Common Garter Snakes
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalis
Snakes are one of the most widely spread vertebrates, living in almost any habitat. Snakes also have many tales told about them, placing them in a class of animals generally feared by humans.
There are only a few species of poisonous snakes in the United States: those in the pit viper family Crotilada – rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins; and Clapidae – coal snakes.
Snakes feed on a wide variety of prey. Small, young snakes feed on insects, snails, slugs, spiders, and larger snake feed on frogs, rodents, eggs and, occasionally, birds.
Most snakes lay eggs, and the hatched young can immediately take care of themselves. Some species such as garter snakes bear live young. Garter snakes have been known to have dozens of young in a single brood.
Control
The first step is to identify the snake. This is often difficult from homeowner descriptions. Before any control action is taken, find out whether the snake is poisonous.
Snakes entering structures are the most difficult to control. Usually there is vegetation around the structure which the snake uses to climb to upper floors. In addition, there is often a food source for the snake. Eliminating these two conditions will help.
A snake can also enter the structure through small openings. Closing or sealing these holes will keep the snake out.
Trapping snakes indoors takes some skill. If you do not know where the snake is, you can place a damp cloth, covered by a dry one along the baseboards in several places. Make sure the cloth is large enough for the snake described to you. Check these piles daily.
When the snake can be found, PCOs have used glue boards for small snakes or snares to capture larger ones. There is no reason to kill these animals since they are essentially beneficial. Released trapped or captured snakes in rural areas. Correct the problems that attracted the snake to the structure.
Insecticides have been effective in killing snakes and are frequently used when there are natural disasters such as floods which drive poisonous snakes into structures.
(Courtesy of the National Pest Control Association.)