Snakes in the house typically enter either by accident or in search of food and shelter. Either way, most snakes tend to come in on the ground floor of a structure. The reptiles find entrances via gaps under doors or openings in the walls and foundations, around plumbing and vents, and even through pet doors. Snakes prefer to hide in well-covered areas outside, including firewood piles, leaf litter, tall grasses, and rock walls. If such areas are near the structure, snakes can easily gain access to the home. 

The reality of a snake infestation is that you likely have an underlying rodent problem. Although it’s possible for snakes to choose your home as a shelter, most enter homes on the hunt for prey. Snakes eat a wide variety of rodents. So, if there’s a snake regularly coming into your home, it’s important to assess your home for signs of other pests.

Snakes cannot create their own entry point. But they can squeeze through small holes. Depending on the snake, it might be able to fit into a quarter-inch-sized hole. And you might be surprised to learn that snakes can slither up the side of your house! So, even holes well off the ground need to be investigated. Homeowners may find snakes in various areas of the home, but most are found in basements, crawl spaces, dirt cellars, and garages. Certain tree-dwelling snakes can enter into attics through holes in the roof, as well.