Snake skin

[NJinspector]

Found this in the attic at todays inspection. How does this get in the attic? Not sure how to write this up. "Have a qualified exterminator? investigate and provide treatment?"

Image Insert:

101.36 KB

Image Insert:

90.75 KB

[Brandon Whitmore]

"ask the client's if they lost a pet recently"

[AHI in AR]

Tell 'em it's there eating rats. Or squirrels, or mice. That's quite possible.

That's a skin that has been shed. The donor snake is long gone. Keep in mind that the snake that came from is not that large; the skins stretch when they are shed. I'd note it, but in a humorous way so as no to freak anyone out. Are there even any poisonous snakes in your area?

It's funny. I always seem to find people scared of snakes in the crawl space. I have found far more evidence of snakes in attics than in crawlspaces. In fact, I remember finding one in our attic as a teenager. At the time, I thought it was an anomaly. Home inspections have proven otherwise.

[Bain]

Just yesterday morning, I was checking out a small office building that a current tenant is buying. He pulled me aside at one point and said, "By the way, we've found a couple of snakes in the building this summer. Any idea how they're getting inside?"

I said, "I know exactly how they're getting in," and showed him this photo on my camera's LCD.

Image Insert:

193.58 KB

[Brandon Whitmore]

Never seen one in, under, or above around here. We don't have many crickets either......hmmmm

[SonOfSwamp]

Some years back, I went into an attic full of snake skins. And fresh snake poop. I told the buyers: "There are shed snake skins and fresh snake poop all over the attic. If that bothers you, you're going to have to call a critter gitter. Or Larry, Daryll and Daryll..."

Around here, they call those corn snakes or rat snakes. Harmless, unless you're small prey.

WJ

[Phillip]

I have seen snakes in two attics, both where older homes.

The most skins I have seen it a attic is 7. 5 of them where at the attic access. In the crawlspace there was a live rattlesnake.

[danica]

Snake-scent application is one of a remarkable package of defenses that squirrels use against rattlesnakes, Owings said. In earlier work, Owings' lab has found that squirrels can: heat up their tails to send a warning signal to rattlesnakes, which can "see" in the infrared; assess how dangerous a particular snake is, based on the sound of its rattle; and display assertive behavior against snakes to deter attacks. In addition, work by Owings' colleague, psychology professor Richard Coss, has demonstrated that these squirrels have evolved resistance to snake venom.

[Tim H]

Snake-scent application is one of a remarkable package of defenses that squirrels use against rattlesnakes, Owings said. In earlier work, Owings' lab has found that squirrels can: heat up their tails to send a warning signal to rattlesnakes, which can "see" in the infrared; assess how dangerous a particular snake is, based on the sound of its rattle; and display assertive behavior against snakes to deter attacks. In addition, work by Owings' colleague, psychology professor Richard Coss, has demonstrated that these squirrels have evolved resistance to snake venom.

These guys coulda used a better line of cat defense. There were at least 25 tails down there.

Click to Enlarge

35.01 KB

Click to Enlarge

33.37 KB

[John Dirks Jr]

Here's a Blacksnake skin I found today. Compare it to the 2x4 and tell me how big do you think this snake was. Pretty good sized one I think.

Click to Enlarge

55.68 KB

[Inspectorjoe]

It's safe to say that it wasn't as big as the skin. I had a boa for quite a while. The skins stretched quite a bit when shed.

I wonder if anyone else has ever found a snake on a roof? This one looked like it hadn't moved in quite a long time.

Click to Enlarge

153.49 KB

[davidlord]

I found a mole on a roof once. I'm guessing a bird dropped it.

[AHI in AR]

I found a mole on a roof once. I'm guessing a bird dropped it.

I'm guessing it was the elusive Eastern Hairless Flying Mole. They're very shy creatures that are hardly ever seen. Scientific name: Scalopus flyaboveus nudus

[Jeremy]

I was taking the metal ridge cap of a small barn that I was taking down. The first piece I took off was 8 or 10 feet long and of course I could not see under it until I removed it. Once I had it off and holding it in my hands, I noticed sitting right in front of me a medium to large size black snake. I have never come off a roof so fast in my life. I don't think my brain registered the type of snake until I hit the ground. I can pick snakes up and handle them, but it's the suprise that can make you hurt yourself.