Snakes make certain to be an undesirable surprise no matter where you go, whether that’s your backyard and even inside your home. But among the last locations you wish to see this scary animal remains in your car. No one wishes to be stuck to a snake in such an enclosed space—particularly while they’re driving. And while you can’t absolutely avoid this insect from looking for shelter in your vehicle, particular errors might be making you more of a target. Read on to discover 5 methods you’re welcoming snakes into your car.
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Snakes are cold-blooded, which suggests they’ll frequently attempt looking for warm locations, says A.H. David, a snake specialist and creator of Pest Control Weekly.
“As reptiles, snakes depend upon their environment to manage body temperature level,” David discusses. “A warm engine is a good heat source.”
So on those cooler summertime nights or cold mornings, you do not wish to leave your engine running for no factor. Of course, your car might remain warm for a bit even after you turn it off, so David likewise suggests that individuals “attempt parking in their garage” to make it harder for snakes to gain access to lorries.
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If you have to park your car outside a garage, there are specific locations you ought to still prevent. Snakes will frequently hide in backyards that have high yard or woody locations, as these are “natural environments for numerous snake types,” David informs Best Life.
“If your car is parked close by, it’s simpler for a snake to crawl in,” he alerts. “Try to park in cleared locations, far from high yard or woods.”
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As the weather condition warms up, you might be lured to leave your car windows broken so you’re not stuck climbing up inside a blistering vehicle every day. But even leaving simply a little space open in one window might supply appealing access to a snake, Georgina Ushi Phillips, DVM, an encouraging vet and author for The Reptile Room, says.
“Snakes might be thinking about your vehicle due to the fact that of what’s within, however oftentimes, they’re simply searching for a safe and secure location to take a break and your car can be the best hiding area,” she discusses.
With that in mind, Phillips says you ought to take care about splitting your windows—particularly if you remain in a snake-heavy space.
“Snakes can utilize tree limbs or other neighboring challenge get simpler access to your vehicle,” she includes.
An unpleasant car is no deterrent for snakes. In reality, it’s rather the opposite, according to preservation researcher Charles van Rees, PhD.
“Clutter offers more hiding areas for snakes,” Rees discusses. “The more locations they need to hide themselves, the more secure they feel, and the most likely they are to remain.”
This suggests things like “loose clothes, boxes, and basic garbage” ought to be eliminated from your vehicle if you’re attempting to prevent a snake issue, Phillips recommends.
“Not just that, however a lot of the victim that snakes like to consume, like rodents, will discover the very same conditions appealing,” she says.
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It’s not simply basic mess you require to look out for in your car, nevertheless. You should also avoid leaving behind any type of food, according to Phillips.
“Snakes have an amazing sense of smell and even a small bit of food remains can bring them to your vehicle,” she says.
“There’s a lot of human food that snakes are happy to eat, and even if they don’t want your leftover french fries, they’d be more than happy to eat the rodents and bugs that are going after your leftover lunch,” Phillips adds.
And it’s not simply human food that’s cause for concern.
“Many snakes will find your pet’s food just as appealing (if not more appealing),” Phillips explains. “Most people do not believe much about leaving a bag of dry kibble in the car and getting it later on, however if you remain in snake nation this isn’t a good concept.”
