"Snakes!....Why does it have to be snakes??!!"--> Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Seriously though, There are about 14 different species of snakes in
Massachusetts. Garter Snakes are the most common cause of conflicts
with humans (see picture below). They usually end up in the basement in
spring and fall, and startle you when you go to do the laundry or are
looking for something under 'all that stuff' you keep in the basement.
They are harmless and usually fall in, or wander in through a crack in
a foundation wall, or the space under the door that leads outside. If
you can fit your index finger into an opening, chances are a snake can
fit through it.
CAUTION !!! Before attempting to handle ANY snake, make sure you identify it first!!
I photographed this garter snake last year (2001) in my vegetable garden.
Milk snakes (see picture below) occasionally wander into the basement
or house due to the same reasons. They can fit through a small opening
as well. I have found milk snakes to be a little more ornery than
garter snakes. A garter snake you can usually grab with a gloved hand,
and gently place it outside, seal up the opening and you're done. A
milk snake may not be so easy to grab. Always wear gloves when handling
any reptile as they may have salmonella bacteria on their skin just
waiting to enter your digestive tract. Then you will be sick for a few
days with 'food poisoning', or worse. Not to mention that if you try to
grab one, it will most likely try to bite you. Their bite is not
venomous, but I will not say that it is always harmless either.
This picture of the milk snake came from the 'Massachusetts Snakes' web site. A link to it is below.
DAMAGE:
Snakes don't really do damage, per se, (unless you're bitten) but they
are an indicator that you have an opening somewhere in your basement
wall, or (most commonly) under the door that allowed them to enter your
home. If found in the living areas of the house, most likely they
wandered in through an open door. One time, I had to remove a snake
from a home where the cat brought it into the house, and was distracted
long enough that the snake was able to slither into the woman's closet.
REMEDIATION:
Most of the time I (or you) can just remove the snake, release it
outside (possibly at the edge of the property line), and close up the
opening or openings through which it may have entered.
In Massachusetts, it is illegal to translocate any animal. The best thing is to release it in the same area that it was found.
Other General Information On Massachusetts Snakes:
There are 14 species of snakes in Massachusetts. Four species are
endangered, and there are massive fines and possible jail time for
destroying or even harrassing them. Out of the 14 species, we have two
that are venomous--The timber rattlesnake, and the copperhead. Both of
these are considered endangered in Massachusetts.
For further information on snakes in Massachusetts, or if your snake
does not look like the two pictured on this page, I suggest you click
on the LINK below for further information and pictures.
Massachusetts Snake Page
Go to the top of the page
*Return to our Home Page*
