What should I do with a snake after I catch it?

Snakes can cause a few problems, but mostly their presence is scary for many humans. Most snakes are harmless, but there are a few venomous ones that can pose great dangers to humans and their pets. However, this is not enough to convince people who have a fear of snakes that there is typically nothing to fear.

When you encounter a snake, you should do the following. First, you should leave the snake alone. Identify the species of the snake and continue leaving the snake alone if it is not venomous and if it is not in a building or in the house. When you find a non-venomous snake outside, you should let it continue on its way since you will most likely not see it again.

When you meet a venomous snake, you should take the problem seriously and it has to be removed as soon as possible to avoid any pet or person getting hurt by it. However, this is not a reason to kill a snake if you are not in immediate danger. There are places you may call like animal control or the local police and fire department to help you in removing the venomous snake.

When you catch a snake, you should do some online research or contact an expert who will be able to tell you more about the particular species and what you should do with it. You can also call a herpetological association to give you information and advice regarding the captured snake. They will most likely advise that you relocate the snake away from your property in a safe location.

If you have captured a snake that is venomous, you will most likely want to contact a wildlife removal expert to come take care of the snake removal for you. You should not put yourself at risk if you do not have experience with snakes and you don’t have the right tools and protective gear. If you capture a non-venomous snake, you should be able to relocate it away from your property easily, or you may decide to release it if it is not causing any problems.

Identifying the snake is also important because you will be able to find out if you happened to capture an endangered snake. Special rules apply in this case, so you will want to contact the authorities immediately.

Go back to the How to Get Rid of Snakes page or email us if you have any other questions about What should I do with a snake after I catch it?