SALVISA, KY — A Mercer County couple says their Salvisa home has been overtaken by repeated snake sightings, with dozens of rat snakes found inside and around the property since they moved in. The family says work to seal openings and tear out part of a porch has not fully stopped the problem.

At a glance

• Animal: Rat snakes, described by the family as nonvenomous constrictors
• Where: A home in Salvisa, in Mercer County, Kentucky
• When: The couple closed on the house Aug. 5, with sightings starting a few weeks later
• What happened: The family says it found adults, juveniles, eggs, and additional snakes over several months
• Status: The basement and surrounding openings have been treated and sealed, but the problem has not ended
• Anyone hurt: No injuries were reported

What happened

Jessica Perry said she and her husband bought the home after seeing it on Zillow and immediately fell in love with it. For a few weeks, she said, everything seemed normal.

Then the snakes started turning up. Perry said the family first found two adult snakes and several juveniles in the basement during the first week after an initial sighting, and more snakes appeared over the following months.

She said an exterminator placed traps in the basement and around the house. The family also hired a contractor to tear down part of the porch to look for where the snakes were entering.

That work, Perry said, exposed signs of a long-term den, including shed skin leading into the foundation and multiple eggs that appeared to have been there for years. Even after cleanup and sealing, she said she recently found another snake about 6 feet long in the basement.

About the animal

Rat snakes are common nonvenomous snakes in much of the eastern United States, including Kentucky. They can grow to several feet long and are usually patterned in shades of black, gray, brown, or yellow depending on the species and age.

These snakes are constrictors, which means they kill prey by squeezing rather than using venom. They typically feed on rodents, birds, bird eggs, and other small animals, which is why they are often found near barns, basements, crawl spaces, and wooded edges.

Rat snakes are generally not dangerous to people, though they can bite if grabbed or cornered. They are also helpful around homes because they reduce rodent populations, even if finding one indoors can be unsettling.

If you encounter one

If you see a snake inside or near your home, keep your distance and do not try to catch it by hand. Children and pets should be moved away from the area right away.

When possible, close the door to the room or block access so the snake cannot move deeper into the house. If the snake is in a dangerous spot, contact local animal control, a licensed pest professional, or the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for guidance.

To help keep snakes out, seal foundation gaps, repair damaged screens, reduce rodent activity, and clear brush, woodpiles, and clutter near the home. Removing food sources is often as important as closing off entry points.

What happens next

The family says it is still trying to get the problem under control and faces more repair costs if parts of the basement or foundation need to be replaced. Perry said they have already spent a few thousand dollars on attempted fixes.

A friend has started a GoFundMe to help with the expenses as the Perrys work to finish repairs and keep snakes from returning.

Spotted a dangerous animal where you live? Report it to your state wildlife agency or local animal control.