I have a snake on the loose in the house.

[littlemissmartypants]

I'm freaking out. I felt something weird intuitively, and I looked up to see a snake going up the wall from the top of the mirror on my vanity.

I had it with a grabber, and it got away from me in the kitchen. It went behind the china cabinet and I can't find it.

I'm going to have a heart attack. No shit.

[SheltieLover]

1. Omg!

Protect princess floof!!!!!

[littlemissmartypants]

9. She safe. I put her crate up on a table by the bed with her in it.

She's hating it but she's not in danger.

[SheltieLover]

30. Ty!

[SheltieLover]

2. Can you take her & go rent a room sonewhere nice while the snake gets banished??

[littlemissmartypants]

4. I'm putting glue traps out. I'm going to be up all night.

Good grief. I had just gotten myself on a normal sleep schedule and this is going to fuck it up.

[SheltieLover]

6. Is it big?

[littlemissmartypants]

10. Five feet, maybe four.

[SheltieLover]

13. 5 feet long?

Call an emergency wildlife relocator!

That thing could eat princess floof!

[SheltieLover]

14. Will glue traps hold something that massive?

[Easterncedar]

3. Are you in a place where snakes are dangerous?

I like snakes up here in Maine, where there's no danger, unless you are a mouse or something smaller

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Yes!

[Easterncedar]

12. Alrighty then, I can't suggest you ignore it, I guess

Although you probably could. Good luck to you both!

[littlemissmartypants]

33. I'm not sleeping until it's dealt with. I'm pretty sure it's a rat snake.

[Easterncedar]

42. Sorry you can't sleep, but a rat snake is sort of a good kind to have around, isn't it?

Rats are worse! When we had a pair of large snakes living in our shed, we had no mice. I wish they would come back!

[littlemissmartypants]

43. Not climbing up a wall in your bedroom. 😆

[Easterncedar]

51. I sympathize. Hate to think of it being killed tho.

I once found to my dismay a very very flat and apparently dead snake in my recycling bin, stuck to a label on a plastic bakery box. Wanting to recycle the box, I started pouring water on it to unstick the body. In a little while, the snake (it was a small garter snake, very not scary) began to move, then perk up, so I put water where it could drink, and soon, just a couple of minutes, it was magically plump and round again. Then it started to thrash. I got it free of the glue and outside lickety-split! I was very happy. Two days later I found another similar snake sitting in the basement, just by the bin, calmly looking at me as if asking for a lift. It let me pick it up and carry it out to where its friend was released. Never saw another one down there.

One of my happy snake stories.

[littlemissmartypants]

53. I don't plan to kill it. I can put olive oil on the trap once I get it outside.

Then it can go on its merry way. I had it in a grabber and was heading to the back door when it got away in the kitchen. My bad. I lost my grip when I was opening the door.

Garter snakes are cool. I played with them as a kid. Green snakes are what we call them.

The thought crossed my mind that this one might be looking for water.

It's so dry here. I've been putting out containers with water for the wildlife and birds.

[Easterncedar]

92. Oh I love that! I thought a glue trap might be to kill it

All that talk about machetes…

[littlemissmartypants]

93. A machete is not much help really. Unless it's good and sharp...

And I'm so accident-prone that I'm more likely to hurt myself first. 😆

I think it was a suggestion that was intended to provide comfort so I could get to sleep. I'm hoping that will happen soon because I would like to stay on my schedule of getting up at sunrise.

So I'm trying to wind down now.

All you have to do is take the glue trap outside with the creature and pour some vegetable or olive oil onto the trap, and it will loosen the glue. Easy peasy. No murder involved. ❤️

[surfered]

7. The odds are it's not venomous and it's more scared of you. This is when you should have a cat.

[SheltieLover]

11. Yes!

Get a cat or 2!

[littlemissmartypants]

35. I'd have one if the coyotes were nicer around here.

I'm in the woods basically. I'm always dealing with wildlife one way or another.

