Identifying Snake Holes in Your Yard

As backyards come to life with the warmer weather, so do signs of animal life, such as small holes in the ground. While some of these holes may be home to rodents, turtles, or insects, others could be snake holes. Snakes often take up residence in abandoned rodent holes to find shelter from harsh elements. However, distinguishing between snake holes and other animal holes can be challenging. Here’s what you need to know about snake holes in your yard and why you shouldn’t be too scared by a hole or two!
What Does a Snake Hole Look Like?

Not all snake holes look alike, as snakes don’t dig these holes themselves. Instead, they move into holes that have been dug and then abandoned by rodents, insects, and even turtles. This means that snake holes will vary in size and shape depending on the animal that originally dug them. Some holes may be perfectly round and only an inch across, while others could be larger and more jagged. To determine if a hole has a snake in it, look for discarded snake skins or snake feces, which typically appear as thick brown liquid with a chalky white end.

Snake Hole vs. Rodent Hole

While many snake holes were once rodent holes, there are distinct signs to help you determine the current occupant of a hole. Look for discarded snake skin near a hole, which is a likely indication of a snake hole. Snake feces, a brown paste with white chalky ends, is another sign. Conversely, signs of digging such as claw marks and small piles of freshly dug dirt suggest a rodent hole rather than a snake hole, as snakes cannot dig holes themselves and only move into abandoned ones.

Types of Snakes that Could Be in Your Yard

There are various snakes that could potentially be in your yard, and most of them are harmless. Here’s a quick overview of the common snakes found in North America:

– Rat snakes: These snakes are 3 to 5 feet long and are found across the eastern and midwestern United States. They are typically black, gray, or black and yellow and feed on small rodents and birds.

– Garter snakes: Garter snakes are widespread and harmless, living throughout North America and usually measuring between 18 and 30 inches in length. They prefer wet and forested habitats.

– King snakes: King snakes are often 3 to 5 feet long and can reach up to 6 and a half feet. They are found throughout the United States, with some subspecies being quite colorful, like the scarlet king snake.

– Milk snakes: Milk snakes vary in size depending on their location, with those in the southern United States typically being larger than those in the Northeast or Upper Midwest. They come in various colors, such as orange, red, and brown, and are often mistaken for their poisonous lookalikes, the coral snakes.

Corn snakes can be found in the southeastern United States and prefer to live in wooded, overgrown areas. They are typically 2 to 6 feet long and bright red and orange.

Cottonmouth snakes (venomous) get their name from their bright white mouth which opens when threatened. They live near water in the southeastern United States, are brownish-gray and 2 to 4 feet long.

Copperhead snakes (venomous) live throughout the eastern United States and can survive in a variety of habitats. They are dark brown with hourglass-shaped markings and 2 to 3 feet long.

Rattlesnakes (venomous) prefer the arid conditions of the American Southeast, though a few species can be found east of the Mississippi. They can be up to 8 feet in length and are typically brown with markings.

What to Do About Snake Holes

Once you’ve determined that the hole in your yard is a snake hole, here’s what you can do.

Leave them be: This is the best choice for most snakes and snake holes. Snakes rarely attack unless physically provoked and are great for backyard pest control as they keep pesky rodents at bay. If you can, let snake holes be.

Fill them back in: If you’re dealing with venomous snakes or you’d really prefer to keep snakes away from your home, you can fill the holes back in with dirt. But keep in mind these can be easily re-dug by the animals that dug them in the first place.

Cover them: To ensure filled-in snake holes stay filled in, consider covering the tops of the holes with a small patch of burlap or chicken wire.

Call a professional: If you have a repeated problem with venomous snakes, call a wildlife or pest control expert to keep dangerous snakes at bay.

How to Prevent Snakes from Being On Your Property

Many common North American snakes have adapted to make a home just about anywhere. It will be hard to completely prevent snakes from ever slithering into your backyard, but you can make it less inviting to them by keeping your grass mowed and clearing away brush, overgrowth, and piles of leaves. Keep in mind that the majority of snake species (90%, in fact) are nonvenomous and do a lot of good for the ecosystem: they keep small rodent and insect populations from getting out of control, they provide biodiversity, and they maintain an important part of the food chain.

Identifying Snake Holes in Your Yard: A Comprehensive Guide

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