How To Find A Lost Snake

My Snake Escaped, What Do I Do?

Snakes, especially small ones such as corn snakes and king snakes, are excellent escape artists. They are strong, and capable of squeezing through the smallest of places. If you think that your snake may have gotten out, don’t panic. More than likely, you’ll find your snake within a day or so, but even if you don’t, snakes can live months without food. The biggest threat to your snake will be the cold, your snake managing to get outside, and any other pets that you may have roaming around, so the quicker you find them, the better. 

First Things First

Before you begin tearing your house apart, double check your snake's enclosure. Snakes are great at hiding in and underthings. Flip all hides, checking them for holes that your snake may be able to fit in. Remove all decor, and sift through the substrate, removing it as you confirm there is no snake in it. Also be sure to check the lip of the tank around the lid. My corn snake has squeezed onto the ledge out of sight before, causing me to think he has escaped.

My Snake Escaped, Where Would It Hide?

When snakes escape their enclosure, they typically don’t go far. They explore just long enough to find a safe space to curl up in. Snakes feel the safest in dark cramped spaces. Start by checking around and under things near your snake’s enclosure. Try to think like a snake, and look where you think they would feel most comfortable hiding.

• Underneath dressers and in dresser drawers (being careful while moving them so you don’t crush your snake).
• Any boxes near the enclosure
• The top of door frames and window frames
• Curtain rods
• The closet (thoroughly check inside of shoes, shoe boxes, and bags)
• Beds
• Appliances (washer, dryer, under the fridge, gaming console/DVD players)
• Furniture (pull out couch cushions, check under couches and inside the springs of recliners)
• Fireplaces

How To Find and Lure a Snake Out Of Hiding

Snakes are most active at night, so if you didn't find them hiding during the day, don’t worry, you still have a good chance of finding them at night. There are a few tricks that you can use to monitor where your snake goes and encourage them to return to their enclosure. 

Flour — Flour can be a huge benefit when searching for a lost snake. If you have hardwood or tile floors, sprinkle flour in front of doorways. If your snake comes through a room you’ll know which direction they went because the flour will be moved in the same direction as the snake went.

Plastic Bags — Take plastic bags (such as grocery bags) and line them up along the baseboards in your house. Snakes tend to long moving against walls, so when your snake decides it safe to adventure, you’ll hear them moving over the crinkley bags! 

Food — If your snake is due to eat soon, luring them out with a warm meal may work. Wait until night (Snakes are more active at night and will be more likely to come out for food then), then place a warmed up rodent into their cage. Turn out all the lights and wait.

Heat — Snakes are coldblooded, and therefore cannot supply themselves with their own heat. They need heat to survive, and will move locations to be warmer. If you haven't found your escaped snake you can lower the temperature in your house. Set up a small non flammable box with a heat mat underneath. More likely than not, your snake will move to this box to stay warm, where you will find them in the morning.

How To Escape Proof Your Snake’s Enclosure

Before putting your recently found snake back into their enclosure, you need to make sure that they cannot escape again. Make sure the lid of your enclosure is securely latched on. Pull up on the lid to make sure it doesn’t budge. If your tank has front opening doors, make sure the doors lock into place, if they don’t buy a lock for them. Some enclosures have small holes installed for wiring, which smaller snakes like corn snakes can fit through. Make sure to close these holes (but not with tape! Tape can hurt your snake). Once you are sure your tank is secure and your snake cannot escape again, you can put your snake back into it. Make a habit out of double checking that everything is closed and secure when you’re done handling your snake.