Slithering Around Your Yard? How to Spot Snake Signs

Finding signs of snakes can be a startling discovery in your own backyard. While not all species are dangerous, snakes crawling close to your home or children's play areas is understandably cause for concern. But there are ways to detect snakes and identify the type you may be dealing with. Learning subtle clues like skins, trails, and droppings can help you stay vigilant.

Shed Skins as Obvious Evidence

One of the clearest indicators that snakes frequent your yard is the presence of shed skins. All snakes periodically shed their external layer of skin as they grow. This process is called ecdysis, and allows snakes to literally crawl out of their old skin when it becomes too tight. Shedding happens more often when snakes are young and growing quickly.

Description of Shedding Process

Snakes first release chemicals to separate and lubricate between their old and new skin layers. Then they rub against rough surfaces like trees, rocks, and bushes to help slough off the looser outer skin in one piece. This leaves the dull and cloudy shed skin behind, revealing the newer, brighter layer underneath.

Since snakes seek textured surfaces to rub against while shedding, you may find their old skins near logs, branches, and shrub bases. Look for the full snake outline shape of the shed rather than small flakes or patches.

Locations to Find Shed Skins

When scanning your yard, focus on areas near:

• Tree trunks
• Undersides of decks
• Near or under bushes and shrubs
• Garden edges
• Wood or rock piles

Basically, snakes want friction from surfaces while removing their skin. Anywhere rough, uneven, or abrasive works for them. Also inspect places providing warmth like sunny rock beds or mulch that retains heat.

Shedding Frequency

Younger snakes may shed every 1-2 weeks as they experience rapid growth. Adult snakes tend to shed less often, closer to every 2-4 months. More frequent shedding means the snake is thriving and eating well in your habitat.

Discovering multiple skins within a short timeframe could indicate a larger resident snake population in your yard. Look for differences in size and pattern to gauge the number of individuals shedding.

Identifying Snake Tracks in Soil and Grass

In addition to skins, snakes leave behind telltale tracks wherever they slither across dirt, mulch, or vegetation. Their undulating, sidewinding movement patterns create distinct trails you can look for.

The Distinctive Sidewinding Pattern

Unlike straight, linear tracks left by many animals, snakes make an S-shaped, side-to-side wavy pattern as they move. This is because they shift their weight from side-to-side to propel themselves forward in a crawling locomotion.

Snakes don't have limbs, so their belly slides along the ground. Powerful muscles in their abdomen contract in waves, pushing against the ground to create lateral thrust. This leaves the trademark serpentine tracks along their path.

Best Areas to Look for Tracks

Prime spots to inspect for snake tracks include:

• Dirt or sandy areas
• Gardens and flowerbeds
• Areas near wood or rock piles
• Grassy yards

Basically, any soft, loose terrain holds tracks best. Sandy soil or mulch show the deepest, most defined trail marks making them easiest to identify. Grassy yards hold more subtle flattened tracks.

Preserving and Photographing Tracks

To maintain integrity of the tracks for identification:

• Avoid walking on the tracks
• Use brushes to gently clear debris
• Place markers next to scale of tracks
• Take photos from multiple angles

Quality photos capture key details like track width, patterns in the soil, and the sidewinding path. Submit pictures to wildlife experts for confirmation of snake tracks.

Droppings and Physical Evidence

Fresh snake droppings can also confirm serpents are slithering around your property. Learn to identify their unique scat and link it back to possible hideouts.

Dropping Appearance and Contents

Due to their specialized diet of swallowing prey whole, snake droppings have a distinctive look:

• Thick, pasty texture
• Smeared or clumped shape
• Dark brown to gray color
• Visible contents like fur, scales, or bone
• Tapered, chalky white tip

The thick, mushed texture comes from their digestive process dissolving bones and fur. Undigested contents get passed through the chalky uric acid that creates the whitish cap on the end.

Locating Fresh vs. Old Droppings

Seeking out fresh, moist droppings provides the most accurate clues a snake was recently active in that area. Older dried out feces could have been left weeks before.

