What To Do If You Find A Snake's Shed Skin In Your Yard

While nothing sends a chill up the spine quite like seeing a live snake slithering past your feet, spotting a snake skin on your property is certainly a close second. While you definitely shouldn't panic based on the skin, it does make sense to be on the alert. Although this scary garden pest is often good to have around for rodent control, there are likely areas you'll consider off-limits to the reptiles.

Try to avoid picking up the skin with your bare hands, but do consider trying to identify the snake based on its shed layer. This can be a challenge, given that a snake skin doesn't have the colors and patterns that its owner possessed. However, although you can rarely determine characteristics like head shape and patterns based on the skin, you may be able to tell what kind of scales the snake has. Toward the tail-end of the skin's underside, a single row of scales points to a venomous snake, while a double row indicates a non-venomous one.

If you're concerned that a snake might be in a home, an outbuilding, or a play area, removal is an obvious priority. Contact a wildlife services specialist if you can't find the snake or are worried about danger. If you're unable to find that kind of service locally, your state's cooperative extension agency or Game and Fish agency can direct you to the professional advice you need. In the meantime, work to protect your home and outdoor areas.

Although snakes can be allies when it comes to controlling rodents and insects, it's understandable if you want to reduce their access to key parts of your property — especially if venomous types are common in your region. There are several simple but effective ways to deter snakes from your yard and home.

To make outdoor play and recreation areas safer, relocate potential hiding places. These include log and brush piles. It's also helpful to keep lawns mowed, remove weedy areas, and regularly cultivate garden beds. If you still have concerns, consider installing a snake-proof fence. It should be at least 3 feet in height, so that part of it can be sunk into the ground. Look for fencing mesh that's no larger than ¼-inch. For maximum protection, angle the fence at an outward slant, with extra fencing material angled downward to prevent snakes from climbing up and over.

Keeping your home and outbuildings snake-free is a matter of tightly sealing the exteriors. This step discourages both snakes and their potential prey, such as rodents. Use a caulk gun or mortar on any exterior cracks you find. Replace any missing siding, sills, or broken screens and weather-stripping. If you're pretty sure that a snake is already on the loose inside, consider placing a glue trap in the basement or near other sneaky spots where snakes may be hiding in your home. The trapped snake can then be relocated to a wild area.