A snake in the shed is startling, but most of the time it is not a crisis. Snakes slip in for shelter, warmth, and the rodents or insects living there, and most shed snakes are harmless, even helpful. Here is my five-step plan to get one out without a bite and without killing it.
The Short Version
- Identify the snake from a distance. If you can’t tell what it is, treat it as venomous.
- Open the door wide and clear a path so the snake has an obvious exit.
- Use a long-handled tool to guide it, never your hands.
- Seal gaps and clear clutter afterward so it doesn’t happen again.
5 Steps to Remove a Snake From Your Shed
- Identify the snake. Stand well back and look at the head and pattern. Head shape on its own tells you nothing useful, because harmless snakes flatten their heads into a triangle when threatened. If you can’t confidently identify it, treat it as venomous and keep your distance.
- Open the shed door wide. Clear anything between the snake and the door. Most snakes will leave through an open door on their own, often within a half hour or so.
- Remove hiding spots. If the snake is under a shelf or box, gently move the object with a long tool. Don’t reach in with your hands.
- Guide the snake toward the door with a broom, rake, or shovel. Tap the ground near the snake, not the snake, to nudge it along.
- Call a professional for a venomous snake, or if it has crawled into a wall or cabinet where you can’t safely reach it.
If the snake is coiled and still, you can set a bucket or trash can over it, slide a piece of cardboard underneath, flip it over, and carry it outside. This only works for a snake you are sure is non-venomous, and it keeps your hands well away.
Most Shed Snakes Are Doing You a Favor
It is worth remembering that most snakes in a shed are harmless species that eat mice and insects. A garter snake or rat snake in the shed is a free pest control service. You usually don’t need to kill it or even relocate it far, just guide it out and seal the gap so it doesn’t settle in.
Prevention
- Seal gaps in the shed walls, door, and foundation with 1/4 inch hardware cloth.
- Install weatherstripping under the shed door.
- Clear clutter inside and around the shed.
- Store items in sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes.
- Control rodents around the shed, since they are what draws snakes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Through gaps under doors, damaged siding, foundation cracks, and open vents. Even a small gap is enough for a young snake. They come in for warmth, shelter, and the rodents or insects inside.
Most will, within a half hour to a couple of hours, if the door is open and they have a clear route out. If the snake has found a warm hiding spot, it may linger, so give it gentle guidance with a long tool.
Seal every gap with 1/4 inch hardware cloth, add weatherstripping under the door, clear the clutter, and control rodents. A snake fence around the shed is extra protection if you want it.
Most are harmless, but any snake can bite if cornered, and the close quarters make it harder to avoid a strike. Identify the snake from a distance and use a long tool to guide it out rather than trying to grab it.
Bottom Line
Getting a snake out of a shed is usually simple: open the door, clear a path, and guide it out with a long tool. Most shed snakes are harmless, even useful, so there is no reason to kill one. After it leaves, seal the gaps, clear the clutter, and knock back the rodents, and you won’t be doing this again.
