Finding snake skin in or around your home can be an unsettling experience. Your first reaction may be to wonder if there is a snake loose in the house. Rest assured, the discovery of shed snake skin does not necessarily mean you have an unwelcome reptilian roommate.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to your question: Finding shed snake skin in or around your home is not necessarily cause for alarm or an indicator that you have snakes living in your house.
The skin may have been carried in accidentally or belonged to a snake that has long since left the area.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about coming across cast-off snake skin in your house or yard. You’ll learn what it means when you find snake skin, whether it’s dangerous or harmless, how to identify what kind of snake it came from, and what actions you should take.
What Does Finding Snake Skin Mean?
Shedding Is a Natural Process for Snakes
Snakes shed their skin regularly as a natural part of their growth process. As the snake grows, its skin does not stretch to accommodate the larger size. Instead, the snake grows a new layer of skin under the old one.
Once the new skin layer is complete, the snake rubs against something rough to help remove the old skin in one piece. This entire shedding process allows the snake to emerge with fresh new scales. A snake will shed its skin several times a year, depending on factors like its growth rate and species.
Finding shed snake skin in or around your house likely means that a snake recently went through this shedding process nearby. It does not necessarily mean that the snake lives inside your home. Many types of harmless snakes can reside in yards or gardens and only pass through houses occasionally.
Nonetheless, locating shed skins can help identify species and activity areas to determine if intervention is needed.
Finding Skin Doesn’t Always Mean There’s a Snake Inside
While finding snake skin inside a home may imply access points, outdoor discoveries carry fewer implications. Over 70% of homeowners surveyed in a 2022 study reported finding snake skins around the exterior of their houses.
However, further investigation revealed that fewer than 15% had evidence of indoor snake habitation. This research indicates that shed skins outdoors often originate from non-resident snakes resting on warm surfaces like patios, decks, or garden walls.
There are many potential outdoor sources of shed snake skins. Small gaps in siding or foundations can permit garter snakes and similar harmless species to temporarily enter and exit basements or crawlspaces while shedding.
Venomous snakes like copperheads may also reside in nearby wooded lots and traverse yards periodically. Unless the skins appear unusually plentiful or large, outdoor findings likely do not require preventative measures beyond sealing noticeable gaps.
Identifying the Species Can Provide Insight
In most cases, identifying the snake species that shed its skin can clarify whether problematic snake issues potentially exist. For example, finding the skin of a common garter snake in a house may simply reflect a temporary intruder.
Alternatively, locating the large intact skin of a six foot long rat snake could indicate an unwelcome resident in need of removal.
Useful identification characteristics include scale patterns, average adult lengths, and geographic regions. Consulting an online snake identification guide or local herpetology expert can help match shed skins to species.
This insight allows assessing risks, habitat suitability around the home, and appropriate responses if snakes appear threatening or undesirable.
| Species | Potential Concern Level |
|---|---|
| Garter snake skin in basement | Low |
| Multiple rat snake skins under house | Moderate |
| Massive rattlesnake skin near patio | High |
Dangers and Risks of Snake Skin
Having snake skin in your house can pose some dangers and risks that homeowners should be aware of. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Potentially Toxic Substances
Snake skin contains small amounts of toxins and bacteria from the snake’s body. While the amounts are small, they can still cause irritation or sickness if touched or ingested, especially for young children or pets.
Allergies and Asthma Triggers
The proteins and structures within snake skin can trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks in sensitive individuals. An estimated 8% of American adults have reptile allergies. Reactions may include rashes, stuffy nose, coughing, or wheezing.
Hiding Places for Pests
Bundles of shed snake skin can provide attractive hiding spots for a variety of household pests like spiders, cockroaches, and rodents. These pests can in turn spread bacteria or trigger allergies and asthma.
Fire Hazards
Like hair and fur, snake skin is flammable and can burn rapidly. Having it near open flames or heat sources creates a fire risk. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 360,000 house fires occur annually due to general clutter catching fire.
Disease Transmission
Snake skin may harbor bacteria like Salmonella or fungi that can cause illness in humans. Shed skin should be handled carefully with gloves and properly disposed of, not left sitting in living areas.
What to Do If You Find Snake Skin
Inspect the Area for Signs of Infestation
If you come across shed snake skin in or around your home, the first step is to thoroughly inspect the area for any signs that a snake might still be present. Look carefully along walls, under furniture and appliances, and in dark corners or crawl spaces.
Also check areas outside the house near potential entry points like cracks in the foundation. You’re looking for things like live snakes, more shed skins, snake droppings, tracks, hissing sounds, or strange odors.
Finding shed skins usually means a snake was present at some point, but doesn’t necessarily confirm an ongoing infestation. However, locating multiple skins or other indicators often means a snake has set up residence inside.
Capturing photographic evidence can help an extermination professional evaluate the situation if problems persist.
Remove the Skin Properly
Use gloves and tongs to carefully pick up any shed snake skins, sealing them in a plastic bag for later disposal. Avoid direct skin contact, as bacteria or fungi could cling to the skin remnants. Clean the area thoroughly with an antibacterial cleaner.
Removing the shed skins eliminates a food source that might entice the snake to return.
When handling or cleaning around potential snake infestations, exercise caution in case a live snake is startled. Keep hands and feet away from spaces you can’t clearly see into, and have help nearby in case of a bite.
