Black Snakes
 

I have only recently moved here about 2 months ago. Love it but yesterday saw a small Black snake scoot into my garage. Upon reading up on them they are not harmful and in fact good as they eat small rodents and insects. but my concern is I don't what them to get in my house any suggestions.

Black racers. Good to have around your yard. I've seen a good number of them. Never heard of them coming inside.

I simply keep the garage screens closed when I do have the garage door itself up. I know some homes don't have garage screens but recommend them.

If there is nothing to eat in your garage it will leave. We had two large ones recently that ate all of the anoles and then I never saw them again however more anoles came back.

Far from an expert. I have never seen two. Perhaps, a mating pair? Snakes, and lizards (anoles) are cold blooded. They are tied to temperature for everything. Mating, eating even potential speed.

I've removed a few from my garage that got stuck in the bug traps. Removed one from the kitchen and one from a bush we were removing(it was into a birds nest). I took it out and released it. I bought a snake stick for that purpose. They are useful.

Get some "Snake B Gone" from Ortho. Sold at ACE Hardware. Sprinkle around foundation of the house. Have used it for a couple of years now. And, yes, there are many Southeastern Black Racers in my neighborhood, just not next to my home.

I'm glad we have black snakes in our area. It means we're less likely to find cockroaches in the house. We have roach baits anyway near the dishwasher and under the sinks but the fewer I have to see, the better. Those little buggers don't care how clean your house is. If they can get in, they'll get in. Snakes are welcome ANYWHERE on my property. But I'll get them back out where they need to be, if they sneak into the house or shed/golf cart garage.

There were two, one was longer than the other and both of them had mocking birds chase them from the pond up to our lanai shrubs where they hid and the birds then left, 2 snakes, 2 mocking birds both at the same time. I then saw them off and on for about 2 weeks, this was in late April and now they are gone. I never claimed to be an expert just sharing my experience.

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I had both of these, the orange 1 on back lanai about 2 yrs ago
and black one last year in front wrapped around a planter near living room window

I was sitting in my lanai yesterday, when all of a sudden there was commotion in the hedges. I got up to see what was going on, and the family of thrushes that live in there came flying out. A few seconds later, a little 2' black snake slithered out, saw me, and instead of running the other way, he zoomed right past my dog towards me and then dove for cover in the Mexican Petunias next to the lanai door where I'd been standing a moment before. If I hadn't somehow levitated back inside the door, he'd have probably run over my foot.

It was weird. I've never seen birds be so afraid of such a little snake, or such little snake charge a human like that. He must just get a kick out of terrorizing his neighbors. I caught a good enough glimpse to be sure he wasn't poisonous, so I figure he must be a black racer, which we don't have in Texas. I hope he eats the giant cockroaches and leave the lizards alone. Some of them are practically pets. And I can't wait to see him pull that charging stunt on my wife. I'll be peeling her off the ceiling!

Snakes have a lot more personality than you'd think.

We used to have a big Texas rat snake that would hang out around our chicken coop back home, and swipe an egg every now and then. He got so tame I could nearly get close enough to pick him up. One evening I was locking up the coop and my favorite chicken was sitting on her roost making this weird low noise and squirming around like she didn't know what to do. That rat snake had his head under her wing, and was checking her out, like he was groping around looking for something. I grabbed his tail and he whipped around and reared back like he was going to bite, so I let him go and he just slithered off real slow, just to show me he wasn't the least bit scared. I'm not sure what the heck he was doing to my chicken, but I have a feeling it's illegal in most states!

Hmmmmm. Are you the same guy who said snakes could come up through your toilet??? That altered MY LIFE for a long spell. Danged boys.

Gracie, that's just the bigger snakes... the baby ones come up thru the sink and shower drains

The top one looks like a copperhead. They're venomous, but not aggressive and their venom is not deadly to humans (unless you're allergic, obviously). But because they -are- venomous, if you see it again, get in touch with the local wildlife folks and have them try and capture it. Do NOT try to capture it yourself.

