How to get a snake out of a car engine

This blog post will answer the question, ‘How to get a snake out of a car engine’ and cover topics like why would a snake enter the engine, signs of a snake inside the vehicle, where can a snake live inside the vehicle, and what to use to get snakes out of the vehicle.

How to get a snake out of a car engine

The following steps should be followed with immediate effect in case of a snake inside the vehicle:

• Secure all the passengers out of the vehicle and maintain a safe distance from it.
• Make sure the vehicle is parked under the sun or in an area that receives direct exposure to sunlight.
• The vehicle must be kept running at all times.
• Ensure that all windows and doors inside the car are closed tight.
• Next, turn on the car heater to full blast.
• Wait until the snake taps on the windows or doors because of the extreme heat inside.
• Quickly open the door and get clear of the vehicle as fast as possible to let the snake scramble off
• All this while it is essential to ensure that all vehicle passengers are standing clear of the situation.

Why would a snake enter the engine?

Snakes are fond of tight, dark, and enclosed spaces that can help them to rest and hide, and also help them defend themselves from predators.

In the wild, they find choose burrows and cracks in rocks to help them rest, this is equivalent to dark and enclosed areas like car vents and storage compartments, even the engine bay that has an infinite amount of places to hide and rest in.

An important point to be noted is that snakes are cold-blooded beings or ectothermic beings that cannot generate their own body heat, instead, they rely on their environment to provide their warmth requirements. Therefore, a warm and heated engine does the job.

Signs of a snake inside the vehicle

Even though snakes are masters of camouflage and hiding, they do leave some signs even if they are minute and difficult to spot. The following signs should be taken very seriously as an indication of a snake inside the vehicle.

• Shedding skin
• Feces
• Food that has been regurgitated as that is what snakes do when they feel disturbed or alarmed

An important factor to be kept in mind is that snakes only shed skin every two months or so depending upon their species, which means that any shed skin inside the vehicle indicates that the snake has been living there for a while.

Where can a snake live inside the vehicle?

These are the following places to look for in case of a suspected snake inside the vehicle.

Under the vehicle hood

Warm, dark, and secure, this is probably the best place for a snake to rest or hide as it is where the heated engine is. This acts like a burrow for the snake and allows it to crawl inside.

It can easily enter from underneath the car or in between the car parts. It might either be right under the hood or deeper within the mechanical components of the car, in which case it becomes difficult to locate.

Getting it out is vital as it may cause vital damage to components or even a fire, however, it is best to consult a professional rather than risking your life to get it out.

Inside the cabin

Snakes dropping on the lap while driving is not uncommon. They can easily enter the cabin through open doors and windows. Snakes are adept at climbing and can easily climb up to open windows.

Trunk

Quite the unlikely place for a snake to crawl in as it has no space for entry or exit unless you leave the trunk open long enough for a snake to get inside.

It is nevertheless, a viable option as it is dark and enclosed, and warm especially if the car has the engine mounted at the rear end.

Glovebox or vents

These components are plastic fittings mostly, which means they must be having one or two holes that can act as entry and exit points for the snake.

However, it is difficult for the snakes to get inside these components as they need to enter the cabin first after which they need to sneak inside one of these holes to hide.

What to use to get snakes out of the vehicle?

The following tools or instruments can be used to get snakes out of the vehicle. However, it is to be noted that safety measures need to be followed at all points and neither the remover nor the snake must be endangered in any way.

Broomstick

This instrument can be used to remove smaller and nonvenomous species of snakes or any other instrument equipped with a long handle.

Once the snake is located, the broom can be used to push it away towards an open door on the other side.

The broom end can be used to sweep the snake inside a bucket to catch it and then can be released into the wild.

Burlap sack

We can use a burlap sack in order to lure snakes into them. To do this we can soak a burlap sack in clear water and place it inside a dry sack or even more dry sacks to create a dry-looking exterior surface.

Since snakes prefer warm and moist areas to shelter themselves, they might get lured out into these sacks. We must keep checking the burlaps often if any snakes have been lured out.

Glue board

We can purchase glue boards from the local hardware stores to catch snakes naturally. A glue board is a long slab of wood coated with a sticky substance on one side.

They can be placed on the vehicle floor against its doors or underneath the vehicle seats. Once caught these snakes can be released into the wild by separating them from the board using vegetable oil.

Wildlife control unit

Probably the most reliable and safest option in case none of the other DIY methods prove fruitful. They must be immediately contacted in case of a venomous species of snakes or if the snakes are too far inside the engine.

Research shows the various procedures to be followed to get rid of garter snakes, a certain species of small nonvenomous snakes. 

Conclusion

This blog post answered the question, ‘How to get a snake out of a car engine’.

We noted down the various reasons a snake might invade a vehicle and some telltale signs of a suspected snake inside the vehicle. Furthermore, we came across the various places a snake can hide and certain instruments and methods to use to remove them from the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to get a snake out of a car engine?

How do you get a snake out from under something?

The temperature of that particular room or area must be lowered as snakes cannot generate their own body temperature. This will force them to leave that spot and move to a warmer place.

What smell do snakes hate?

Snakes do not particularly like the scent of onions, garlic, or cloves. Using a spraying solution of oils made of the above or any other fragrance can drive snakes away.

What can you pour down a snake hole?

White vinegar can be used to act as a natural snake repellant. A mixture of snake repellant and lime or even peppermint oil can be poured around the house perimeter for an effective snake repellant.

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