Flush with Wild Snakes

[CelestiHel]

Hi all -

I know this is a forum for captive snakes, but I figure you all probably have a good bit of knowledge about their wild behaviors and I could use some advice!

I have a crack between the back of the house I rent and the addition on the house. A plant grew up between the crack and garter snakes have been using it as a superhighway to the space between the roof and the drywall ceiling in my living room.

I am privately delighted (don't tell my landlord or it'll never get fixed! Hornets come through there, too, you know!) because I love snakes. Initially I was only seeing one snake, who slid out of her skin sometime in April (I'm guessing a gal because of the hijinx that follows, she's my profile picture). But then around Memorial Day, I was catching garter snakes all over my living room and Milksnakes, too, all of a sudden without warning. Once I caught everyone and blocked off the access to my living space (via heater vents and holes) I thought I had the issue licked.

However, this weekend I watched no less that 20 garter snakes, one right after the other, marching (in their way) up the crack and into the roof space. It was like a single file parade of snakes. It was really cool to watch, I have to add.

Okay, long story short. I now have no less than 20, but let's be real, probably many more garter snakes all crammed up on a piece of drywall above my couch. After some time, it's a lot of weight on that already poorly made ceiling (it's starting to sag just a bit). Also, I can't seal the crack with all those snakes inside, they'll be trapped.

Here's what I'm trying to discern. What are the odds that those snakes are just up there breeding right now and will eventually make a mass exodus once they're done? Or, even though I didn't see so many before, is it possible that all those animals denned there over winter and they are permanent residents?

The issue is that I need to humanely remove them before I fix the crack in the wall, but will they remove themselves if I wait?

Any thoughts are welcome, in the meantime, here's a link to my Picasa web albums where I have some pictures:

Picasa Web Albums - CelestiHel - Snakes of my ... (http://picasaweb.google.com/celestihel/SnakesOfMyHome)

Thanks for any tidbits you can offer!

H

[Snake lover 3-25]

omg wow that's crazy! they may come out on their own to get food and water........ but if they've got a source of food and water there...... you may have to go get them out by hand....... i'm guessing that's where they hibernate.... so as long as your walls aren't full of worms, fish, frogs or mice you should be fine:)

[adamanteus]

That's amazing!
I would expect they will soon leave of their own volition... they need to go feed, and I doubt there is any food source in your dry wall. I'm surprised they're still holed up indoors this late in the year.
Enjoy it while you can.:D

[drache]

very cool
yeah - they're likely to leave soon
welcome to the forum

[guidofatherof5]

Hiding pinkies in the attic wasn't a good idea. Welcome to the forum. I'm glad someone else is getting invaded.:D

[CelestiHel]

It's ridiculous, I was just microwaving for 5 minutes and I watched more crawl up. They all go in, but no one comes out. I wish I had the dollars to buy one of those surveillance cameras and snake (haha) it up there. I want to see what's going on!

You all are the only people who think this is neat. No one else will come to my house anymore until they're gone. If they are all up there just breeding, how long do you think this might go on for, given that they all started coming in memorial day and we're seeing a huge increase this past week or so? How long does the garter breeding season last.

If I do have to cut them from the drywall, I promise crazy snake pictures. It'll look like fear factor, except I'll be having fun! Unless they all start musking me, I've about had it with that!

[guidofatherof5]

I don't think you have a breeding situation as much as you have a shelter situation. They found a good thing and like it. Can you get into the attic? I have a feeling it's going to smell really bad(in some people's opinion) If you could get up there and flush them out you could find where they're getting in and plug that hole. It's best to wait for a warm day when they're all out hunting. Grab me a handful and ship them off. I could use a few more around here.:D

I know how you feel about people not coming over because of the snakes. For my kids birthday parties I have to move enclosures out of the livingroom and into the snake nursery. Otherwise some folks won't come. They don't know what they're missing.

[Didymus20X6]

Rubber gloves and a raincoat. And I seem to remember someone mentioning Clorox wipes.

EDIT: You mean people will actually go through your yard and into your house, with like a bajillion radixes all over the place?

[guidofatherof5]

Rubber gloves and a raincoat. And I seem to remember someone mentioning Clorox wipes.

EDIT: You mean people will actually go through your yard and into your house, with like a bajillion radixes all over the place?

My radixes are trained. You know the whole stranger danger thing. They don't come out unless I give the okay sign. I kind of feel like Willard, instead of rats I have radixes. I love it when they go after the neightbors cat. Kinda fun watching my kids attack. The cat doesn't get hurt but it knows not to come in my yard. I'm so proud of them when they come back in the house with a mouth full of cat fur.:D They're so cute.

[jitami]

You all are the only people who think this is neat. No one else will come to my house anymore until they're gone.

