Sharp-Tailed Snake Control (Contia tenuis)

Sharp Tailed snake control is a specialized service that should be done by a professional snake control expert. You can find a snake removal professional here!
Sharp-tailed snakes are harmless to humans, despite their startling appearance; but when they’re found inside our homes, often something must be done. Here’s what you need to know when dealing with a possible sharp-tailed snake on your property.

Sharp-Tailed Snake ID and Habits

Sharp-tailed snakes are nonvenomous and harmless to humans. It’s a small snake, averaging 8 - 12 inches in total length, with some nearly 18 inches long. Adults are gray or brownish red above, with alternating crossbars of black and cream or light gray on their bellies. Sometimes there is a yellowish or reddish line on the upper sides. Juveniles are reddish with dark lines on the sides. The tail has a sharp spine at the tip, which gives this snake its name.
Sharp-tailed snakes are found in moist soil near streams or open water, in woodland, forests, grasslands, or chaparral in Oregon, Washington, and California, as well as British Columbia, Canada. They’re shy creatures, spending much of their time under surface objects, burrowing underground, or in piles of gravel. They feed on slugs and their eggs, and on slender salamanders.

Sharp-Tailed Snake Control

A first step in snake control is to identify what kind of snake you have. This can be difficult, however, for non-experts. A knowledgeable pest control company can help with this.
If you’re ever bitten by a sharp-tailed snake, make sure to get it checked out. Sharp-tailed snakes are not venomous, but with any wild animal bite there’s a risk of infection.
If you find a sharp-tailed snake in your home, or if the numbers of this harmless snake on your property are getting too high, two things need to be done: deal with any snakes that are already there (habitat modification); and prevent more snakes from entering your home or building (exclusion).

Habitat Modification for Sharp Tailed Snakes

Eliminate tall stands of vegetation, especially close to houses or buildings. Eliminate areas of standing water, and fix leaky outdoor faucets. Clean up piles of gravel and debris; store firewood at least 18 inches off the ground.

Sharp Tail snake Exclusion

Follow these steps to keep sharp-tailed snakes out of homes and other buildings:
· Conduct a thorough search for cracks in the foundation, unscreened crawlspace vents and gaps around basement window frames.
· Structural gaps and crevices larger than 1/4 inch and within three feet of grade should be closed off – snakes can pass through very small openings.
· Crawlspace vents should not have screens with larger than 1/4 inch mesh.
· Check clearance under doors, and look for improper sealing where plumbing and utility lines penetrate the foundation of the building.

Sharp-Tailed Snake Removal

If you’re confident that you do indeed have a sharp-tailed snake in your house, and you want to deal with it yourself, try this: place a trashcan on the side of the snake, and use a broom or a similar tool to gently sweep it inside the trashcan. Relocate it well away from residential areas, and seal up any openings in your house where it can get back in.
If you have any doubt about which kind of snake you have, or if you suspect several, a call to a snake control company who can inspect your property, and trap and remove snakes is warranted. A good snake control company will be skilled in snake identification and will be thoroughly familiar with all state, national, and local regulations concerning the animals.

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