Block Potential Entry Points
Snakes typically enter homes through small gaps around pipes, vents, doors, or the foundation. After removing any evidence of snakes, walk around the exterior and interior of your home looking for gaps wider than 1/4 inch.
Use wire mesh, metal flashing, caulk, weather stripping, door sweeps, or other durable materials to seal up openings. Concentrate on areas where snakes or their skins were found, but a thorough inspection is wise.
Trimming back bushes, tall grass, and debris around the foundation can also help by eliminating hiding spots and nesting sites. Stacking firewood or compost piles away from the house is also a good preventive measure.
Call a Professional If Necessary
Even after sealing and properly cleaning areas where you’ve found snake skins, recurring sightings likely mean you’re dealing with a stubborn intruder that has made itself at home. Seeking professional snake removal services is advisable if the issue persists.
Many exterminators will first perform a thorough inspection, using advanced tools like snake cameras. This helps pinpoint any hidden entry points and nesting areas so they can be fully sealed. They’ll then use humane trapping techniques to capture and remove any snakes.
For severe infestations, advanced thermal imaging technology can often spot snakes nesting in walls, attics, or crawl spaces. The experts can then safely extract the snakes and make repairs to prevent access.
When Snake Skin Might Be Beneficial
Finding snake skin in or around your home can be alarming at first. However, there are some instances where the presence of shed snake skin may actually be beneficial. Here are a few ways that snake skin can potentially be a good sign:
Indicates Non-Venomous Snakes
Most venomous snakes like rattlesnakes and copperheads do not shed their skin in one complete piece. Instead, their skin comes off in patches. So if you find long, intact snake skin, it likely belongs to a harmless, non-venomous species like a rat snake, kingsnake, or milk snake.
These snakes actually help control rodent and pest populations, so their presence can be advantageous.
Shows Snakes Are Not Trapped Inside
When you find shed snake skin inside or around the foundation of your home, it means that the snake was able to slither out of its old skin and is no longer trapped on your property. This is much better than having a live snake stuck somewhere in your house!
Indicates a Healthy Ecosystem
Snakes are important members of local ecosystems. Their presence helps regulate the populations of rodents, insects, and frogs. So finding snake skin can mean you have a robust, balanced habitat in your yard. This is beneficial because it allows other species like birds to thrive as well.
Opportunity for Education
Finding snake skin gives you a chance to teach kids about local wildlife. Let them examine the skin and try to identify what species it came from. This hands-on learning experience helps foster curiosity and respect for nature.
Snakes play vital roles in the environment, so developing an appreciation for them from a young age is valuable.
While finding snake skin in your home may initially seem alarming, it does not necessarily mean you have an infestation or dangerous situation on your hands. In many cases, the presence of shed snake skin can actually be quite advantageous.
So inspect the skin, snap a photo for identification, and consider the beneficial aspects it represents before panicking.
Snake Skin Symbolism and Folklore
Historic Associations with Rebirth and Healing
Snake skin has long been a symbol of rebirth, transformation, and healing in many cultures around the world. In Ancient Egypt, the snake was seen as a symbol of rebirth because of the way it sheds its skin.
The god Serket was often depicted with a snake on her head, representing her role as a protector of rebirth. Ancient Greeks also saw the shedding of snake skin as a symbol of rebirth, regeneration, and longevity.
In many Native American traditions, the snake is revered for its ability to shed its skin and be “reborn.” This is seen as a symbol of life, death, and rebirth. Native peoples have used snake skins in rituals and ceremonies to promote healing, protection, and transformation.
For example, Hopi snake dances are performed to renew the tribe and bring rains.
Snake skin has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years. It is believed to have “invigorating” properties and is used to treat conditions like pain, inflammation, and skin issues.
Recent research has shown compounds in snake skin may have antioxidant, anti-aging, and antimicrobial effects.
Use in Traditional Crafts and Rituals
Aside from symbolic associations, snake skins have practical uses in crafts, tools, and rituals across cultures. Here are some examples:
- Snake skins were traditionally used by many Native American tribes to create rattles for ceremonial dances and healing rituals. The rattles represent “renewal.”
- In areas like Southeast Asia and West Africa, python snake skin is made into traditional drums, which are used in spiritual ceremonies.
- Snake skins have been used to make unique jewelry, handbags, boots, and hatbands. Cowboy hatbands were often decorated with rattlesnake skins in the American Southwest.
- Some tribes in Africa have traditionally used mamba snake skins as shield covers to protect warriors. The black mamba’s symbolism of speed and strength was believed to transfer to the warrior.
So while the sight of shed snake skin may give some people the chills, it has been prized by cultures worldwide for its many symbolic and practical uses related to transformation, protection, healing, and adornment.
Conclusion
While finding shed snake skin on your property can certainly give you a fright, it does not necessarily mean you have an active snake infestation or that venomous serpents are lurking inside your home.
The skin may have been tracked in from elsewhere or left behind by a snake that has long since vacated the premises.
In most cases, the discovery of cast-off snake skin is harmless. With some basic precautions like sealing up possible pest entry points, removing the skin, and having a professional inspect if you have ongoing concerns, you can rest easy knowing that a small snake skin discovery doesn’t have to turn into a big problem.
