Snake Tongs

How to Catch a Snake

• Using snake-catching tools like grabbers or hooks are the safest for both you and the snake.
• Never grab a snake by the head or neck with the tongs. An injured snake will struggle more and will be more difficult to handle. Instead, grab small snakes in the middle of their bodies or lower. Grab large snakes a third of the way from their head to decrease the striking distance. 
• Limit the amount of time snake is off the ground. Use the tongs or snake hook to guide the snake into the bag or box you have prepared for the snake removal.
• If using a snake hook, never impale snake. Instead, hook the snake in the middle and drag, much like you do with the tongs.

Where Snakes Live and Hibernate (Where to Look for Snakes)

• You can find snakes living in damp, dark places.
• Snakes are commonly found living under boards and rocks, under piles of brush or firewood, and near rivers, ponds, and lakes. 
• Snakes can seek shelter indoors, especially if they are on the hunt for food (like rodents  or eggs) inside barns or basements.            
• Since snakes rely on the climate to regulate their body temperatures, they may seek shelter near or in homes during the winter months to keep warm.

Safety Tips for Snake Removal

• It can be difficult to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, so always use caution by maintaining a safe distance and using professional snake handling equipment.
• When searching for an infestation on your property, be sure to wear protective clothing, like long sleeves and loose long pants or coveralls, tall leather boots, and gloves. 
• Standing outside of a snake’s striking distance (usually about a third of the snake’s body length) will keep you safe from a bite.
• Do not step or touch where you can’t see. If searching for snakes in piles of leaves or clothing, use a long pole or stick to move the debris around instead of your feet or hands.