Posted by Dennis Repenning on June 20, 2005

Q: We live on a couple of acres in Boone County, Kentucky—the northern Kentucky area. My normally cool and collected wife gets quite uncool and uncollected at the mere thought of snakes, so imagine her reaction when she encountered a snake in our garage...

She saw it last weekend, and then this past Sunday am. She describes it as around 4 feet long—but I'm never around when she sees it. I'm not concerned about it being venomous because we don't appear to have venomous snakes in our area. But—

is it likely that the snake is living in the garage? Is there a way I can discourage the snake from living there? If I see it, can you suggest a plan of removal? My marriage is at stake here! Thanks in advance for your help.

—Dennis Repenning

A: The only way I can think of to discourage your snake from using your garage is to block any access points. Of course, snakes are quite adept at getting into narrow cracks and crevices so that may be hard to do. I can certainly understand your wife's fear of snakes but there is a positive side to this scenario that may help her accept your visitor. Although you didn't share any description of your snake to help with an ID, all snakes are carnivors and a snake that is 4 feet long is eating some large prey. I'd guess that your snake will keep your garage, and therefore maybe your house too, free of rodents. Maybe having free rodent control will ease your wife's concerns?

You're almost certainly correct in suspecting that your snake is NOT venomous. My guess is that your snake has found that your garage serves as a nice hiding place. It probably leaves daily on its foraging rounds, only to return when finished. If I were you I'd try to find out what location in the garage the snake likes to retire to and then once your wife knows where it is, she can avoid that spot and won't be surprised by it. Sorry I can't give you a quick and easy answer. Thanks for sharing and I hope your marriage remains solid.

John Wiessinger ( June 21, 2005)