Snakes are common in Virginia....
but they won't be at your home.
Virginia is home to 32 species of snakes. Fortunately, only 3 are venomous; the timber rattlesnake, copperhead, and cottonmouth. And, of these three, only the copperhead can be found around Richmond.
There is a small population of cottonmouths around the Colonial Heights and Chester area, but any snakes you see in the water are likely going to be harmless water snakes. The most common snake in the area is the black rat snake. These are large constrictors reaching up to 6 feet in length. They are excellent climbers and prey on things such as mice, rats, and bird eggs.
Many people encounter snakes around their yards, especially if they live close to a creek or wooded area. They are also often found under crawlspaces, hunting for rodents or seeking somewhere safe to shed their skin. They find their way in through gaps in crawlspace vents, a/c lines, or crawlspace doors that don’t sit flush. Occasionally some will even find their way into the living area of the home!
At Lewis Pest Control our technicians are trained to identify the species of snake and safely remove it from your home. They are also able to inspect the home and figure out how the snake got in and why it entered. Often when people tell us they have a snake problem, we usually find they also have a rodent problem which is why the snakes are there in the first place.
Once those areas are identified we are able to seal up the entry points, keeping snakes and other animals they may have been looking for such as mice out of your home. Services are also available to rid the home of rodents that are attracting snakes.
How can I prevent snakes from coming into my yard?
One of the more common questions we are asked is, “how can I prevent snakes from coming into my yard?” The simple answer is, you can’t. There are some products on the market that claim to “repel” snakes from your yard, but there is no evidence that these products even work. And even if they did, you would have to reapply them after every rain.
At Lewis Pest Control we can make recommendations on how to decrease the likelihood that you see snakes in the yard, such as making the habitat less welcoming to them. We can also see if there are animals in the yard they may prey on such as chipmunks, moles, and voles that may need to be removed. Snake traps can also be placed around the exterior of the homes to catch any snakes that may be slithering around looking for a meal or easy way in. Once caught they can be taken away to be safely removed and returned to the wild, far away from your home!
Note: There are no such things as snake holes! There are only holes rodents make. Snakes may sometimes be seen entering these holes in search of the animal that made them.
So, if you are having a snake problem and would like a professional to inspect your home or remove a snake, give us a call! Our services areas include (but are not limited) to Chester, Chesterfield, Glen Allen, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Richmond, Tri-Cities, and surrounding areas.
Have a picture of a snake spotted in your yard and would like us to identify it? Email the pic to pest@lewispest.com and we will be happy to identify it for you!
