A rattlesnake with its tongue out.

Texas terrain provides a surprising mix of animals. Unfortunately, those animals may view your home as theirs. Although rodents are the most common pests, snakes, skunks, and birds can also find a way inside your residence. Learn the precautions and proper process to get rid of these unexpected house guests.

GETTING RID OF SNAKES

The best way to get rid of snakes in your lawn or home is to be preemptive. There are certain things you can do to prevent a snake from entering your premises. Snakes like to hide in cool and wet areas during the summer. Keep your lawn mowed on a regular basis so that snakes will not have any overgrown areas to hide in.  Also, make sure to clear any debris or rock piles in your yard. These are perfect hiding places for snakes since they will feel protected. Snakes like to cool down in water so be weary of any nearby streams near your home or over watering your lawn; that can act as an invitation.

If you have a pet outside, be careful of their food or water being too exposed. The same goes for a birdfeeder. Snakes can try to eat this food as their own. Snakes can also hide in the garage, under your car, in your shed, and underneath large objects.

To prevent a snake from going inside your home make sure that you have no holes that pests and snakes can enter through. Since snakes eat mice, they will follow them inside your home. So it is important that there are no openings these pests can travel through. Critter Ridder and its snake removal team can inspect your home for possible openings and close them.

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different types of venomous and non-venomous snakes in Texas (previous blog post). Whether a snake seems poisonous or not, never approach a snake. Even a non-poisonous snake bite can lead to an allergic reaction. It is best to call Critter Ridder as soon as you see a snake in your lawn or home.
After spotting a snake, walk away slowly. Do not try to tread lightly. Snakes can feel the vibrations of your steps on the ground. Stepping normally will signal the snake to avoid you. In the event of getting bitten, try to find out what type of snake has bitten you. Before you get to the hospital, call and notify the ER so they can prepare the exact antidote quickly. Whenever you are bitten by a snake, get to the hospital quickly.

GETTING RID OF SKUNKS

skunk walking through grass
Anyone who has had their dog sprayed by a skunk knows how much of a nuisance skunk removal can be. Skunks can ruin entire homes with spray going a distance of up to 15 feet. Even worse, skunks can pose a real danger to pets and children with their spray causing temporary blindness, and damage to the lungs and organs.

To prevent danger, parents should warn children not to approach skunks. Set up some lights in your yard. Skunks are nocturnal and will stay away from bright lights at night. Similar to snakes, skunks will try to scavenge for food in your yard. If you have any trees or bushes with berries or nuts, make sure to rake your yard to avoid skunks looking for their next meal. Also similar to raccoons, skunks will go for any open trash containers or exposed garbage bags. Keep your trash in a closed garbage can where pests are not easily able to reach.
Pests love finding a hidden area to live in and skunks are no exception. Rock piles, log piles, and garbage should be kept closed off or thrown away on a regular basis. Motion-sensor sprinklers are also a great alternative to scare away skunks.

GETTING RID OF BIRDS

Sparrow sticking its head out from under a tiled roof
Although birds do not pose an immediate threat when found in your home, their feces have the potential to carry harmful diseases making their presence extremely unsanitary. The most common entry way for birds is through the chimney, patio door, or opened window. Make sure these openings are closed whenever they are not being used.

If you find a nest inside your home, the easiest thing is to remove it far outside. This act will signal to the bird that it is not welcome. Make sure to wear gloves when you are doing so and sanitize the area afterward. Moving bird feeders and bird baths farther away from your house can also help limit close encounters with birds.

You can also buy a perch repellant for your window sill. This spiky object will keep birds away from your home as they have no resting point. Another way to ward off bird visitors is by tricking it with a fake predator. Owls are bird’s natural predator, so you may want to invest in a plastic owl to help bird removal.
Often times if you have high ceilings it can be difficult to make a bird leave. The bird can be perched out of reach or simply return to its nest. You can try opening a window to lure the bird back out.

Even when following all of these preventatives, these surprising animals can still sneak into your home. In those cases, the safest and quickest way to extract the pest is by calling a professional. Acting on your own will cause greater risk to your safety. Critter Ridder has a strict no-kill policy when it comes to removing these animals, making the entire process worry free.