Snake Removal in Winder, GA

Why snakes turn up around Winder homes

Winder is a good place to be a snake. Fort Yargo State Park has woods, lake edge and plenty of cover right next to town; the pastures and hayfields still scattered across Barrow County are full of mice; and older homes near downtown have crawlspaces, woodpiles and outbuildings that stay cool through the summer. As new neighborhoods go in along GA-316, the snakes living on that land get displaced too, and some turn up in brand-new yards.

The large majority of snakes people find around homes here are rat snakes — harmless to people and good at catching rodents. Georgia has 47 native snake species, and seven are venomous; around Winder homes the copperhead is the one worth respecting. And every non-venomous snake is protected by Georgia law — killing one is illegal.

A snake outside usually leaves on its own

Here's the honest advice: a snake crossing the lawn or sunning by the driveway will usually be gone within a few minutes to an hour. By the time anyone drives out, there's often nothing left to catch — and you'd still be paying for the trip. Keep people and pets back, let it move on, and call if it settles in somewhere: inside the house, the garage, the crawlspace, or a spot by the door it keeps coming back to.

Rat snakes, kingsnakes and other neighbors

Rat snakes climb well and go where rodents are — barns, sheds, woodpiles, even attics. Kingsnakes eat other snakes, copperheads included. Garter and brown snakes eat slugs and worms in flower beds. All are harmless to people and all are protected. Most people assume any snake is venomous; very few actually are, which is why a pro identifies it before anything else happens.

Copperheads: the one to watch for

Of Georgia's seven venomous species, the copperhead is the realistic one in Winder yards. Its pattern disappears against dead leaves, pine straw and firewood, so people tend to find one by nearly stepping on it. Watch your hands and feet around woodpiles, rock edging and the shady side of the house, especially on lots that back onto woods or the park. If you see one near the house, keep everyone clear and call.

Why killing a snake is the wrong move

It's illegal to kill a non-venomous snake in Georgia, and most snakes people kill turn out to have been harmless. It's also risky: getting close enough to swing a shovel puts you inside striking range, and that's how a lot of bites happen. Leave the handling to a licensed pro who can identify the snake from a safe distance and move it properly.

Overgrowth and food bring them in

Snakes want two things: cover and food. Tall grass along a fence line, brush piles, stacked lumber and firewood against the house all give cover. Mice and rats around a shed, a chicken coop or a feed bin give food. Cut the grass back, move firewood off the foundation, and deal with any rodent problem, and a property becomes a lot less appealing.

Snakes indoors: call right away

A snake in the house, garage or crawlspace is a different situation. Call immediately and keep track of it if you can do so safely — the longer it's out of sight, the harder it is to find. The pro removes it, then checks how it got in: gaps under garage doors, open crawlspace vents on older homes, holes around pipes. Closing those, and controlling rodents, keeps it from happening again.