How to Trap Snakes of Pennsylvania
Like people all over the country, Pennsylvanians tend to have strong opinions on snakes. For the most part, the view is an irrational fear of being bitten and envenomed. In reality, snakes serve an important and specialized role in the ecosystem and are generally non-confrontational. Furthermore, only three species of snakes in Pennsylvania are venomous. Trapping snakes and re-releasing them into an uninhabited area is the safest and most humane way to deal with a snake problem in Pennsylvania.
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Things You'll Need
- Funnel or glue trap
- Mouse-scented bait or live bait
- Large burlap sack
- Vegetable oil
- Snake stick or walking stick
Instructions
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Select a trap appropriate for the snake you are trying to capture. Glue-based snake traps are generally good for snakes up to 2-feet long, while funnel traps are good for anything bigger.
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Set the trap according to the instructions that came with it. Place the trap near where you have seen the snakes. If you live in a wooded area of Pennsylvania, place the trap near fallen logs or dense brush. Make sure the trap is steady in the ground, and conceal it with leaves to prevent other people or animals from messing with it.
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Bait the trap, if necessary. The funnel trap, especially, will require baiting to lure snakes in. A number of products that simulate the smell of mice are available, or you can use live bait such as crickets, mice, small frogs, etc., to lure the snake in.
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Check the trap at least once every 24 hours in accordance with hunting and trapping laws in Pennsylvania. If you allow any more time than that to pass, you risk injuring the captured reptile.
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Remove the trap once you find a snake in it. Place the entire trap in a large, burlap sack and transport to your release area. Choose a place where the snake will not come into further contact with humans, especially if it is venomous.
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Release the snake. For glue traps, open the top and pour a liberal amount of vegetable oil onto the snake, and he will usually free himself in under an hour. For funnel traps, open the side away from yourself and coax the snake out with a snake stick/hook or a walking stick. Use the same implement once the snake is gone to keep him away from you and direct him into the brush.
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Tips & Warnings
Come back and check the glue trap after a couple hours to be sure that the snake got free. If not, apply more oil or call a wildlife expert.
All snakes in Pennsylvania are protected by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and have certain laws regarding their capture and possession. In particular, nobody may trap or possess Kirtland's snakes, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes or rough green snakes. The timber rattlesnake is protected under additional regulations. Contact the Commission's Regional Law Enforcement Offices or the Herpetology and Endangered Species Coordinator with specific questions.
References
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