[stopdiggin]

72. Ah, yes .. the old, "more scared of you than you are of it" schtick

Then explain to me why I is the one on top the kitchen table - screaming like a 15 year old at a Jonas Brothers concert .. ?
(snake not be up here with me .. )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[SheltieLover]

8. What kind is it, do you know?

[surfered]

19. Yes, can you describe it?

[littlemissmartypants]

21. Positive ID rat snake. Glue traps going down.

[surfered]

48. Then it can't harm you. Nothing to fear.

[littlemissmartypants]

50. I've calmed down considerably. Thanks for the encouragement, Ed. ❤️

[surfered]

95. 🙏

[sheshe2]

24. One that slithers. 😱

I am scared of them...my mother was terrified of them. My kid brother, at his bday party thought it would be funny to put a rubber snake around his neck and come up behind mom. I thought she was gonna keel over.

[SheltieLover]

40. I would be outra there & in my car heading for a room.

I don't do snakes or bugs, slugs, etc.

[sheshe2]

44. I'm with you!

[SheltieLover]

45. ...

[littlemissmartypants]

46. I have a friend who goes vasovagal at the sight of a picture of a snake. Thankfully, I'm not that way.

I used to faint at the sight of blood but my nurse friends introduced me to desensitized and I'm cured of that inconvenience now.

[enid602]

15. Snake

My grandmother had a garden snake come up from the sewer through the toilet. Thankfully she was not on the John at the time.

[ret5hd]

16. i'm tired of these...

nah, not gonna go there.

[littlemissmartypants]

18. Go ahead. I dare you. 😜😜😜😜

[littlemissmartypants]

67. ...

[dweller]

17. Can you describe it ?

Color or patterns ?

✌🏻

[littlemissmartypants]

20. It's a rat snake. I'm pretty sure now. Black will grey stripes.

I'm putting out glue traps.

[SheltieLover]

22. Do glue traps hold monsters that size?

[littlemissmartypants]

25. These are super size. I use them for spiders.

[SheltieLover]

29. I'd prob shoot the damned thing if leaving & calling a wildlife relocator isn't an option.

[littlemissmartypants]

31. I'd do more damage to the house than the snake if I shot it. 🤣

[SheltieLover]

34. No doubt, but princess floof would be safe!

[dweller]

23. Like this

Harmless and is probably gone now , you may have scared it away



✌🏻

[littlemissmartypants]

26. It was last seen under the china cabinet. It's in the kitchen still ...hopefully!

The stripes are horizontal.

[iemanja]

64. I'd call a professional in the morning

It’s worth the money.

[sheshe2]

27. Yikes, lmsp!

Stay safe.

Me, I would move...kidding... sorta.

[littlemissmartypants]

28. It's not the first snake here and probably won't be the last. I just wish I knew how it got in.

[sheshe2]

32. Growing up in the country, there were a few snakes around...

Never in the house!

[dweller]

37. The same way

It will get out .
Snakes will avoid humans generally , it was hunting likely. Do you have mice ?
I’ve had a black snake or two before , hunting for mice .
They can get inside through the smallest openings.
You and your dog are safe if it’s a ratter.

I’d invest in a machete . Put a hook in the wall beside your bed and hang it there . You’ll sleep safer knowing it’s close .

Black snakes and rat snakes are harmless , but will scare the shit out of most everyone for a moment .
But they are more scared of you .



✌🏻

[littlemissmartypants]

38. My machete's at the barn. I do have hammer but I'd rather catch and release.

I don't have mice that I have knowledge of, but anything is possible. If they are here, the sticky traps will catch them too.

[The Roux Comes First]

36. Where Do You Live? Do You Have Dangerous (Poisonous) Snakes in Your Area? Are They Common?

I think it unlikely you have a dangerous aggressive reptile in your house. Snake-phobia is a ridiculously over-the-top issue for many people. It's right up there with arachnophobia. Take a couple long slow breaths. Don't forget to exhale.

