I recently received a call from a customer wanting to know why all of a sudden she was seeing snakes in her yard. There are several possibilities that can answer this question.

First, we want to look at the geographical area and its surroundings. Is the home located in town, out in the country, or by the lake? Are there empty fields or plots of unconstructed land that were recently leveled nearby? Is construction currently going on in your area? The answers to these questions could lead a snake right to your doorstep.

Is the home in town? Chances are, if you live right in the heart of Rockwall, you may not experience snakes as you would if you live out in the country or by the lake. Country living, you have more open land space with overgrown vegetation that snakes can keep cool and hide in. Lake living gives snakes food, water, and again, the overgrown vegetation to hide in.

Now that you know where you live, what activity is going on around your home? No, we’re not referring to the dog chewing your new sneakers or your little one giving themself a new haircut. This question refers to any new construction sites, housing developments popping up, or are you affected (other than driving it) by the expansion of 205? If the answer is yes, this means animals, insects, and pests are being evicted from their current homes and are in need of a BnB to stay at while they figure out their living situation. What better place than yours? They might actually try to move in permanently.

So what animals, insects, and pests are we talking about that could move in with you like the old college roommate who recently moved out of their parents’ basement only to crash on your couch for 3 days and it’s now going on for 3 months? We are referring to rodents, spiders, ants, beetles, American cockroaches, opossums, armadillos, skunks, crickets, and the list goes on.

The big attraction on that list, for snakes, is rodents. Snakes eat other small insects but will hunt out mice and rats. This means if rodents are in or around your home, you may start seeing snakes slithering through your yard or near the foundation of your home.

Rodents are a great food source for snakes but take away the food source, what happens? The predator goes somewhere else to search for food. But how do you take away rodents when you don’t know where they’re hiding or how many there are? The best solution to that is, hire a professional. Professional pest control technicians can safely set up traps, provide rodent bait stations that are a secure device that your pets and children can’t access, and point out any potential entry points rodents may use to enter your home.

But why are rodents at your home to begin with? Seeing any type of pest, insect, or animal that isn’t your pet may make you feel like your home isn’t clean. That isn’t necessarily the case. Critters may have caught a whiff of the BBQ you recently had, smelled something good in your trash bin, your garden vegetables, or other insects or pet droppings throughout your yard. All these things, among many more, can attract unwanted pests to your home.

If pests can’t get indoors, they often create burrows or nests outdoors to live in. Rodents, moles, and ground squirrels dig holes and create a burrow. Snakes often take over rodent burrows in hopes they return, and they won’t have to go very far to hunt. Snakes also live in underground holes to keep cool and away from other predators that hunt them.

Other insects like some types of beetles, ants, and worms have nests well beneath the soil. American cockroaches, beetles, and caterpillars find their homes in trees, rotting wood, gardens, and plants.

Ways to eliminate unwanted guests:

  1. Keep the lawn free of debris. Clean pet droppings, leaf litter, and unnecessary items from the lawn.
  2. Keeping the lawn trimmed to 3-3.5” high is recommended. Not only for the health of the lawn but any higher and critters can hide in it.
  3. Clean any spills. Hose off patios and sidewalks to eliminate scents of food and drink spills.
  4. Keep food and trash tightly sealed.
  5. Seal cracks, crevices, and holes to eliminate pests from entering the home and building nests.
  6. Trim trees, bushes, and shrubs away from structures.
  7. Hire a professional.

Unfortunately, we can’t help with the old college roommate crashing on your couch but whatever your pest may be, contact Safe Earth Pest Control today. We have plans to fit all your lawn and pest control needs. 214-321-2847