Posted by Anonymous on September 10, 2004

Q: I live in southeast Tennessee and occasionally over the last 8 or 9 yrs. have had ringneck snakes in varying lengths in my house, mainly in upstairs bedroom where there is a fireplace and mostly in the early fall. I know they're harmless, but I don't want them in my house!! Is there a humane way to get rid of them if they're in the walls? We've caulked better around fireplace and thought that had made a difference but last night the cat alerted us to one (right beside the bed). What about the thing you plug into outlet that emits sound waves or such? But would that bother my dog and cat too? We're in wooded area near creek so I'm sure that's attracting them. Is the same mother having babies year after year in my house? Help!!

A: I can understand your discomfort with snakes in your house but I applaud the fact that you know they're not dangerous and you're not killing them. The snakes are looking for a place to hibernate in the fall and your home may even be in a traditional area that snakes have used for centuries. Snakes are good at finding small crevices and getting into tight places so it sounds as though they're doing that at your home. Sealing up any entrance holes is your best bet, especially at ground level. Using sound waves won't work since snakes can't hear - although they do feel vibrations on the ground.

I don't think a snake is having babies in your home in the fall but young snakes are probably finding it easier to enter your home than larger ones so these are the ones most likely to gain entrance. Good luck.

John Wiessinger ( September 13, 2004)