[littlemissmartypants]

39. I'm calming down. Part of my problem was I was already wound up over the hockey game. 😄

[johnp3907]

87. Wound up about the game in a good way or a bad way?

[littlemissmartypants]

89. Good. Why do you ask, johnp3907?

[johnp3907]

88. Oh. I saw this!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143679318

[littlemissmartypants]

90. 👍❤️

[littlemissmartypants]

41. I'm on a farm in the woods. Snakes are all over this property.

Copperheads, rattlesnakes, pygmy rattlesnakes, black snakes and rat snakes apparently. Those are the ones that I've seen here.

[eppur_se_muova]

49. Any chance you could introduce king snakes ? They eat other snakes, even venomous ones.

The Eastern indigo snake, an endangered species, also eats some venomous snakes. And you could get your property zoned as a protected area !

[littlemissmartypants]

52. Opossums eat snakes too. They are all over the place here.

They really let me down today.

I'm thinking that I saw a king snake aka black snake here years ago. If I'm not mistaken that was the one that came down the chimney and perched on the mantelpiece. But that was decades ago. Before I inherited the farm and upgraded the chimney.

No snakes getting in there now. I'm going to have to investigate. I'm wondering if through the dryer is a possibility. I don't know. It's really annoying. To think that I have a breech somewhere.

[eppur_se_muova]

56. Opossa ?!? No kidding ! I did not know that, but I guess it's not a big surprise.

Those things have teeth like ichthyosaurs -- long and needle-like, to hold slippery prey. Long, narrow muzzles, too.

I was once greeted by an unbelievably ugly dog at my office late at night -- which turned out to be an opossum. S/he opened his/her jaws to hiss at me and I decided to definitely keep my distance.

Kind of a surprise, if you're expecting them to be shy and gentle.

[littlemissmartypants]

58. Yep. The opossee let me down tonight. 😄

I love Pogo! Thanks for sharing that. ❤️

[littlemissmartypants]

54. The eastern indigo looks beautiful...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_indigo_snake
...federally threatened species in Georgia and Florida..

Outside my geographic location. A nice thought, though. Thank you. ❤️

[LudwigPastorius]

47. Do you have a 24-hour Mongeese "R" Us open near you?

[littlemissmartypants]

77. Hahahaha! Perfect question. Thanks, LP. ❤️😄😆🌞

[sinkingfeeling]

55. Grab your pet, walk out the door, and never go back. That's what I'd do. House and contents would be for sale tomorrow.

[Figarosmom]

57. What kind was it?

Look it up, it may help you find it, to know what the snake is looking for in your house.

[littlemissmartypants]

59. Rat snake. Not a good sign. It's in the kitchen under the china cabinet...

At least it was, the last time I saw it. I have sticky traps out everywhere now. If I have mice/rodents, the sticky traps are supposed to catch them, too.

I keep them around the house anyway for spiders. I had a spider bite that put me in the emergency room. Ever since I stickytrap every room somewhere under something. And change them periodically. Mostly to see what I catch.

It's a daily adventure living on the farm.

[Figarosmom]

60. Yeah it is.

Spent summers on my Grandma's farm. Rattle snakes in the out house and always finding snake skins in the unheated back room used for storage in the winter. Never saw mouse dropping or mice though, that I can remember. I think there were enough cats around for that.

Isn't it about the time they lay their eggs?

[littlemissmartypants]

61. Since the coyotes expanded their range, cats aren't safe here.

I had a beautiful gray and white that I raised from a kitten, Sweetie, and they got him.

I really want another one.

The coyotes are really scary. They cruise through in packs of three moving together like one creature. Very eerie.

[Figarosmom]

68. Yeah, that's scary.

[littlemissmartypants]

76. I'm glad you understand. It's a challenge being here alone. ...

It's nice to know that someone else has an inkling about what it's like to live on a farm in the woods. Thank you. ❤️

[JohnnyRingo]

62. "It's more afraid of you..."

Although in your case I don't think that's possible. You seem terrified.
Good luck and try to keep your cool

[littlemissmartypants]

71. I'm much better now. Thank you. ❤️

[iemanja]

63. That's my worst nightmare

Good bless you.

[ALBliberal]

65. Awful. Happened to me a number of years ago.

Thankfully my son found day after. I grabbed my dog my laptop and left. I saw one in garage a few weeks ago. Ugh.
Bull snakes I am told:

[littlemissmartypants]

70. Bull snake...

Beautiful, but yikes!!

