How Do Rat Snakes Get In Your House?

It’s normal to worry when you see a snake near your home. Rat snakes are one of the types you might find around or even inside. It can feel scary. But knowing how they get in helps you keep them out.

Rat snakes usually get into your house through small gaps or cracks in the foundation, open doors or windows, plumbing drains, and by climbing up walls or trees to reach higher entry points like vents or second-story windows.

This post will explain the common ways rat snakes find their way into houses. It also gives easy tips to stop them.

By the end, you’ll feel ready to protect your home from these unexpected visitors.

What Are Rat Snakes?

Rat snakes live all over North America. They are not dangerous because they don’t have venom.

They eat rats and mice, which actually helps keep pests away. So, they can be useful around your yard.

These snakes are good climbers. They can scale trees, fences, and even walls. This helps them hunt but also lets them reach places where people live.

Rat snakes are smart and adapt well.

Types You Might See

• Eastern Rat Snake: Found in the eastern U.S., usually black or gray with lighter markings. They can grow quite long,  sometimes over six feet.
• Black Rat Snake: Mostly black, helping them blend into tree bark or rocks. Common in many regions.
• Western Rat Snake: These have more color variety, from yellow to brown to gray. Found in central and western states.

All these types like forests, fields, and sometimes homes. That’s why they show up near us.

Why Do Rat Snakes Want to Get Into Your House?

Rat snakes aren’t trying to bother you. They come inside mainly for three reasons: food, shelter, and warmth. Knowing this can help you make your home less inviting.

Food

Rodents attract snakes. If you have mice or rats near your house, snakes will follow.

Things that attract rodents include:

• Food scraps outside
• Open garbage cans
• Birdseed spilled on the ground
• Pet food left outdoors
• Compost piles with food waste

When rodents come for these, snakes come for the rodents.

Shelter

Snakes need safe places to hide and rest. Your house and yard offer plenty:

• Basements and crawl spaces
• Garages and sheds
• Attics or upper floors
• Wood piles or debris
• Thick bushes and plants

In cold weather, snakes look for warm, protected spots. Your heated home is a good place in winter.

Warmth

Snakes can’t make their own heat. They depend on warm places to survive, especially when it’s cold outside.

Your home stays warm all year, which can attract snakes. They seek spots like:

• Near heating vents
• Basements with furnaces
• Around water heaters
• Warm attics

How Do Rat Snakes Get Inside?

Rat snakes are good at slipping in through small spaces. Here are the usual ways they get in:

Small Gaps and Cracks

This is the most common route. Rat snakes can squeeze through holes as small as half an inch wide.

Look for gaps:

• Around your house foundation
• Where pipes enter the building
• Near windows and doors
• Where different building materials meet
• In cracked concrete

These tiny openings can be easy to miss. Regular checks help find and seal them.

Climbing

Rat snakes climb well. They scale brick walls, tree bark, and other rough surfaces.

They may climb up to:

• Second-story windows
• Roof vents
• Gutters and downspouts
• Tree branches
• Deck railings

Once up high, they look for open windows or loose vent covers to get inside.

Plumbing and Drains

Sometimes snakes enter through plumbing systems, like:

• Floor drains in basements
• Bathroom drains or toilets
• Roof plumbing vents
• Sewer pipes with cracks

This explains why snakes sometimes show up in bathrooms or basements.

Open Doors and Windows

The simplest way in is often an open door or window. Warm weather means people leave them open for fresh air.

Screens can keep snakes out, if they’re in good shape. Torn or loose screens let snakes slip through.

Attached Structures

Garages, sheds, or other buildings attached to your house can be stepping stones. Snakes enter these first, then find ways into the main house.

How to Keep Rat Snakes Out

You can stop snakes by making your home less welcoming.

Seal Entry Points

Look closely around your house for cracks and gaps. Seal them with:

• Caulk for small cracks
• Expandable foam for medium gaps
• Steel wool or hardware cloth for bigger holes

If you can fit a pencil through, a snake might fit too.

Control Rodents

Since snakes follow rodents, keep mice and rats away.

• Store food in sealed containers
• Keep garbage cans closed tight
• Remove pet food from outside
• Clean spilled birdseed
• Fix leaky pipes and faucets
• Remove clutter where rodents hide

If rodents are a problem, use traps or call pest control. Without rodents, snakes won’t visit.

Maintain Your Yard

Keep your yard tidy to reduce snake hiding spots.

• Cut grass short
• Trim bushes regularly
• Remove wood piles, rocks, or debris
• Clear fallen leaves and branches
• Plant shrubs away from your house foundation

A neat yard means fewer places for snakes to hide.

Use Natural Deterrents

Some natural things may help keep snakes away:

• Sulfur powder around your foundation
• Cinnamon or clove oil sprays
• Mothballs in hiding spots

These work best with other prevention steps, not alone.

Regular Maintenance

Keep your home in good shape.

• Check and repair screens
• Fix loose siding
• Seal cracks in foundations
• Clean gutters
• Inspect roof vents

Do thorough checks in spring and fall.

What to Do If You Find a Rat Snake Inside

If a snake gets in, stay calm.

Don’t Panic

Rat snakes aren’t dangerous. They have no venom and usually want to avoid you.

Keep Your Distance

Don’t try to catch or kill the snake. Most bites happen when people handle snakes.

Give the Snake an Exit

Open a door or window near it. Most snakes will leave if given a way out. Close other rooms so it can’t go deeper.

Call a Professional

If the snake won’t leave, call wildlife control. They safely remove snakes and often help for free or low cost.

Learn and Prevent

After removal, check how the snake got in. Fix any openings to stop future visits.

Conclusion

Rat snakes can get in many ways. They climb well and fit through tiny gaps. They come looking for food, shelter, and warmth.

Stopping snakes means removing what attracts them. Control rodents, seal openings, and keep your yard tidy.

Remember, rat snakes help by controlling rodents. It’s best to keep them outside where they belong.

If you do find a snake in your home, stay calm and get help. You can keep your home snake-free while respecting these helpful animals.