Found a Snake Skin? How to Identify It

HWCS Expert Team

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.