Snakes that commonly lurk near homes (and what attracts them)

Snakes, like other wild animals, usually try to stay away from human establishments, but across the U.S. and Canada, snakes, both harmless and venomous, are increasingly turning up around homes. Why? Because we have left them little choice.


As humans occupy more and more land, the land cover for wild animals is decreasing at a sharp rate, and thus, they have to rely on other sources for food and security. Our yards, basements, and even garages offer everything snakes need: shelter, water, and, most importantly, food. And if you have rodents, compost, or overgrown vegetation- that’s just a bonus for these lethal animals. Hence, it is important to know what snakes like to hang around in your garden or basement, or ceiling. And if you have none, then it might help to know what not to do to attract these creatures into your homes.

Slender, and typically 2-3 feet long, garter snakes have distinctive longitudinal stripes (often yellow or green on brown). They thrive best in moist vegetated areas, but have also been reported in back gardens. They often bask in the sun (even around pools or on sidewalks) or hide under garden debris. Garter snakes feed on amphibians, earthworms, slugs, and small fish, so they may enter ponds or lawns searching for frogs or worms. Their saliva is not venomous and hence is harmless to even pets.

Rat snakes and corn snakes are large, non-venomous constrictors. These snakes are excellent climbers and are often found to have made their home near farms and forest edges. They are also found in attics or between walls. They prey on rats, mice, birds, and eggs, so a mouse infestation will attract them. These snakes are shy and only bite when defensive.

Water snakes in the north are usually 2–4 feet long with keeled (rough) scales and dark brown or gray crossbands on a lighter background. These snakes inhabit ponds, streams, marshes, and drainage ditches, hunting fish, frogs, and amphibians. People often find them along pond edges or in skimmer baskets. When threatened, water snakes will flatten their heads and may strike repeatedly.

If you see a yellow thing move past in your garden, it could be a fox snake. Fox snakes are large, pale yellow-brown snakes with dark brown or reddish-brown blotches and a reddish-orange or rust-colored head. As per the wildlife department of Wisconsin, these are the most frequently encountered snakes in people’s homes, especially if the house has an old rock foundation where the snakes may be hunting for food or hibernating. n other words, a barn, outbuilding, or stone wall attracting rodents will also attract foxsnakes. However, they too are non-venomous.

Rattlesnakes are the familiar venomous snakes with segmented tail rattles. They are heavy-bodied pit vipers with large triangular heads and cat-like pupils. Rattlesnakes live in a variety of habitats: dry woods, prairies, and rocky hillsides. They are often found in rocky crevices or mammal burrows. They are attracted to areas with abundant prey (mice, rats, rabbits) and shelter like logs, rock piles, old mammal holes.

In the eastern US, two other pit vipers sometimes approach homes. The copperhead is a relatively stout snake with hourglass-shaped chestnut-brown bands on a tan background and a copper-colored head. They like to dwell in forest edges and will hide under woodpiles, leaves, or old debris near houses. Copperheads are not aggressive and have the mildest venom of North American vipers. The cottonmouth or water moccasin is a heavy-bodied aquatic viper with dark crossbands, found in swamps, ponds, and streams. They usually give a warning (tail vibrations, gaping mouth) before striking.

As noticed earlier, these snakes like places that are cozy, hidden from plain sight, and without disturbance. Thus, the best way to dissuade them is by removing any such places or spots from your house. Secondly, make sure that your place does not have a rat problem; these snakes come out from the wild in search of food. Make sure that the grass in your yard is trimmed properly. Last but not least, seal all the points of entry carefully to ensure they can’t enter your home as they are very agile creatures.