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Snakes shed their skin (ecdysis) periodically as they grow. Finding a papery, dry skin in your home is proof that you have a resident snake. But what kind?

## Where You Found It Matters
*   **In the Attic:** Almost certainly a **Black Rat Snake** (or Gray Rat Snake). These are excellent climbers and are often found in rafters hunting mice or birds. They are non-venomous constrictors.
*   **In the Basement/Crawlspace:** Could be a Rat Snake, Garter Snake, or Milk Snake.
*   **Outdoors:** Could be any local species.

## Examining the Skin
The color pattern on the skin usually fades, but the scale pattern remains.
1.  **The Scales:** Look closely at the texture.
    *   **Smooth Scales:** (Feel like smooth plastic). Likely a King Snake or Milk Snake.
    *   **Keeled Scales:** (Have a small ridge running down the center, feeling rough like sandpaper). Likely a Garter Snake, Water Snake, or Rattlesnake. Rat snakes have weakly keeled scales.
2.  **The Vent (Tail):** Look at the underside of the tail, past the anal plate.
    *   **Double Row of Scales:** Non-venomous species generally have a double row of scales.
    *   **Single Row of Scales:** Venomous pit vipers (Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Rattlesnakes) generally have a single row of scales on the underside of the tail.

## What To Do
If you find a skin:
1.  **Don't Panic:** The snake is likely hiding nearby, but most indoor snakes are harmless rodent hunters.
2.  **Look for Rodents:** The snake is there for food. If you get rid of the mice, the snake will leave.
3.  **Call HWCS:** We can identify the species from the skin and perform an inspection to find the snake and the rodent entry points.

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