The bullsnake is one of the largest/longest snakes of North America and the United States, reaching lengths up to 8 ft.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake

I'd definitely be freaking out. New to me. Very scary.

[ALBliberal]

74. I think they were on the younger smaller side but was still

horrified. They look (pattern wise) a bit like rattlesnakes. We live in the SW. this is something I can never get used to tho. Never.

[littlemissmartypants]

80. It's important to know your snakes. Not my favorite creatures but they are here for a reason. ...

And they predate us by a few hundred thousand years, so they earned my respect. 🤓❤️

[niyad]

66. I understand and sympathize completely. I had a snake encounter just

a few nights ago, and I thought I was going to wake up the whole neighborhood! Ihad just finished watering our little community garden, and was going back to my apartment. As stepped up on the cement to get to my door, l looked down to see a snake moving into the roses by my door. Not one of the little green ones, well over two feet, nearly an inch in diameter, sort of mottled brown. I was so startled I screamed. It came back out of the roses and slithered across my threshhold. All I could think was, thank Goddess the door was closed! When I finally got inside, I texted our landlord, who tried to assure me it was a harmless garter snake. In the time I have lived here, I had not seen any kind of snake, let alone something I considered big. The next day, another friend texted me a link to different garters in our area. I had no idea there were so many different ones!

I will definitely be checkng the roses carefully before I work on them from now on!

Side note: Everybody in our litttle complex was home. Nobody heard me scream. I know my voice is quiet, didn't know my scream was, too!

[littlemissmartypants]

69. I love you, niyad. Please do be careful in the garden. I'd miss you. ❤️

[niyad]

75. Hugggggs and that isbso sweet. Love you back.

[usonian]

73. Call animal control or the sheriff's office.

Unlikely, but it could be venomous, and worth the visit.

If the country or city won't do it, move. (Later)

They are pest people you can pay.

There may be live snake traps but that takes time. I have used live traps for various critters but not snakes.

[Laffy Kat]

78. If you know it's non-venomous, please don't kill it!

Glue traps are so inhumane.

[littlemissmartypants]

82. You can release creatures from glue traps. You can come over and help me be on the lookout or stand watch...

I'll even let you do the catching when it shows up if you want to run the show. 🤔

I'll just watch. 🤓

[calimary]

79. Stay safe and sensible!

Please keep your wits about you, and let us know how you're doing.

[littlemissmartypants]

83. I'm ok now, cm. I probably won't get much sleep. But I'm not freaking out about it anymore. ...

Thank you for being so kind. ❤️

[calimary]

81. Please do keep us informed.

Cuz otherwise, we're gonna worry! Hope you're okay, and that the snake found its way back into the wild (and OUT of your HOME!!!)!

[littlemissmartypants]

85. Last seen under the china cabinet. I have put sticky traps out everywhere.

I will have caught something by morning. The question is, what will it be?

[Keepthesoulalive]

84. I understand how you feel

We live in a rural area and boy do we have snakes. I know they are helpful in terms of killing vermin but I still don’t like to see them. We have one who lives in our generator and he has solved our mouse problem but I am still very uncomfortable when I see him. My doggies hate him but they have learned not to attack. Wishing you success in your endeavor because I would have to move out.

[littlemissmartypants]

86. Watching it going up the wall was different. I'm definitely not happy.

But you're right that they provide an important service. I just wanted to get some rest, and I'm not sure that's going to happen anytime soon. At least I'm not in panic mode anymore.

Thanks for your encouragement, Keepthesoulalive. ❤️

[Keepthesoulalive]

91. I was such a dumb ass

Because I didn’t know snakes could climb or swim. I don’t know how people can pick them up because I need therapy whenever I see one.

[sarisataka]

94. If you have a good idea where it is

wrap a hot water bottle or heating pad set to low in a towel and put that in a container you can close quickly. The snake may go inside for the heat and feel safe because it is enclosed.
Then you slap a lid on and are ready to take it to a more appropriate environment.