How do I know what size trap to pick?
Easy - If the snake or rodent can fit in the trap, then the trap will catch it. Just look at the dimensions and pick the size that is suitable for your nuisance. Here's a picture for reference.
What snakes are common in North America?
There are about 2700 species of snakes in the world, of which, 115 reside in North America. Obviously I'm not going to list all of them here, so a few of the commons are: rat snakes, kingsnakes, garter snake, hognose snakes, boa constrictors, and pythons. Instead of looking at all of the snakes, you're better off avoiding the venomous ones - see below.
What snakes are poisonous/venomous in North America?
- The Coral Snake - commonly mistaken for the King Snake, due to their color similarities, but if you remember "Red and Black, a friend of Jack; Red and Yellow, kill a fellow." Coral snakes only have an average length of 3 feet and are very thin.
- The Copperhead - this is one of the most common venomous snakes in North America. They got their name due to their "Copper-colored head." They're main color is a chestnut brown, with a crisscross pattern of dark brown bands. Their body is stout and their head is broad. Their average length is 2 - 3 feet.
- The Cottonmouth - These are large, aquatic, venomous snakes. You read that right, this snake actually swims! They are dark in color (brown, black, or olive) with the exception of their mouth which has a bright white lining, hence their name. They use their white mouth as a defense mechanism, by opening it up and warning predators. You should never get near a Cottonmouth, they are very aggresive. Their average length is 3 - 4 feet.
- The Rattlesnake - There are 4 types of Rattlesnake: The Eastern Diamondback, The Western Diamondback, The Mojave Rattlesnake, and The Tropical Rattlesnake. The most common type is the Eastern Diamondback, which has a diamond pattern running the entire length of its' body. They have a triangular head with "cat-like" eyes. Their body is think and they average a length of 3 - 8 feet.
What do snakes eat?
All snake are carnivorous predators, however their diets vary depending on their environment. They love to eat small animals like rats, mice, birds, frogs, and lizards. Rattlesnakes can eat larger animals like rabbits, birds, or weasels. Any business or residence that has a problem with any of these types of pests is a snake infestation waiting to happen.
How do snakes eat animals larger than themselves?
It's pretty interesting - the jaw bones that make up the snakes mouth are not fused together. They are only held together by simple ligament which allows them to "unlock", or "stretch", their jaw to 180° and swallow prey that is much larger than their own head.
When are snakes the most active?
This can differ by region. Snakes are cold-blooded, so in times of intense heat or extreme cold they tend to be inactive and hibernate. They are generally most active at night, and rattlesnakes in particular, are very active in the spring, which depending on your location can last anywhere from 5 - 10 months. In early spring or late fall they tend to be lethargic, which can actually be worse since they often don't rattle before they strike.