Licensed pest control
Snake Removal Services
Snake removal means a trained handler catches the snake, finds how it got in and closes that gap, and it costs $130 to $600, about $340 on average. Be aware that plenty of pest control companies don’t handle snakes and send the call to a wildlife removal specialist. Most snakes you’ll find are harmless rodent eaters. Tell us where the snake is and we’ll try to match you with a licensed company near you that does snake work, for a free quote.
- Licensed & insured techs
- Free, no-pressure quotes
- Homes, apartments and businesses
How to Tell a Venomous Snake From a Harmless One
Snake identification starts with a hard truth: most snakes around US homes are harmless. North Carolina, for one, has 38 snake species and only six venomous ones. Rat snakes, garter snakes and black racers are the ones that turn up in garages and woodpiles, and they eat mice and rats.
Pit vipers, the group that covers rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths, have cat-like vertical pupils and a small heat-sensing pit between the eye and nostril. Harmless species in North Carolina have round pupils and no pits, per NC State Extension. Coral snakes break the pattern. They have round pupils and slim heads, so rely on their red, yellow and black bands instead.
Head shape alone fools people, because many harmless snakes flatten their heads when scared. Take a photo from at least a few body lengths away and let a pro make the call.
Signs of a Snake Problem Around Your Home
Shed Skins Near the House
A papery, see-through skin in the garage, crawl space, attic or along the foundation means a snake spent time there.
Snakes in the Same Spot Again
Seeing snakes by the same woodpile, shed or AC unit over several weeks points to shelter and food close by.
A Rodent Problem
Mice and rats draw snakes. Droppings in the garage or shed often come before the snake shows up.
A Snake Inside the Garage
Snakes crawl under worn garage door seals looking for shade and mice. One inside the house means a gap needs sealing.
Venomous Snake Types in Our States
The CDC lists four groups of venomous snakes in the US, and all four live in at least one of the states we cover. Everything else you find is almost always harmless.
| Snake | Where | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnakes | All 10 states we serve; Arizona has 13 species, more than any other state | Most bites happen when someone tries to handle or kill one. Back away and call for removal. |
| Copperhead | Eastern states west to Texas, including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois | Blends into leaf litter and mulch beds, so watch where you put your hands while gardening. |
| Cottonmouth (water moccasin) | Southeastern states near water: Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas and southern Illinois | Shows up near ponds, ditches and retention ponds. Many harmless water snakes get mistaken for it. |
| Coral snake | Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Arizona | Small and shy, found in wooded, sandy or marshy ground. Never pick one up, even a small one. |
| Rat snakes and garter snakes | Common across all 10 states | Harmless and useful against rodents. Removal is your call, but leaving them alone is fine. |
What a Snake Removal Visit Includes
Snake removal has three parts: get the snake out, close the gap it used and make the yard less inviting. The handler catches the snake with tongs or a hook and relocates it where state law allows. Many species are protected. Angi notes that killing a snake protected by the Endangered Species Act can bring a civil fine of up to $25,000. That’s one reason to let a licensed pro handle it.
Repellents aren’t part of a good visit. NC State Extension reports no science showing commercial snake repellents work, and Utah State University Extension calls sulfur and mothballs ineffective. Mothballs used outdoors also break the product label.
What Happens on a Snake Job
- Snake Capture
- The handler finds and bags the snake, then identifies the species so you know what you had.
- Entry Point Inspection
- The tech checks door sweeps, foundation cracks, vents, plumbing openings and the garage door seal.
- Exclusion Work
- Gaps get sealed and vents screened. Return visits for traps or a second snake cost about $100 each, per Angi.
- Snake Habitat Advice
- You get a list of what draws snakes on your property, like woodpiles, rock piles, tall grass and rodents.
How Much Does Snake Removal Cost?
Snake removal costs $130 to $600, with most people paying around $340. Venomous species, hard-to-reach spots like a crawl space and after-hours calls push the price up. A garter snake in the garage lands at the low end.
Prices come from Angi’s snake removal cost guide. Ask if exclusion is part of the quote, because a removal without sealing often means a second call.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Snake inspection | About $75 |
| Harmless snake removal | $200 to $230 for a garter or rat snake |
| Venomous snake removal | $430 to $500 for a copperhead, rattlesnake or coral snake |
| Snake by location | About $140 in a garage, $380 in an attic, $450 in a crawl space |
| After-hours call | $100 to $300 on top of the removal price |
| Return visit | About $100 each |
Can You Remove a Snake Yourself?
A harmless snake in the yard usually leaves on its own. Spray it gently with a garden hose or sweep it into a bucket with a broom, and keep kids and pets away. Inside the garage, open the door and give it an hour. Skip mothballs, sulfur and store-bought snake repellents, since extension researchers found none of them work.
Call a pro for any snake inside the house, any snake you can’t identify, and every venomous one. Arizona Game and Fish says more than half of rattlesnake bites happen when the person provokes the snake, often by trying to kill or move it.
So: harmless snake outside, let it go. Snake indoors or a possible venomous one, step back and call.
How to Keep Snakes Away From Your Home
- Control mice and rats first, since snakes follow the food.
- Move woodpiles, rock piles and brush away from the house and off the ground.
- Keep grass short and swap thick mulch near the foundation for gravel.
- Seal foundation cracks and add tight door sweeps, especially on the garage.
- For a snake fence, use 1/4 inch rigid mesh buried a few inches deep.
Snake Removal in Your State
Snake species, and the odds a snake is venomous, change a lot by state, so pick yours for local details.
How It Works
Tell Us The Problem
Tell us where the snake is, what it looks like and your ZIP.
Get Matched With A Local Pro
We look for a licensed company near you that handles snake removal.
Book Your Treatment
The handler confirms the price before the visit, and you choose when to book.
Snake Removal FAQs
Have a snake question we didn’t cover? Send it through the form, and a photo taken from a safe distance helps.
Who do I call to remove a snake?
A wildlife removal company or a pest control company that lists snake work. Many pest control companies don’t handle snakes, and animal control rarely does.
Snake removal costs $130 to $600 on average. A snake in the house or a venomous one is worth the call.
What should I do if a snake bites me?
Call 911 and stay calm. The CDC says to remove rings and watches, wash the bite, cover it with a clean dressing and mark the edge of the swelling with the time.
Don’t cut the bite, suck out venom, use a tourniquet or ice, or take aspirin or ibuprofen. Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
Do snake repellents work?
Not according to extension researchers. NC State Extension says no commercial snake repellent has been shown to work, and sulfur and mothballs fail too.
Mothballs tossed outdoors also break the label and expose pets and kids to toxic chemicals. Remove snake shelter and rodents instead.
Should I kill a snake in my yard?
No. Many species are protected, and trying to kill one is how a lot of bites happen. Harmless snakes also eat mice and rats around your home.
Back away, keep pets inside and call for removal if it’s venomous or won’t leave.
Why do I keep finding snakes in my garage?
Garages offer shade, clutter to hide in and often mice. Snakes slide under a worn door seal with ease.
Replace the bottom seal, clear stored boxes off the floor and deal with any rodents. A removal visit with exclusion runs about $140 for a garage snake plus sealing.
Get a Free Snake Removal Quote
Fill in the form with where you saw the snake and your ZIP. We’ll try to connect you with a licensed company near you that removes snakes, and the quote costs you nothing.
Along with snake work, the companies we match you with handle Rodent Removal, Scorpion Control and Spider Control, plus every other pest control service we list.