What does a snake skin look like? Where is it found?

Snakes are feared by many people, perhaps due to their looks and reptilian skin. Or perhaps because of their long, limbless bodies, short tails and sharp jaws. Whichever the case, snakes have very distinctive behavior that has to do with their skin. They shed their skin from time to time.

Snake Presence

One of the ways you can tell that there are snakes around is when you stumble on a snake skin. Identifying the skins can help you know the size of the snake, what kind it is, and if it is venomous or not. You need to be very careful with the skin once you find it, and if you are unable to make the identification yourself, you can get an expert to do it for you.

Stay away from snakes

Some snakes are very dangerous because they are poisonous, while others are not dangerous. Some snakes are useful for our gardens because they eat the nuisance pests such as rodents that attack and destroy our plants. However, it is human instinct to stay as far away from snakes as possible regardless of how dangerous or important they are to the ecosystem.

Identification

Snakes come in different sizes, but the shape is always the same. Snakes do not have limbs, so they move along on their bellies. When the snake sheds its skin, no part is excluded. Therefore, the snake skin will look pretty much like the snake itself. The skin, when intact, can tell you how long the snake is, and you can also see some of the special attributes of the snake such as patterns, scale size and so on.

Identifying which snake left a shed skin is a much harder task. This may only be done well by a professional or expert in the field. Some of us cannot even identify a live snake by simply sighting it, which makes it even harder to identify the skin alone.

Why snakes shed their skins

• Need for new skin as they grow up
• To get rid of parasites

Shed skin can be found in all areas of the home where snakes thrive. This can be in the attic, the crawl spaces, the ceilings, the yard, the basement, or even the garden.

Go back to the How to Get Rid of Snakes page or email us if you have any other questions about What does a snake skin look like? Where is it found?