Have you ever found pieces of shed skin, curved tracks, holes in the ground? These are signs that you may have one or more snakes in your garden. But how can you be sure that it is indeed a reptile? How do you know if it is a snake hole in the garden? And what to do next?
How Do You Know if It’s a Snake Hole in the Garden?
Although there are 34 species of venomous snakes in France, and not all of them are dangerous to humans, the idea of having one or more reptiles living on your property is certainly not what most of us dream of. Personally, even if I am not necessarily afraid of these creatures, I would do everything possible to avoid cohabiting with them. Unfortunately, one day, during the past summer while watching over my fruit trees, I came across a snake hole in the garden. It of course took me a while to realize that it was a snake, since at first, I thought it was more of a rat that I was dealing with.
In reality, it was not entirely wrong: snakes do not generally make holes; instead, they occupy the holes of other animals such as rodents to hide. But how do you know if it is a snake hole in the garden? Here are the signs that showed me that it was indeed a reptile on my property:
What Does a Snake Hole in the Garden Look Like?
Do snakes dig holes in the garden? Rarely. As mentioned above, most of the time, they take over holes made by other animals, especially rodents. And since these can be holes made by different animals, they can vary widely in appearance and size. They can be small, larger, round or angular, more or less deep. But in addition to taking over holes in the ground, snakes can also live in small spaces between rocks or in larger cracks between concrete constructions.
What Are Other Signs of a Snake in Your Yard?
Since you can never be sure if it is a snake hole in the garden just by looking at it, looking for other clues of reptile presence might help. What could these clues be?
- Snake droppings: Have you ever wondered what snake droppings look like? They are usually thick, pasty, dark brown balls with a white coating on one end. Their size varies depending on the size of the snake they belong to. Since these reptiles eat small animals and insects, undigested parts of these animals and insects can often be seen inside the droppings. They can also be found in different places in your garden or near the hole.
- Pieces of old snake skin: Snakes are reptiles that shed their skin regularly, up to once a month when they are growing. They usually do this by rubbing themselves against rocks or other hard surfaces to shed their skin. So, if you ever find scales or pieces of skin near the hole in your garden, then this is one of the signs of the presence of such a creature.
What to Do Next?
The first thing to do after finding a hole in the garden is to make sure that there is really a snake currently living in it. How to do it? Start by observing the ground around it. If it looks fresh and there are tracks around it, then it is possible that the animal is using it. On the other hand, if you notice that it is covered in cobwebs or if there is debris around it, then it is certainly an old hole.
If the hole is currently being used by a reptile, the best thing to do is to block its entrance. You can use boards, fine mesh, or even pieces of fabric. It is also useful to check if the hole is not connected to other holes and tunnels throughout your garden. If this is the case, you must block everything to discourage the animal from returning. Be very careful, because it is possible to come face to face with the animal at any time!
Warning!
If your property is infested with snakes, it is highly recommended to call professionals who can help you. Never touch this animal with bare hands and use sticks if you have to transport one.
