How do you get snakes out of a basement - I think they are known as milk snakes and they are making their home in my sons home.

Here are some tips for keeping snakes out of your house and away from your yard:

1. Make sure that you seal up any spaces where the water pipes come into your house. You can do d this by getting that expandable spray foam that comes in a can. You just spray a little into the cracks and it expands to fill the space - in a couple of hours it will dry rock hard. Go around all the pipes in the kitchen and bathrooms to seal off the spaces. Be sure to seal off even the smallest of spaces because snakes can get though a hole that is very tiny!

2. Snakes eat mice, so discourage mice from coming into your home, garage and out buildings. The mice will be looking for food and a place to make a nest - so you want to discourage that. Store pet food, birdseed, chicken feed, etc, in metal garbage cans with tight lids. At night pick up any pet food bowls that are outside. Keep your out buildings and garage tidy to discourage mice from making nests.

3. Keep your yard tidy. Keep your yard and bushes trimmed around the house. Clip any low branches on shrubs that make a hiding place for snakes. You should keep any compost piles or leaf piles far away from your house.

4. Snakes like to find a cool place to rest and are fond of rock piles, wood piles, etc. Keep these away from your home. * A word of caution - DO NOT stick your hand into or under anything! If you have to move something outside, use use a long stick or rake to make sure a snake isn't under there!!

Also here is an interesting story from MSNBC: Snakes in my hair! In the lawn! In my home! - Animal Peculiarity - MSNBC.com

While I was in Lowes' for something to keep squirrels out of my attic, I saw something called snakes away. I don't know anything about it or even if it works, but it may be worth the try. I have also heard of putting surfur out would keep them away. Good luck, I guess I'm am blessed that my trouble is squirrels and not snakes.

"Snakes Away" is ground up moth balls... just more expensive. I have dealt with many snakes on our farm from rattlers, copperheads to king snakes. They do not like mothballs. So get some. Place them in socks (so you don't have to handle them) and in places where you can't reach (under porches or tigh crawl spaces) throw it in there. The sock will also keep them from spreading and keep the odor concentrated. And you can just place them where ever you need them. The previous post is spot on. They can get into any opening, and LOVE mice. Milk snakes are non threatening but who wants one for a pet! There are commercial sonic sound gadgets that supposedly get rid of mice... just plug it into any receptacle, but not sure if they really work. Get rid of the mice (take away the food)... get rid of snakes... good luck!