What Do Snakes Eat?
Snakes are predators, and the different species keep specialized diets. Some subsist off diets of various rodents like rats, mice, and chipmunks, while others primarily feed on insects, slugs, and earthworms. Other common snake foods include bird eggs, baby birds, salamanders, frogs and tadpoles, bats, and various species of fish.
How They Eat and Where They Find Food
As they swallow their food whole, snakes are able to separate their lower jaw from their upper jaw. Depending on the species, the pests may inject their prey with venom to keep them from escaping or wrap their bodies around their prey to cut off airflow.
Since their most common food sources are often found in residential lawns and houses, snakes can frequently be seen slithering through yards or patrolling damp basements for insects and rodents.
Prevention & Control
To prevent snakes from infesting lawns, property owners should restrict their access to food sources. This usually entails controlling moisture levels in yards, getting rid of ground cover like woodpiles and leaf litter, and trimming tree branches regularly.
Inside homes, residents should vacuum frequently, clean clutter from attics and basements, seal all food in rodent- and insect-proof containers, and get tightly fitting lids for trash bins.
Since snakes are capable of inflicting painful, and sometimes deadly, bites, individuals should not approach the pests even if they show up on private properties. To remain safe, property owners are best off calling wildlife removal services at the first signs of snake activity.
The professionals at Critter Control have the tools to remove the pests and the expertise needed to assess homes and recommend ways to prevent future infestations.
Learn more about snake removal.