Wood Piles are Common Hiding Places for Snakes in the Spring

Spring has sprung and warmer weather brings rattlesnakes out of hiding, resulting in larger numbers of people being bitten in the spring— especially folks landscaping and working around the yard, tidying up after winter. 

In fact, did you know that wood piles are one of the most common places for rattlesnakes to hide?  Why wood piles?  Well, snakes cozy up in many places— rock walls, ledges, under bushes, caves, hollow logs, in other animal’s burrows, and occasionally in a person’s basement! Wood piles are appealing to a snake because their food supply is plentiful. Mice and rats like to build their nests in wood piles. Stacked wood creates a warm and dark environment, which is perfect for the snake to rest, eat, and nest in safety. Get rid of rodents and you will remove a major source of rattlesnake attractant. This is especially important in barns, sheds, and other out-buildings where animal food is stored. 

Recently, a victim in San Bernardino County, California was tidying up a wood pile in his back yard. He reached for a log and felt a sudden burning sensation in his arm. Not two weeks later, also in southern California, another man building a firewood pile on his property was bitten by a juvenile snake, later identified as a highly venomous Southern Pacific rattlesnake.

Storing firewood to avoid snakes is really easy. For the most part, all you need to do is elevate the woodpile one or two feet off the ground so that the snake has limited access to the pile in the first place. You can do this using cinder block or a wooden rack (pallets are good and also allow for drainage). Without legs, snakes have more difficulty reaching higher surfaces. Also, you might consider placing a tarp over the pile. All firewood should be stored at least five feet or more away from the foundation of your home and away from trees.

When working outdoors this spring, be sure to wear protective gloves and remember to also protect your lower legs from snake fangs with snake gaiters.

A pair of gaiters is an an easy and inexpensive safety precaution when working in snake habitat.