Use the moisture level, odor, and condition of the scat to estimate age. Fresher waste smells stronger, feels damp, and maintains a well-formed shape.

Linking Droppings to Hideouts and Dens

Looking for patterns and trails of feces can lead back to possible snake dens or entry points into yards. Follow the direction of the droppings to locate where snakes enter and exit the area.

Focus on shady, secluded spots near foundations, woodpiles, gardens and sheds. See if scat trails concentrate around holes or openings that may be snake access points.

Burrows and Dens in Soil and Underbrush

Inspecting your yard for burrows and openings can also reveal potential snake habitats. Look for signs of occupation to determine if snakes may be dwelling inside.

Entrances Hidden Underground

Snakes often use the abandoned tunnels of ground squirrels, voles, or gophers as readymade dens. They also take refuge in holes created by:

• Tree roots
• Rock piles
• Drainage pipes
• Rodent burrows

Cool, humid conditions underground provide an attractive shelter. Look for openings hidden beneath brush, rocks, and mulch around your property.

Identifying if Burrow is Occupied

Signs a burrow may currently house snakes include:

• Smooth, well-worn entryway
• Trampled vegetation at opening
• Recent droppings nearby
• Strong, musky odor

Active dens feel lived-in, with signs of use around the entryway. Monitor these burrows to gauge if snakes are coming and going.

When to Call in Professional Inspection

If you discover extensive tunnels that may be harboring venomous snakes like rattlesnakes or copperheads, immediately contact professional removal services. Never reach into burrows blindly or try to excavate them yourself.

Avoiding Misidentification of Other Wildlife

It's important to remember many small creatures can leave signs that mimic snakes. Make sure your investigation rules out similar marks from other burrowing animals.

Similar Signs from Small Mammals

Voles, moles, squirrels, and chipmunks make holes, burrows, and even skin sheddings that may get mistaken for snakes. Their droppings also appear similar.

Without other clear evidence like serpentine trails and shapes, assume holes and scat are likely from these mammals sharing your habitat.

Key Differences and Distinctions

Unique snake indicators setting them apart from mammals include:

• The sidewinding trail pattern
• Full snake shape of shed skin
• Observable scales or snake markings on skin
• Bones, scales, or fur in droppings

Use these distinct signs to positively identify snakes over ambiguous traces that other wildlife may leave.

Next Steps if Snakes Confirmed

Verifying that snakes inhabit parts of your yard requires proactive next actions to keep your family and pets safe.

Assessing Venom Risks

If possible, correctly identify the species of snake to understand any risks. Features like color patterns, head shape, and markings indicate if they are venomous varieties.

Assume any unidentified snake could be dangerous.GetoptError:

If snakes are confirmed in your yard, try to safely identify the species without getting too close. Photos or professional inspection can help determine if they are venomous. Never attempt to handle or disturb the snake. If venomous species are suspected, take precautions like keeping pets indoors and contacting removal services.

Snake Deterrents and Removal Options

For nonvenomous snakes, humane deterrents include:

• Mothballs or ammonia near dens
• Predator urine perimeter
• Sealing holes and entries
• Removing hiding spots

Or contact wildlife professionals to safely extract and relocate recurring harmless snakes.

Prevention of Future Intrusions

Longterm prevention includes:

• Installing snake-proof fencing 1-2 feet underground
• Pest-proofing foundations and openings
• Keeping vegetation trimmed
• Removing woodpiles and debris

Making the habitat less attractive can discourage snakes from lingering and returning.

Staying alert for signs like skins, droppings, tracks, and burrows allows you to detect snakes in your yard promptly. While not all species pose serious risks, venomous snakes near homes demand quick response. Identify snakes accurately, take precautions if harmful ones confirmed, and proactively deter future visits for a safe outdoor space.

If your yard shows slithering snake activity, you can take appropriate steps. Careful inspection and identification allows smart, effective action for peaceful coexistence.