Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Nature & Travel > Nature

Venomous Snakes Can Make Your Home Smell Like This

Edited By: Natalia J.

Add to Favorites In Favorites

Español

Font Size:

A+ A-

Unless you’re at the zoo or you have exotic pets, locking eyes with a snake is never a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, these slithering reptiles are known to wander into people’s homes in search of either food or shelter from the elements. In many cases, you won’t know that there’s a snake in your home until you find it. But there is one warning sign of a venomous snake in your home you can sniff out - Literally. Watch out for the smell of this common vegetable if you live in an area where venomous snakes are common.

Snakes copperhead closeup

Pest controls experts state that a strong smell reminiscent of cucumbers can mean you have either a copperhead snake or a rattlesnake in your home. Both copperheads and rattlesnakes are especially common in the Southeast, but rattlesnakes can be found almost in every state of the continental United States.

Both copperhead snakes and rattlesnakes are venomous, and they are also the most likely to bite humans. One article reported that of the average 45 thousand snake bites reported annually across the US, “Most hospitalized victims ate bitten either by rattlesnakes or copperheads or by unidentified snakes.”

If you're worried about being intentionally attacked by a snake, don't - copperheads and other snakes don’t see humans as prey and will only bite people to protect themselves when someone steps on them or tries to grab them. Some snakes, including copperheads, have a special gland at the base of their tails that produces a musky odor that some people confuse with cucumbers.

Image Source: Peter Paplanus/ Flickr

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), this musky, cucumber-like odor is the snake’s defense mechanism, and it usually means that the snake is frightened, angry, or startled. Therefore, sensing this smell is NOT a good sign.

The best way to prevent a snake encounter in your home or garden is to snake-proof your home by repairing any gaps in the wall, mowing the lawn regularly, and getting rid of a rodent problem as quickly as possible. For more tips, read our article titled How to Keep Snakes Away From Your Home - 7 Useful Tips.

If you do notice a snake in your house or yard, never try to handle it on your own or hurt it. Try to isolate yourself from the reptile and call an animal control expert who will remove the snake from your home. For more details and instructions on what to do when you see a snake, read our Guide to Surviving a Snake Encounter.

Share this post with people who will find this useful!

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Health

The Dangers of Aluminum Exposure and 9 Ways To Prevent It

Aluminum exposure can be dangerous to the human body, but it turns out that it's more difficult to avoid this metal that one would think...

Health

Do Hangovers Really Get Worse With Age?

While research on this phenomenon is somewhat limited, science offers several compelling explanations for why that morning-after misery intensifies as the years go by.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

5:21

How to Survive Being Bitten by a Snake

Learning how to deal with a snake bite might just save your life one day!

Baba Recommends

Incredible Story: The Woman Who Can SMELL Parkinson's

In this piece, we'd like to introduce you to Joy's story, the series of events that led her to "encounter" Parkinson's disease, and its significance for the future of the medical world.

Health

15 Habits You Should Avoid to Maintain Sharp Vision

These 15 Terrible Habits Are Damaging to the Eyes

Our eyes are pretty fragile, and even the slightest misstep on your behalf is bound to affect their health and eyesight. Learn to preserve sharp vision for decades by avoiding these 15 bad habits capable of ruining your eye health

Family and parenting

9 Signs Your Children are Hiding Things From You

How to understand if your children are indeed hiding their true feelings and what you can do right now to help them gradually open up to you.

Health

Dry Hands: Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Your Hands Are Trying to Tell You Something: How to Heal Dry, Cracked Skin for Good

Health

The 5 Best Diets for a Healthier Heart

Many diets claim to be heart-healthy, but not all of them are backed by solid science or realistic enough to stick with long term. Here are five that check both boxes.

Send Comment

Related Topics: snakes, warning signs, smell, prevention, cucumber, important to know, snake bite, venomous, copperhead snakes, rattlesnakes

Quizzes

Are You Smart Enough for These Trivia Questions?

Let's check your ability to think and remember in a multitude of fields. You'll need a very well-rounded knowledge to answer all of these correctly!

What Do You Know About Italian Food?

Whether you're a passionate home cook or simply someone who never says no to a good plate of carbonara, this quiz will put your Italian food knowledge to the test.

Science Quiz

Welcome to the General Science Master Quiz, where curiosity meets intellect.