How to Trap a Snake

Don’t touch the snake. If you’re used to snakes and know for sure it’s a striped snake or another healthy snake, it’s okay to touch them. But if you’re not sure what kind of snake you’ve caught, don’t touch it. Either way, you shouldn’t touch a wild snake. Gently place the whole trap in the trunk or an enclosed compartment and take it away.

• Do not shake the trap or poke the snake. You should be careful.
• Do not let children and pets near when you handle the snake for safety.

Take the snake away from home at least 1.5 km. If you release the snake too close to the house, it will find its way back to where it was. Release the snake at least 1.5 km away from home if you want to make sure the snake doesn’t return. However, if you trap the snake in your house and don’t mind letting it roam around in the garden, you can simply take it outside and release it.

Go to an area that is wild and not inhabited by many inhabitants. The snake will have the best chance of surviving undisturbed by humans if released in the wild. You can go to a national park or an uninhabited area and release the snake there so it doesn’t crawl into someone else’s garden.

Release the snake. Usually you won’t be in danger of letting go of a snake. The snake will happily slither away without harming you. But in order to prevent unforeseen problems, you should wear long pants and gloves when releasing snakes. Watch the snake carefully and be ready to move away if it is about to attack. Depending on the type of trap, you have two ways to release the snake:

• If using a reusable glue trap, unlatch the lid of the box and open it. Pour cooking oil over the snake’s body so that the oil covers all the glued parts of the snake’s skin. The glue trap is designed so that the snake can wiggle and break free of the adhesive when oil gets between the surface of the snake’s skin and the glue on the bottom of the box. At this point, you should stand far away to avoid blocking the snake’s way.
• If you’re using it, you’ll need to wear thick gloves, as you’ll have to get a little closer to the snake (though still don’t need to touch it). Carefully open the sides of the trap to split it in the middle, leaving just enough room for the snake to get through. Step back so you don’t block the snake’s path as it crawls out.

Only kill the snake if there is no other way. Snakes, including venomous ones, play an important role in the ecosystem, and should be released if possible. ^{[5] X Research Source} But if the snake is venomous and you are concerned that it will cause harm, killing the snake is also a solution.

• If you’re using a cardboard glue trap, simply place the entire trap in a trash bag and tie it up.
• If you’re using a decoction, you can soak the whole thing in water for a few hours before opening it. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Consider allowing healthy snakes to live near your home. Although you may be startled if you suddenly encounter a snake while weeding in the garden or walking in the yard, having a snake around the house is not a bad thing. In fact, you should be proud of this – the presence of snakes in the area is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Moreover, snakes also play an important role in preventing pests such as mice and hamsters from spreading. So if the snake won’t eat your eggs or cause trouble, consider letting them stay in your yard instead of trapping them and taking them elsewhere.

• Rat snakes and rat snakes are especially useful. They are as good as cats at controlling rodent populations. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
• King snakes are even better than that because they can even eat rattlesnakes. In fact, if you drive away the king snake, the rattlesnake will have a chance to move in, and then you will have to deal with an even more serious problem.

Make the yard unattractive solid. If you don’t like snakes, a very effective way to prevent them from coming is to make your yard unattractive to snakes. Snakes usually live in luxuriant and deserted areas. They like tall grass, shrubs, woodpile and other sheltered areas. To make your yard less attractive to snakes, do the following:

• Mow the lawn regularly.
• Clear away piles of dirt, leaves, bushes, bricks, or anything else that snakes might use as a home.
• Control rodent populations by clearing out acorns, sealing trash cans, and eliminating rodent food sources.

Seal the entrance to the house. If you find snakes in your attic or basement, look for openings and holes where they can get into your home. Make sure doors and windows fit snugly against the door frame. Mount nets on chimneys, vents, and other locations that could be snake entrances.