Snake found on my patio is this normal?

Question

I live in a concrete jungle.. a town house, my back yard is all patio with brick planter boxes its about 15x20 all blocked walls..My indoor cats loves to look out the sliding window at birds. One day a cat was all fixated on something right below the screen door. I looked to see what it was and it was a HUGE LONG SNAKE moving along the screen door base, it was doubled up to half his size moving slowly. I couldn't see its tail so since it had same type of markings as a rattle snake to a novice I FREAKED!!! I kept still until I saw his tail it didn't have a rattle on the tail thank GOODNESS! Troubling part is he eyeballed me, I mean he was NOT scared in the least, he kept coming to us. I didn't go out back for 3 days, I was so scared, big chicken here.. I did looked up snakes and it looked like a gopher snake, are they really that fearless? How the heck did he get here? Since I live in a townhouse only opening is one inch between the house and the block wall from house to house.. I called my neighbor to see if her son lost a snake but she said nope.. This experience is so weird to me how he got here and why he was so fearless.... Any ideas?

Answer 1

You didn't say what part of the country you live in.  That could help us determine better if it's an escaped pet, or a native reptile.

Even though you live in a "concrete jungle" with a fenced in back patio, that doesn't mean the rest of the townhouses surrounding you are without grass/shrubs/trees - all the things which would make a snake feel secure as it slithered along.

As for the fence and the gap - snakes are good climbers, too.  It wouldn't be impossible for him to have scaled the fence by use of the horizontal boards, or even warps to anchor his body against, to push for climbing.

The snake may have just enjoyed sunning on your warm stones, or was in fact partaking of the lizards.  But, usually after a good meal, a snake looks for a secluded place to hide and digest.

It's very possible the snake couldn't see you on the other side of the door, due to glare.  Most wild snakes attempt to avoid people.

If you have a HOA, you can check with them to see if any resident posted notice of an escaped pet snake.

Otherwise, just leave the reptile alone, and he will move along once he's full, or has exhausted the food supply in the area.

If you're afraid of the snake or he's preventing you from using your patio, you can call Animal and ask them to remove the reptile.

Answer 2

next time if this happens call someone to help you

and please keep your cat away from any exotic creatures around he/she might get hurt

im not an expert at reptiles but i hope i gave you some help

Answer 3

Next time this happens, call animal control.  They might be able to help you.  And meanwhile, keep the cats away from any creatures that can hurt them.

Answer 4

Don't worry about the snake. Jungle? If you're describing what kind of area you life in, most likely there will be snakes in a "Jungle" like area.

Answer 5

It all depends on the snake sometimes. snakes like Milk snakes can be very jumpy and will hide at the first site of any movement. Other snakes may avoid you but not in such a fast manor. Some venomous snakes will stand their ground but provide warnings as they want as little to do w/ you as you want to do w/ them. Most snakes will avoid human contact though so my first guess is it may not have even noticed you. Their eyesight can not be the best sometimes and w/ you being behind glass inside the home, it may be hard for them to locate you w/ their better senses like smell and by vibrations. Snakes can fit through very small locations so if you have a one inch opening, that very well may be plenty of space.  

Answer 6

Ive seen 1,2,3,4 snakes near my house! All were medium sized and one small one.

Answer 7

Wild animals will always be in places like that

You moved into their home long before they moved into yours

And its not that snakes are fearless, they just appear that way

Answer 8

If there are woods near you there will be snakes  

Answer 9

ummm well snakes like tall grass do you have that and... can get in through small open spaces too. So it could get an rodent control or pest control. they will take the snake away. you should talk to them about it... snakes live in a world of eat or be eaten. They take one look at us and “think”, “I can’t eat this thing, but it’s big enough to eat me”. Consequently, they are very much afraid of us. The animal my have rabies because animals that have raibes are not fearful.

Answer 10

I'd be scared too! But I agree. Keep your cats indoors and next time something like that happens, make sure you call somebody to help you with your situation!