Red meets yellow...dangerous fellow...............red meets black....friend of Jack

When I see posts like this I say, what did I get myself into moving into TV. If snakes show up in my garage or house or front door, I’m moving and I will wish everyone in TV a long healthy life. I will go a little further north where it’s cooler and fewer snakes.

Is that the same stuff as Snake A Way, i.e. ground moth balls? I’ve heard Snake A Way works well.

It could also be just a mundane corn snake. You'll find some of those around in Florida too. They're not venomous or aggressive, and are often mistaken for copperheads.

It's still a good idea to not try and capture one, or catch/release, and instead get a wildlife professional to handle it.

If you kill it and it's a corn snake, you'll be killing a harmless animal that's actually good for humans, since it keeps the rodent population down. If you don't kill it and it bites you and it's a copperhead, you could be in a lot of pain for a couple of weeks.

Snakes are sort of like dogs, some are aggressive and some are not. Up north, my school had several pet snakes. The young students were introduced to them so they would have no fear of the harmless kinds of snakes. And to be wary of the other kinds.

However, I do not like snakes of any kind in my home. One of the first things I bought was long thongs to gently pick up any potential snake to take outside.

I believe that's a warning for a coral snake, not a copperhead.

Stop, just stop!

Yuch!! roaches!! We’ve never had them in TV ..... have never even seen one for that matter. Deans does a great job of keeping the bugs away from our house.

Snake in garage
 

I use Ortho Snake Be Gone in our yard but after finding a black snack in our garage about 3 years ago I now pour a strip in front of the door in the garage that leads into the house. Every few months I sweep up the old and replace it with new. Gives me piece of mind!

Yes
 

The same stuff.

Ice
 

That’s a nice looking Red Rat Snake. Also cool curious Black Racer.

Correct

Snake ID Site
 

For anybody who wants help with identifying and being educated on snakes in Florida, highly recommend joining a FB group called ‘What kind of snake is this? Florida’. Includes top snake experts in the state who rapidly identify snakes. Good way to learn about the six venomous snakes in the state as well as the many many nonvenomous snakes. If you see a snake, take a pic, post it, and within a minute or so you’ll get an expert or ten to respond.

Agree that’s a Corn Snake, also known as a Red Rat Snake. Harmless and good to have around.

Black Snake
 

You can buy snake repellent at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Just sprinkle around at entryway to garage . It does help.

Copperhead Range
 

The Copperhead is often mistaken for the Red Rat Snake, also known as Corn Snake, and some water snakes. They Copperhead is only found in the panhandle and part of central FL in the state. Here is a pic of their range.

It's a corn snake. Totally harmless.

WHOA That's quite the tale!

Not sure
 

That is definitely not black racer, the head is way too big and the snake itself is too fat. Not sure about the orange snake could be a corn snake or copperhead

Keep your doors closed.

It looks like a black snake. The close up might just be making it look bigger than it actually is.
:coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

Catch it or scoot it outside

Ohiobuckeye
 

. I was told if you see snakes in or around your home you have a rodent problem. Yes the Black snakes are harmless, but to some people they’re creepy!

When I went to initial Green Beret training in 1961 they had us bite the heads of little snakes , which gave us to the rest of Fort Bragg the nickname snake eaters . Anyway the theory was that if you bit off the head of a poisonous snake because you had no knife it would be safe to eat. The real reason was just to screw with you . FYI it didn’t taste like chicken

I was riding in Big Sky Montana with a rancher through some winter-wheat fields a dozen years ago. He suddenly stopped his horse and had me hold the reins. He hopped off, grabbed a rock, and threw it hard around 2 yards away from where he was standing. Then he approached that spot, picked up a stunned rattlesnake, twisted its head, and used a field knife to cut the tail off. He stuck the tail in his pocket and we continued our ride.

He kept the tails for good luck, he said. He's never been bitten by a snake.

Black snake activity
 

I thought you’d all enjoy this wee video of a couple of Black Rat snakes making ‘whoopee’ in our garden on the Historic side…..I had never seen this activity between snakes before.