Snakes can enter homes in search of food, shelter or a suitable place to hide. They may find their way inside through gaps beneath doors, cracks in walls, openings around pipes and drains, windows, roofs, garages or other spaces around the house.

Finding a snake inside your home can be frightening, particularly when you are unsure whether it is venomous. However, the first thing to do is remain calm and avoid making sudden movements.

A report published by Martha Stewart has pointed out some important precautions to take when a snake enters a home, particularly the need to avoid chasing, attacking or attempting to catch the reptile.

Move children and pets away

Do not approach the snake simply because it appears to be still or harmless.

Move children and pets away from the area immediately and ensure that nobody tries to provoke, chase or corner it.

Snakes generally try to escape when they encounter people, but they can become defensive when they feel threatened. Getting too close can therefore increase the risk of a bite.

If it is safe to do so, keep people away from the room or area where the snake has been spotted and monitor its location from a safe distance.

Do not try to kill or catch it

One of the biggest mistakes people can make after seeing a snake is attempting to kill it with a stick, cutlass, broom or other object.

Trying to attack the snake can cause it to become defensive and may also make it disappear into another part of the house, making it more difficult to locate.

The same applies to trying to grab or restrain the snake. Unless you have the appropriate experience and can confidently identify the species, do not attempt to handle it.

It is safer to keep your distance and seek assistance from someone with experience in dealing with snakes

Give the snake a way out if it is safe

If the snake is close to an exit and you can do so without approaching it, opening an external door or another safe escape route may allow it to leave on its own.

However, do not stand near the exit or attempt to force the snake towards it.

If the snake has moved into a bedroom, cupboard, ceiling or another difficult-to-reach area, avoid searching for it yourself. Keep the area isolated as much as possible and seek help.

What if you cannot identify the snake?

Do not assume that a snake is harmless because it is small, thin or has a particular colour.

Snake identification can be difficult, particularly for someone without experience. It is therefore best to treat an unidentified snake with caution.

If you are uncertain about the species, keep away from it rather than attempting to pick it up or getting close enough to examine it.

What to do if someone is bitten

A snakebite should be treated as a medical emergency.

If someone is bitten, move the person away from the snake and seek medical attention immediately. Try to keep the person calm and as still as possible while arranging transport to a health facility.

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Do not attempt to suck the venom from the wound, cut the bite, apply chemicals or herbal preparations to it, or use other unproven remedies.

How to keep snakes away from your home

Preventing snakes from entering in the first place is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of an encounter.

Check the house regularly for holes and gaps, particularly around doors, windows, walls, pipes and other openings close to the ground.

Repair damaged windows and screens and ensure doors fit properly. Keeping grass and vegetation around the house under control can also reduce hiding places.

Rubbish, piles of wood, unused building materials and other debris should be kept away from the house where possible.

It is also important to address rodent problems. If rodents are readily available around a home, they can provide a potential food source that may attract snakes.

Be careful with snake repellents

People often turn to household remedies when they want to keep snakes away, including strong-smelling substances, chemicals and various homemade mixtures.

Rather than relying on unproven remedies, the more practical approach is to concentrate on keeping the compound clean, reducing places where snakes can hide, controlling rodents and sealing openings through which they could enter.

JKB/EB

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