Despite chilly temperatures since the second week in March pest control companies in Howard County have been flooded with calls from scared homeowners with snakes on their property. Howard Counties leading snake experts from Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control have been busy responding to snake removal calls in Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, and Jessup. Most of the snakes they have removed were Garter Snakes however several Black Rat Snakes have been captured and removed as well. Only one Copperhead has been removed so far this year but as temperatures rise many more will show up. The photo of the Copperhead below was taken at the end of last summer in the back yard of a home on Governor Howard Drive in Ellicott City 21043. The homeowner took her small dogs out to the backyard to exercise when one of the dogs began to bark uncontrollably. This prompted the homeowner to investigate and that is when she saw a two-foot-long Copperhead. The homeowner had no idea if the snake was poisonous or not and did not know how to get rid of snakes so she contacted Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control who arrived within 40 minutes of the sighting. They informed the homeowner that the snake is venomous and because her dogs were so small a bite from a Copperhead most likely would have been fatal. Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control was able to capture the snake and relocate it to a more appropriate place. The homeowner was so distrait by the encounter that she put her home up for sale a week later. As you can see in the photo below Copperheads have a natural camouflage and blend into natural surroundings very well. Many people and pets are bitten simply because they don’t see the Copperhead and walk on it or very close to it.
Most homeowners don’t know what to do when they encounter a snake in their yard. Often the first thing that comes to mind is how to kill a snake. However, it is illegal to kill snakes in the state of Maryland. In fact, all 27 species of snakes that are found in the state of Maryland are protected by law and anyone that kills a snake can receive a large fine and or be sentenced to prison. The best thing to do if you encounter a snake in your yard or in your home is to call a professional snake removal company in Howard County. Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control is the leading snake control company in Maryland and is highly recommended by government agencies and wildlife rescue groups. If you find a snake give Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control a call at [DirectNumber] and talk to an expert.