:D I think it's amazing, but can see why it would be a problem. Do you notice more activity in cooler or warmer weather? Are they moving into the house in the morning or evening? Or is it an all day thing? If there's just one way in, I'm thinking a one way butterfly like valve should work. They'd be able to get out, but not back in?

This is a lame pic, but hopefully you get the idea... wonder if they'd push through it?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Yagisawa_power_station_inlet_valve.jpg/300px-Yagisawa_power_station_inlet_valve.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

hmmmmmmm. maybe just a simple top half of the bottle with the end facing outward would work? then you could plug up all the rest of the whole except that one spot?

[CelestiHel]

The valve and bottle are good ideas and I'll have to dig around to see if it will work. I have only ever once seen a snake go out, and that was the time I photographed it. That was in april. Since then, I only see them coming in, in the early-mid afternoon. And there is always more activity on warm days. It's possible that they go out as often, but I've never seen it because I'm either at work or asleep. Not a morning gal. I'm trying to find a person in my state who does wildlife removal (humanely!) but I can't find anyone. I've left messages at Fish & Wildlife and the Humane Society to see if they might know someone, but they haven't gotten back to me. Is anyone in my area (North/Central VT) and know someone I can consult?

[CelestiHel]

Just thought I'd update folks, since it's been a while! So, the garters are still coming and going and now, even though they're not really pets, I'm totally attached to seeing their sweet little faces pop out of my wall occasionally. I discovered that the identical crack on the other side of the addition was also letting snakes in, which were likely the ones that were ending up in the living room proper. After catching the last three garters and plugging up the holes, I left just two feet of crack exposed near the top of the ceiling, where I can watch them come and go, but they don't end up in the living space.

That I know of there is only one more snake in my house living area, a milk snake, that has been living in my oven for at least a month. Not the cooking part, but underneath and maybe in the works...where ever it is, I can never get it when I try. We're getting a new oven next week, so maybe I can coax it out once the old one is removed from the house.

After discussing the issue of the denning snakes in my ceiling, and see in the myriad ways that they are getting in, we just determined that there is no way to get them out without great expense. Since we rent, it's not our expense to bear and we are not bothered by them. The addition is in such bad shape anyway that at this rate, they really should just start from scratch. Not our problem. We have decided to live with them in peace and harmony. For my part, I really want to see babies, but before my cats get a hold of them! Also, I've stopped naming them, there are too many and I can't tell them all apart!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions!
Helen

[guidofatherof5]

Helen,
Sorry to hear that you weren't able to seal things up and keep them out. I have 2 places around my foundation were I know they are getting in. They aren't a bother and providing them a safe place to be is fine with me. My kids and I don't mind finding a radix on the floor once in awhile.
If you have as many as it sounds like, babies shouldn't be a problem. Another month or so and you should start seeing the little scrubs. I warn you! picking one up and looking in those cute little eyes will only make it harder to release it. They will hypnotize you and you will be under their control. Have fun and enjoy.:D

[jitami]

That is so wild Celest! I love it! I'm glad you decided to live with them. They are fascinating to watch. You know we're all going to want pictures, right? ;)

[CelestiHel]

I have some pictures of the garters and milksnakes I've caught in my living room. I'll take pictures of the milksnake under the oven once I fetch it out. Ooooh, if I find babies, there will be sooooo many pictures!

Picasa Web Albums - CelestiHel - Snakes of my ... (http://picasaweb.google.com/celestihel/SnakesOfMyHome)

[guidofatherof5]

Looks like the garters have made themselves right at home, in your home.:D

[drache]

nice
Bruce is very cool - probably a lady though
there are more women into martial arts these days

[gregmonsta]

You guys get all the luck :D .... I wish I had a garter invasion zone.

[GarterGeek]

Ooooh, I'm jealous! Nice to know the snakes won't end up dead though. There are a lot of people who would have killed all of them.

[DrKate]

You guys get all the luck :D .... I wish I had a garter invasion zone.
Yeah, all I get invading my house are ants and slugs. Bleh. Oh, and a nest of raccoons in the attic once.

[CelestiHel]

Ooooh, I'm jealous! Nice to know the snakes won't end up dead though. There are a lot of people who would have killed all of them.

We're so afraid that's going to happen in the end. We rent, and it's not our house to fix. I think before we move out, whenever that is, the only way to be sure they don't get exterminated is to pour some money into hiring a construction person to come help us cut them out the walls and then redo the drywall. Of course, I would also make the argument that you'd have to do the same thing to kill them, because frankly that many dead snake are going to smell BAD eventually and you're still going to have to cut them out. Might as well do it when you have a tenant who is happy to scoop them out with her hands and usher them safely outside!

[guidofatherof5]

Your efforts towards and on behalf these snakes is to be commended.:)

[CelestiHel]

Aw, thanks. I think I just prefer living in the world where I believe most people would choose to either live and let live or save a critters life if they could, even though deep down I know it's not true. I'll just focus my energies on the ones who would...rose colored glasses and all!