mention because they are so common. These little snakes have a neurotoxic venom in their bite that isn’t enough to be dangerous for people, although some people may be allergic. They and other types of snakes can get into the house, so you need to know how to get rid of them to avoid stepping on them or getting bitten. And if you have a venomous snake in your home, it’s even more tempting to be scared. Either way, you need to stay calm and keep kids and pets out of the area.
It’s not that hard to tell the difference between a venomous and a non-venomous snake. A garter snake is small to medium in size and can be one of several basic colors with one or more cream stripes running the length of its body. It also has a strong foul odor. The only small snakes that are venomous in the United States are the Black Swamp Snake and the Florida Brown Snake. If the snake has a rattling tail, a large thick body, slit-like eyes, and large fangs, it is venomous. Another obvious way to tell if the snake is venomous is if it has a smell similar to cucumbers, which some venomous species like copper heads and rattlesnakes hand off.
If you can reach the snake and it isn’t venomous, you can use a large blanket or basket to catch it, use a broom to sweep it into a trash can, or use a forked stick to pin it down and put it in a mosquito shovel net.
For venomous snakes, if you absolutely must catch it and don’t have the time to call Animal Control or buy a snake trap, you have a couple of options. One is using snake tongs, after which you have to put the snake in a burlap bag. Another way is to use a mosquito net attached to a long broom, stick or tennis racket. Make sure that the handle is long enough to safely catch the hose and that it is just big enough to fit the hose. Just put it upside down and it should slide in, believing it to be a sanctuary.
How to catch a snake in your garden
Having a snake in your yard isn’t as bad as in the house, but it can limit your range of motion, especially if it’s venomous. Garter snake populations, while harmless to humans, can also spiral out of control in your yard and pose a threat to children and pets playing outside. Fortunately, it is not that difficult to catch garter snakes, because they like to hide in dense vegetation. Just trim the bushes, mow the grass or clean up the mess and you can catch them with bare hands.
Alternatively, you can purchase and set up snake traps. If the snakes are in a body of water, use a long stick, hook or snake tongs to pull them out.
How to catch a snake in the wild
Catching a snake in the wild is the most difficult method because that’s where the snake can hide most easily. The first thing you need to know is how to find it safely, because you can’t tell if the snake is poisonous until you come across it and get a good look at it from a distance. It takes time and a good eye to be able to see where a snake has placed its home or rests. Here are a few signs:
- Odor: Many snakes give off a strong odor.
- stool: These look like bird droppings, but have the hair, skin, bones and feathers of their prey.
- Tracks: Sliding paths on the ground tell you where the snake has traveled.
- snakeskin: Snakes periodically shed their skin, which resembles its physical form.
- hose holes: Snakes can’t dig, so they use other animals’ holes in the ground or in trees. Look for tracks, droppings and/or snakeskin around it.
Once you’ve found the snake or its lair, you can use one of several methods to catch it. The methods mentioned above, such as snake tongs and a burlap bag, a forked stick and a mosquito net, a mosquito net attached to a long handle, a snake trap, or any of the DIY traps below will work.
How do you catch a snake in a trap?
Catching a snake in a trap is a great way to avoid direct personal involvement. There are a few different types of traps you can use.
For the bag trap, you’ll want to place a damp burlap bag for the hose to slide into. This can work for a hose in the house or your yard. You can then grab the bag to free the snake at least a mile away from your property or call Animal Control to get rid of it.
For a glue trap, you will need to have a piece of 16 x 24 inch plywood and stick up to four rodent glue traps on one side. This trap works well for a low-traffic area of your home or yard. You can also purchase a glue trap or roach trap at a hardware store and use snake food, eggs, or frozen mice as bait. To get a hose out of a glue trap, pour oil over it.
Another method is to use plastic mesh, also called deer net or bird netting, which works when the hose is in your garden. Roll up 100 ft x 7 ft of netting for every 30 ft you will cover and cut it in half widthwise so that it is 100 ft x 3.5 ft. Curl the mesh widthwise and stretch it around the garden. You may choose to use pegs to secure the net, although the hose cannot move it. This method tends to kill the snake as the mesh burrows into its skin, and it’s especially useful for venomous snakes.
You can use a bottle trap
fo
r the snake, as long as the bottle is big enough for it. Cut off the end of the bottle and put the cap on, then put the snake food near the cap. You can then put the snake in a burlap bag or a mosquito net. This method is best for garter snakes and other non-venomous snakes that are around the house or yard.
How do you catch a snake with bare hands?
Catching a venomous snake with bare hands is a difficult skill that requires the development of some wrist and dexterity. Only the bravest and well-prepared people dare to catch a poisonous snake with bare hands. On the other hand, if the snake is non-venomous, you can grab it by the tail and hold it upside down. Be sure to put on gloves before doing this to avoid the spread of bacteria or a bite.
There are a few different reasons for wanting to catch a snake. Snakes can be useful as pest control, but they can become pests or pose a threat to your family’s safety. They may be desirable to capture for research or to keep the non-venomous as pets. Whatever your reason, it’s important to know how to do it safely.
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