Snakes in Valley homes
Hillside lots across the Valley, Conejo Valley and Westside back up to open space, which means the Southern Pacific rattlesnake and the harmless gopher snake both show up in yards. Gopher snakes get mistaken for rattlesnakes constantly since they'll flatten their head and vibrate their tail in the leaves to bluff. Telling them apart matters for how you react.
SnakesHow to tell it's this one
- The Southern Pacific rattlesnake has a triangular head, a blotched brown pattern and a rattle, and is the venomous species found on Valley hillsides
- Gopher snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes, they have a narrower head, no rattle and will vibrate their tail against leaves to bluff
- A dry, buzzing rattle is an unmistakable warning, back away rather than investigate
- Shed skin caught on brush or rocks
- Sightings cluster on hillside lots near open space, rock walls and dense ground cover
Where it hides in Valley homes
- Rock walls and stacked stone
- Woodpiles and dense brush
- Under sheds and low decks
- Gopher burrows they've taken over
- Thick ground cover on hillside slopes
When it shows up
From our own route records, month by month.
What to do right now
- 1Keep kids and pets away from the area and give any snake room, most bites happen when people try to move or kill one
- 2Don't reach into woodpiles, rock walls or dense ground cover with your hands
- 3Keep grass cut short and brush cleared near the house
- 4Call us to identify and handle it rather than trying to relocate it yourself
How Facility handles snakes
Rather than extermination, we focus on deterrent and exclusion, clearing the woodpiles, dense ground cover and gopher burrows that draw snakes in, and recommending fencing or gaps to close on hillside properties with repeat activity. If a snake needs to be removed from an occupied area, we handle that safely and correctly identify the species first. The goal is making the property less attractive to snakes long term.
Snakes questions
How do I tell a rattlesnake from a gopher snake?
The Southern Pacific rattlesnake has a wide, triangular head, a blotched brown pattern and a visible rattle at the tip of the tail. Gopher snakes have a narrower head, no rattle, and will often vibrate their tail against dry leaves to mimic one, which is exactly why the two get confused so often.
Why do I have more snakes on a hillside lot?
Hillside lots typically back up to open space and natural brush, which is exactly the habitat rattlesnakes and gopher snakes live in, so the property line is really just an extension of their territory rather than a hard edge. Rock walls, woodpiles and dense ground cover close to the house give them cover right up to the yard.
What should I do if I see a rattlesnake in my yard?
Give it space and keep kids and pets well away rather than approaching or trying to move it yourself, most bites happen when people try to handle or kill a snake rather than simply avoiding it. Call us to identify the species and handle it safely rather than dealing with it on your own.
Do snake repellents actually work?
Not reliably. Most commercial snake repellents have little real evidence behind them, and a motivated snake will still move through or around a treated area. Removing what actually draws them in, gopher burrows, woodpiles and dense ground cover, along with deterrent focused service, does far more than a repellent product.
Why do gophers attract snakes?
Gopher burrows are a ready made shelter and a food source in one, snakes will move into an existing gopher tunnel system rather than dig their own. Active gopher activity on a property is a real reason snake sightings increase, which is part of why gopher control matters for snake prevention too.
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