A snake in the garage rattles people, but the situation is usually easier than it feels. Most garage snakes are harmless and just want out. Your job is to keep everyone safe, get the snake moving, and close up whatever it came through. I’ll walk you through the three steps, plus what to do if someone gets bitten. For more, see How to Identify Venomous Vs Non-Venomous Snakes.
- Stay calm and back everyone off. Close the door to the house and give the snake space.
- Don’t rely on head shape to identify it. Lots of harmless snakes flatten their heads when scared.
- Open the garage door and let it leave. Most snakes will go on their own if you give them a clear path.
- Call a pro for anything you can’t identify, and know the bite first aid just in case.
Step 1: Contain the Situation
- Get people and pets out of the garage, and close the door into the house so the snake can’t slip inside.
- Try to identify it from a safe distance, but don’t get close. A quick photo on your phone from across the garage is plenty. Head shape is a weak clue, since many harmless snakes flatten their heads to look bigger when threatened.
- Don’t corner it or poke at it. A cornered snake is the one that strikes.
- Don’t try to kill it. That’s when most people get bitten.
If you can’t tell what it is, treat it as potentially dangerous and leave the handling to someone who knows snakes.
Step 2: Get the Snake Out
- Open the garage door wide. Most snakes will leave on their own once they have a clear path, often within half an hour or so.
- Guide it gently with a long-handled broom if it’s not moving, but keep your distance.
- Trap it under a bucket or trash can if it’s staying still and you have help. Slide cardboard under the opening and carry it outside.
- Call a professional for any snake you can’t identify, or one that’s tucked somewhere you can’t reach safely.
Don’t grab a snake with your hands, and don’t swing at it with a shovel. The calm, boring approach, open the door and back off, is also the safe one.
What to Do If Someone Gets Bitten
Snakebites are rare, but here’s the first aid that matters, especially if you’re not sure whether the snake was venomous:
- Call 911 or get to an emergency room right away. Don’t wait for symptoms.
- Stay calm and still. Movement speeds up the spread of venom.
- Keep the bitten limb lower than the heart and remove rings or tight clothing before swelling starts.
- Don’t cut the wound, try to suck out venom, or apply a tourniquet. None of that helps and most of it makes things worse.
If you can safely snap a photo of the snake from a distance, it helps the hospital, but don’t chase it.
Step 3: Keep Snakes Out for Good
- Seal the gap under the garage door with weatherstripping. A young snake can fit through a gap as small as a quarter inch.
- Cover vents and gaps around pipes with hardware cloth.
- Clear clutter, wood piles, and hiding spots from the garage.
- Control rodents in and around the garage, since mice and rats are what draw snakes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Through the gap under the door, damaged weatherstripping, open vents, foundation cracks, and spaces around pipes. A young snake only needs a quarter-inch gap, so check the perimeter regularly.
Usually, if the door is open and it has a clear path, most snakes leave within a half hour to a couple of hours. If it’s hidden in a cabinet or behind something, it may take longer, or you may need a pro.
Yes. Snakes climb into engine bays, wheel wells, and under seats. If you think one got into your car, open the doors and check the engine bay with a flashlight before you drive.
It’s probably found a hiding spot. Leave the garage door open and give it a clear exit, then check the likely hiding spots later. If you still can’t find it and you’re worried, call a wildlife pro.
The Bottom Line
Stay calm, close the door to the house, and open the garage door so the snake can leave. Don’t try to grab it or kill it, and if you can’t identify it, call someone who can. Then seal the gaps and clean up the clutter so it doesn’t come back. And if anyone gets bitten, skip the home remedies and get to a hospital.
