Snake Removal in New York City
Finding a snake in your basement, garage or garden can be a shock, but New York City's native snakes are small, shy and nonvenomous. Species such as the garter snake and DeKay's brownsnake live quietly in parks, gardens and vacant lots, eating slugs, worms, insects and rodents. Problems arise when snakes slip into homes through foundation gaps, basement windows or garage doors, or when an escaped pet turns up somewhere unexpected. Even though local species pose little danger, most people understandably want a snake removed from their living space quickly.
NYC Pest Control Pros is a free referral service that connects residents with independent, licensed wildlife control providers in their borough. The professionals in our network can identify the snake, remove it safely and humanely, and find out how it got in. Because snakes follow shelter and food, lasting results come from sealing entry points and reducing the rodents, insects and debris that draw them close to your home. Our referral is free, and you are never obligated to hire a provider after speaking with them about the situation.
Why Snakes Are a Problem in NYC
Snakes live in every borough, but they are most common in areas with natural habitat: the Staten Island Greenbelt and South Shore, Pelham Bay Park and Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Alley Pond Park and Forest Park in Queens, and Prospect Park and Marine Park in Brooklyn. Even community gardens, rail embankments and vacant lots can support small snakes such as DeKay's brownsnake. Old stone retaining walls, railroad embankments and overgrown lots provide warm basking spots and plenty of crevices where snakes can shelter from predators and weather.
Homes near these areas may see snakes in rock walls, mulch beds, woodpiles and window wells, and occasionally in basements and garages. Snakes often enter buildings in spring and fall while seeking shelter or places to overwinter. Sightings of exotic species in NYC usually involve escaped or released pets, which are uncommon but do happen. Snakes are also drawn to properties with rodent problems, since several local species, including the milk snake, eat mice and young rats, so a snake in the basement can sometimes point to a larger rodent issue.
Common Snakes Found in New York
Eastern Garter Snake
The most familiar snake in NYC, with a dark body and three yellowish stripes. It lives in gardens, parks and yards, eats worms, slugs and frogs, and may release a musky odor if handled, but it is harmless to people.
DeKay's Brownsnake
Also called the northern brown snake, it is small, brown and secretive, usually under a foot long. It lives under rocks, logs and debris in gardens and vacant lots across the city and feeds mainly on slugs and earthworms.
Northern Water Snake
A thick-bodied, dark-banded snake found near ponds, streams and wetlands, including parts of Staten Island and the Bronx. It can bite defensively if handled but is not venomous, and is often misidentified as a copperhead or water moccasin.
Eastern Milk Snake
A patterned snake with reddish-brown blotches on a gray or tan background. It hunts rodents and is sometimes found in basements, barns and outbuildings. It is harmless, though its markings cause people to mistake it for venomous species.
Signs You Need Snake Removal
- A live snake seen in a basement, garage, shed, window well or along the foundation of your home.
- Shed snake skins, often papery and intact, found in basements, attics, crawl spaces, rock walls or garden beds.
- Snakes repeatedly spotted in the same garden bed, woodpile, stone wall or area near a pond or wetland.
- Thin, winding tracks in dust, sand or soft soil near basement windows, sheds or garage entries.
- A rodent or insect problem in or near the home, which can draw snakes that hunt mice and slugs.
- Unexplained musky odor in a basement or crawl space, sometimes associated with garter snakes.
Health & Property Risks
No venomous snakes are established in New York City. Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes live elsewhere in New York State, but not in the five boroughs. Native NYC snakes may bite defensively if grabbed, causing minor wounds that should be cleaned and monitored for infection. The main risks are stress, falls or injuries from trying to handle a snake, and the possibility of encountering an escaped exotic pet, which should always be left to professionals. A snake inside also often signals a rodent problem or gaps in your foundation.