Reptile & Amphibian Forums

a speckled king snake has a nest in the outer wall of my house, should I be worried?? I know that this is a good snake to have around but my husband is terrified of snakes, is there a way to remove the nest without hurting the snake?

First, what do you mean it has a "nest"? Snakes don't live in any kind of nest. Do you mean it has been seen at a particular location more than once?

Probably the animal will move off on its own before long.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Ok, here's what we have seen...
we have two large windows in the front of our house, the house is brick and the trim is cedar. About a year ago we found a snake skin hanging out of a spce between the trim and the brick. After my husband nearly had a heart attack we decided that the snake must have moved on or died in the walls of the house. Fast forward to two two months ago, there was a large snake in our backyard with our dogs, my husband threw something at it to see if it would move and it didn't so we assumed the dogs had killed it and we rushed off to work only to come home and find no snake and no snake parts in the yard. Now two days ago my 3 year old started screaming about a snake but we were in the house, we both jumped up and saw the snake slithering around by the window. My husband ran for the shovel to kill it and after several minutes I went outside to find my husband shaking with fear staring at this very, very large snake. I took the shovel and sent him inside to find out if it was venomous, I was ready to kill it if it was a danger to the children. He found that it wasn't dangerous so we left it alone. Yesterday it came back and my husband got pictures of it, we confirmed that it is a speckled king snake, it is about 3 or 4 feet long. Now this morning I saw it entering the space between the brick and trim, the same place my daughter saw it the other day. I just saw it again about an hour ago going into the same place. I am begining to think it is a female and her eggs are in my wall. What do you think??

It could be living in the space however, they do not nest nor take care of their eggs. It is a harmless snake that will keep the rodents away. It is awesome that you have this visitor.

Miller

>>Ok, here's what we have seen...
>>we have two large windows in the front of our house, the house is brick and the trim is cedar. About a year ago we found a snake skin hanging out of a spce between the trim and the brick. After my husband nearly had a heart attack we decided that the snake must have moved on or died in the walls of the house. Fast forward to two two months ago, there was a large snake in our backyard with our dogs, my husband threw something at it to see if it would move and it didn't so we assumed the dogs had killed it and we rushed off to work only to come home and find no snake and no snake parts in the yard. Now two days ago my 3 year old started screaming about a snake but we were in the house, we both jumped up and saw the snake slithering around by the window. My husband ran for the shovel to kill it and after several minutes I went outside to find my husband shaking with fear staring at this very, very large snake. I took the shovel and sent him inside to find out if it was venomous, I was ready to kill it if it was a danger to the children. He found that it wasn't dangerous so we left it alone. Yesterday it came back and my husband got pictures of it, we confirmed that it is a speckled king snake, it is about 3 or 4 feet long. Now this morning I saw it entering the space between the brick and trim, the same place my daughter saw it the other day. I just saw it again about an hour ago going into the same place. I am begining to think it is a female and her eggs are in my wall. What do you think??
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1.1 Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.1 Black Milksnake
0.1 Honduran
1.1 Kankakee Bull Snakes
2.2 N. Pinesnake
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

So if I see the snake outside and I plug the holes so that she can't get back in, I won't be killing a bunch of snake babies.

Since they like to lay where it is completely dark and humid, it is doubtful there are eggs in your wall.

I would really suggest leaving it be. Kings will eat other snakes, including venomous, so having one living at your house is a very good thing.

Fear of snakes is understandable, but I encourage you to learn the natural history of the animal, and use it as an opportunity to teach your children about the importance of snakes to the ecosystem.

There probably are venomous snakes where you live, learn how to identify them, and take comfort in knowing that the king that has taken up residence will likely try to eat one it encounters.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

First off, I'm at least glad to know that you had enough common sense to try to find out something about the animal your husband was so willing to kill needlessly, I commend you for that.

And as all the others have mentioned, snakes do not live in nests, nor do they have babies and take care of the young in a nest. Snakes that lay eggs, such as your harmless Speckled Kingsnake will lay the eggs in a dark moist area, and then move on, never bothering with them ever again.

To be quite honest, the neighbors little puppy has FAR more potential to be a threat to you or you're family than the little harmless Speckled King does. It is capable of absolutely ZERO threat to anything other than vermin, or other snakes, including ALL venomous types. It just wants to be left alone, mind it's own business, and have the opportunity to live, just as the cute, cuddly, furry animals do that most in the general public are familiar with, that's all.

Yes, if you're sure of it being the same one that was in the hole before, you could plug the whole so it, or any other cany enter again, but please make sure you don't actually "seal" it in by mistake.

Anyhow, please do yourself, and the rest of your family a huge favor, and get on the computer, and "Google" the venomous snakes in your area, then learn to identify them(there are only four types in the U.S.) Rattlesnakes(quite obvious), Copperheads, Coralsnakes, and Cottonmouths. And please try to remember this too,...if a snake is rattling it's tail, it does NOT mean it's a Rattlesnake, all it DOES means is the snake is rattling it's tail because it want's to be left alone. You could not IMAGINE how many people have told me they have a Rattlesnake on their property, or post a picture of a snake that was rattling it's tail at them, but to find out it was actually a completely harmless Ratsnake, or Kingsnake instead. This is a very common occurrence.

In any case, most snakes are as harmless as you could ever imagine, it's all the folklore and ridiculous stories most of the public hears about regarding snakes from others over the years that really clouds any common sense, thus the fear is handed down and perpetuated on and on, etc...

Again, thanks for trying to learn a little about the snake in your yard, it will keep your yard nice and healthy!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I will bet money that snake is hanging around because there is food near/in your walls. That is a good thing since you would rather get rid of the real pests or rodents.

If you really want to get rid of the snake just pick it up and move it to the other side of the yard. My experience is once you find and snake and handle it they don't want to return to the place they were found.
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ÌÏËÙÍ ËÁÂE!

"I have high friends in places."-H.Sherman in some bar

There was king that I found under a mattress, and subjected it to all kinds of nastiness - including probing - before releasing.

Two weeks later it was back - and I handled it again.

Never saw it since.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

speckled kings don't nest or have a nest. It will move along to get food or a better location to keep its preferred temps.
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ÌÏËÙÍ ËÁÂE!

"I have high friends in places."-H.Sherman in some bar

define "nest". That spot could be its' residence, or one of them. I tend to agree that it is finding tasty treats in your walls. But it could be its' home base. I wouldn't seal it, I would enjoy the free pest control. They are very beautiful kings.

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Todd Hughes

Send me your address and I will be right over! J/K! I would let him know what luck he has because they can and will remove copperheads from your property, how's THAT for convenient!
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Todd Hughes