How Much Does Snake Removal Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $130 - $600
Removing a snake from your property costs $340
on average, depending on the type of snake and its location. Most spend between $130
and $600
.
Wild snakes make many people nervous, and finding one in your home can be especially shocking. The average cost to remove snakes is $340
. To have a nonvenomous snake removed from an easy-to-access part of your property, you'll pay on the low end at around $130
. For highly venomous snakes or those that are harder to catch, you could pay up to $600
on the high end.
Snake Removal Cost Factors
Several factors influence the price that snake removal experts charge.
Location
Snakes look for food and warmth, which may lead them into your home. Once there, they prefer to stay out of sight, hiding in tricky locations that are often hard for pros to access. The more time it takes for a pro to lure a snake out, the more you'll pay for removal services. Below are some common places to find snakes and the removal costs to expect for each.
Location | Average Cost to Remove Snakes |
---|---|
Garage | $140 |
Yard | $150 |
Basement | $280 |
Roof | $300 |
Attic | $380 |
Crawl Space | $450 |
Labor
Handling wild animals can be dangerous, and snakes are no exception. Hire a snake removal service near you to set up traps, remove snakes, and relocate them to a safe area. Snake removal pros charge $350 on average to remove a single snake and may charge an additional $100 per return visit if they need to check traps.
Species
A variety of snake species are commonly found throughout the U.S., and there are many types you might encounter in or around your house. Some pros charge a flat rate no matter what type of snake you want removed. However, venomous species are riskier to handle and require special training, so most pros charge more to remove them than nonvenomous reptiles.
If you’re not sure what type of snake you’re dealing with, try to snap a photo as soon as you see it. This will save your snake removal pro time and potentially save you money.
Type of Snake | Average Removal Cost |
---|---|
Garter Snake | $200 |
Rat Snake | $230 |
Copperhead | $430 |
Rattlesnake | $450 |
Coral Snake | $500 |
Python | $500 |
Pit Viper | $500 |
Number of Snakes
The number of snakes to be removed can impact your total cost. For example, an entire nest may cost more than a lone snake. This isn't always true with nonvenomous species, but it is generally for venomous snakes. Some pros charge for each additional venomous snake due to the compounded risk they're exposed to.
Emergency Timing
For the most part, snake removal companies are available during daytime hours on weekdays. But a snake problem can surface at any time, and if you need after-hours, weekend, or holiday removal services, expect to pay the cost of emergency snake removal. This can add $100 to $300 to your bill.
Additional Snake Removal Costs to Consider
You may need to be aware of these extra snake removal costs depending on your situation and where you live.
Permits
Some snakes are protected by law, and certain municipalities have regulations regarding animal relocation to help avoid ecological problems. You may need a permit to relocate a snake from your property to the wild. Whether or not this comes with a fee depends on your location.
Snake Inspection
Starting at about $75, you can hire a snake inspection pro to visit your property and look for snakes or evidence of snakes. They look in and around areas where snakes tend to reside and can share information about what types of snakes you may have on your property and whether removal is required.
DIY vs. Hiring Professional Snake Removal
Though often small, snakes are wild, so there aren't many safe options when it comes to DIY snake removal. Snakes can be venomous, so misidentification can lead to serious injury or even death.
There are no effective snake repellents because these reptiles have no sense of smell. If a snake is in your yard, it may leave on its own. You can attempt to ward it off by standing at a distance and gently spraying it with a hose. Take care not to harm it if you take this approach.
Instead of DIY removal, consider the relatively low cost of pest control. Snake control experts are highly trained and certified, with the knowledge to deal with venomous species safely. Ensure the pro you hire is fully licensed, bonded, and insured in your state. Check online reviews and ask for all rates in writing upfront.
Signs You Have a Snake in Your Home
These signs will let you know if you have an unwelcome guest in your house that you may want to have ousted.
Increased daytime sightings. Seeing more active snakes than usual can mean an infestation is underway.
Snakeskins. You may find shed skins lying around your yard or basement.
Droppings. Snake droppings are like bird poop and may contain hair or bones.
Funky smells. Offensive, musty odors from tap water or the basement could mean you’ve got snakes about.
Unusual sounds. Listen for scrambling or scuffling inside your walls or attic.
Holes. Look for snake-sized holes in your yard.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Snakes love yards where they can access pet food, insects, and rodents. They also like places with plenty of hiding spots, such as tall grasses, thick or overgrown shrubbery, pools of water, broken gutters, and boxes. Reducing clutter and debris on your property may help keep them from visiting.
No, one snake does not always mean more. While snakes do often congregate in dens to breed, for most of the year, they are primarily solitary creatures that do not travel in groups. A single snake may make its way near your home in search of food, warmth, or shelter.
The time of day that most snakes are active is at night. This is when they prefer to hunt since they can do so under the cover of darkness, out of sight of predators and the prey they stalk. However, some snake species prefer very hot temperatures and are strictly active during the day.
Regular lawn care keeps snakes away because it eliminates common hiding places. You can deter snakes by trimming grass, shrubs, and trees and removing weeds from your lawn and gardens. Clear away leaves and other debris that could serve as a potential snake habitat. You can also seal entry points around building perimeters and install metal snake fencing.