Yes, snakes can hide in or under beds, though it's not extremely common; they seek dark, secure spots for warmth, shelter, or to hunt prey, making areas like under mattresses, in closets, behind furniture, or even in clutter under beds prime hiding spots for both wild snakes and escaped pets. Finding them under a bed is often reported, especially by people who have lost a pet snake, but wild snakes may also enter homes seeking food (rodents) or warmth, and a mattress or box spring offers a cozy, secluded area.
Yes, a snake can crawl into a bed, but it is very rare and usually happens when they seek warmth, shelter, or follow prey indoors. Most snakes prefer hidden, quiet spaces over beds. The idea of a snake crawling into your bed is unsettling, but the reality is that it rarely occurs.
In some cases, snakes may only stay a few days, but when conditions are favorable, they can remain hidden for weeks or even months.
To lure a snake out, use a combination of heat, moisture, and food, placing a warm, humid hide with a scented mouse bait (like a pinkie) in a ventilated container near its hiding spot, or use gentle vibrations/sound (like a gentle fan or knocking) to encourage movement, but often patience is key as snakes are cautious. For lost pets, setting up a trap with a heat source and food near its suspected location is effective.
If you find shredded skin in your house, there is a high chance of a snake around. Shredded skin is a dark and scaly sheet of skin, so keep looking for such signs in small areas, corners, or the wall of your home.
When threatened, all snakes have a defensive trick up their (metaphorical) sleeves: They emit musk from their cloacas to deter whatever is messing with them. “It's one of those smells that smells different to different people,” Apodaca says. Some say it has a cucumber or melon-like scent; others say it's fishy.
Snakes are at their most active when it's cool out. They move around most in the early morning and around dusk. Snakes hunt in tall grass, weeds, and other sources of vegetation. Around your home, they'll seek out shady or dark places where they can rest and cool down.
Strong smells like cinnamon, clove, vinegar, garlic, onion, and peppermint can deter snakes by overwhelming their sensitive sense of smell, though no scent offers foolproof protection, so combining scents with habitat modification (like removing hiding spots) is best for keeping them away. Oils of clove and cinnamon, mixed with water and sprayed, or crushed garlic and onion with salt, are common deterrents, as are strong plants like lemongrass and marigolds.
Despite popular belief, snakes do not actively hunt or chase humans. Most species prefer to conserve energy and avoid unnecessary conflict, so they will usually retreat if given space.
Snakes move in various methods. Some snakes might struggle on smooth glass tiles but most tiles aren't 100% smooth. They can use the grouting lines in between tiles for more grip.
To repel snakes immediately, use strong scents like vinegar, cinnamon oil, clove oil, or ammonia-soaked rags placed near entry points; strong smells like garlic, onion, or sulfur also work, as do natural barriers like marigolds or dense mulch, but the most effective immediate repellents rely on overwhelming their senses with pungent, irritating odors. Remember, while these deter snakes, habitat modification (removing hiding spots, food sources) is key for long-term control.
To lure a snake out, use a combination of heat, moisture, and food, placing a warm, humid hide with a scented mouse bait (like a pinkie) in a ventilated container near its hiding spot, or use gentle vibrations/sound (like a gentle fan or knocking) to encourage movement, but often patience is key as snakes are cautious. For lost pets, setting up a trap with a heat source and food near its suspected location is effective.
“You can tell if a snake is around by looking for tracks, shed skins, musky odors or droppings, fewer rodents or frogs, and unusual noises or movement.” Snakes are masters of disguise, blending into tall grass, brush piles, and hidden corners around your property.
A study performed by Tilbury highlighted the fact that 94% of the snake bites occurred inside human dwellings, and 81% of these while the victim was asleep. Similar observations were made by other authors. Blaylock has shown that multiple bites are more likely in sleeping patients.
Whether nocturnal, diurnal, or otherwise, corn snakes and all other animals sleep because their brains need to rest. Snakes even sleep with their eyes “open,” making it difficult to tell if they are conscious or alert.
I have known more than one hunter who woke up on a frosty morning to find a rattler had crawled into the sleeping bag with him. The key is to ease out gently so as not to wake it up.
If a snake appears to be staring at you, it's not out of curiosity or malice; snakes don't have eyelids, so their eyes are always open. A snake's “stare” is just it staying still to assess its surroundings or gauge threats.
Snakes will only bite in self-defence, typically when they feel threatened or cornered. If left alone, the risk of being bitten is very low. If you do come across a snake, the best thing you can do is slowly walk out of the way. Avoid erratic movements, stomping or making yourself threatening in any way.
A snake's biggest enemies are a diverse group of predators, with the mongoose, honey badger, and various raptors (like eagles, secretary birds) being top contenders due to their speed, fearlessness, and specialized hunting skills; even other snakes, like kingsnakes, prey on them. These predators exploit a snake's vulnerability to swift attacks, often targeting their heads and relying on speed or natural defenses against venom to win confrontations.
Using Irish Spring soap as a repellent is a topic surrounded by both facts and myths. While some people believe that it repels snakes, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
Mongooses. Mongooses, renowned for their quick reflexes and fearless nature, are an indomitable adversary that strikes fear into the heart of their slithering nemesis. These small carnivores are known for their ability to take down much larger opponents, including snakes.
Snakes can climb walls due to their unique anatomical features and movement patterns. They have a flexible body structure that allows them to grip and maneuver on various surfaces. Snakes can climb rough or textured walls like brick walls, stone walls, stucco, or wood siding.
As a result, they are not very active during winter. As the months become warmer, particularly around September, snakes become active and are frequently encountered by people. This is the breeding and feeding season for snakes.
Snakes are not interested in light itself, but the food chain created around outdoor lighting can make illuminated areas attractive to them. Understanding this connection helps homeowners see why changing lighting habits can reduce nighttime snake encounters.