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Snake Control

Non-poisonous snakes are common throughout North Dakota; rattlesnakes are found southwest of the Missouri River and in some joining counties east of the river. Most household snake problems are the result of non-poisonous snakes seeking a place to hibernate. Rattlesnakes, which are poisonous, are occasionally found near buildings seeking shelter or shade but they seldom enter houses.

Snakes usually enter a house through cracks in the foundation or around openings such as plumbing outlets near or below ground surface. If snakes appear in the toilet stool, they likely entered via the plumbing from the septic tank. This indicates the tank cover leaks and that the tank needs to be pumped out; the material level has risen which permits the snakes to move through the entrance pipe. This condition is usually associated with antiquated septic tank systems.

Snakes can pass through very small openings such as cracks in cement, under a door or around loose fitting screens and windows.

All possible snake entry places should be blocked. Galvanized screen can be used to cover drains or ventilators. Insulation can be used in cement cracks or where pipes go through outside walls.

Vegetation should be kept short around the buildings. Mowed lawns and short cropped fields near the house are less attractive to snakes and the rodents they feed on. A three-inch layer of pea-size gravel around the foundation will help plug small holes.

Snakes like to hide under objects. Materials such as rock or trash piles should be eliminated; lumber piles or other stored materials should be raised ten inches off the ground. This maintenance will also discourage the presence of rodents and other animals such as skunks.

For future reference, you may want to obtain a copy of Extension bulletin WL-914, "Animal Damage Control Snakes," which is available at your county extension office of the NDSU Extension Service.

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For More Information Contact your North Dakota County Extension Office of the NDSU Extension Service for additional information or see our main NDSU Web Page for publications and articles on Agriculture, Horticulture, Youth and Family, Business and Community and Food and Nutrition at  http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/