A lot of us are finding out the hard way that snakes actually like our yards more than we thought.
If you bought a house thinking you had finally escaped the weird wildlife problems of apartment living, there is one surprise a lot of new homeowners are running into: snakes. Not the giant Indiana Jones kind. But very real snakes, showing up in backyards, sheds, garages, under decks, sometimes even inside. In places where, a few years ago, people barely saw one all season, now pest control calls are going up fast.
It is not random. Climate shifts, endless new development, and booming rodent populations are basically rolling out the welcome mat. Yards are greener, neighborhoods are full of drainage systems, and patios tend to attract the small critters snakes eat. Plus, plenty of snakes are just adapting to living closer to people now. Here are eleven species that are quietly becoming way more common in urban and suburban spaces, and why they are showing up where you live.
1. Burmese Pythons are sliding out of the swamps and into the edges of Miami’s suburbs.
Burmese Pythons were not supposed to be anyone’s neighborhood problem, but Florida being Florida, they sort of are now. They started in the Everglades after pet releases years ago. For a long time, that is where they stayed. Lately, more of them are starting to follow the canal systems and green spaces into the suburban edges around Miami, according to Time.com.
It is not like they are pouring into backyards by the dozens, but wildlife crews are seeing more reports from neighborhoods that back up to undeveloped land. They go where the food is. Raccoons, possums, stray cats, and unfortunately, a lot of Florida suburbs have plenty of that. Smaller pythons are especially good at ending up in weird spots like sheds and garages. If your house is near water or a canal, you are probably more on their map than you think. They are not hunting people, but they are adapting fast to where the edges of the wild now meet the edges of suburbia.
2. Black Ratsnakes are ending up inside attics and walls more than people expect.
If you have a rodent problem, Black Ratsnakes are technically your friend. But when they move in right behind the mice, things get complicated. In a lot of eastern and mid-Atlantic cities, Ratsnakes are one of the most common large snakes showing up in residential areas. They climb like pros and often end up in attics, wall voids, sheds, and garages, chasing the same rats and mice homeowners are already trying to get rid of.
For new homeowners, it is a weird moment. One day you hear scratching and assume it is more mice. Then you find a six foot snake skin in your attic insulation. Ratsnakes are harmless to people and pets, but they are large, bold, and startling when they turn up inside, as reported by the National Geographic. Habitat loss is pushing them closer to neighborhoods, and rodent-heavy areas are drawing them right into structures. Pest control companies are seeing more calls from suburban homeowners finding snakes inside during warmer months.
3. Southern Watersnakes are using urban canals as a highway system.
If you live in Florida or the Gulf states, you know there are water features everywhere in modern neighborhoods. Canals, decorative ponds, drainage ditches, retention lakes. Southern Watersnakes are making full use of this network and turning up in places where a lot of new homeowners do not expect them, as stated by the Florida Museum. They are thick bodied snakes, often mistaken for cottonmouths, and they hunt frogs, fish, and rodents along the edges of suburban waterways.
They love concrete-lined drainage areas and often rest on pool decks and patios near water. People are finding them in fountains, under pool equipment, and even coiled near front doors after a rain. They are non-venomous, but they will defend themselves if cornered, and they often trigger pest calls when people mistake them for something more dangerous. As urban water management expands, Watersnakes are following the flow right into developed areas.
4. Brown Tree Snakes have become a full blown pest on Guam.
This one is the ultimate invasive snake story. Brown Tree Snakes were accidentally introduced to Guam after World War II, likely as stowaways on cargo ships. With no natural predators on the island, they exploded in number and spread into every corner of the urban and suburban landscape. They climb power poles and frequently cause blackouts by shorting out electrical systems. They invade homes looking for geckos, birds, and small mammals. They have wiped out nearly all of Guam’s native bird species. In many parts of the island, Brown Tree Snakes are considered one of the top pest species. For homeowners, finding them inside the house or wrapped around outdoor lights is common. Pest management on Guam now includes snake trapping and specialized snake barriers around key infrastructure. It is a cautionary tale of how fast an adaptable snake can become an urban problem when the conditions line up.
5. Eastern Garter Snakes are loving the new suburban garden scene.
If you are into pollinator gardens, raised beds, and lush backyard plantings, Eastern Garter Snakes are probably already checking out your space. They are one of the most adaptable native snakes in the eastern U.S. and thrive in urban and suburban environments. They love dense ground cover, rock walls, mulch beds, and water features. As more homeowners turn yards into wildlife friendly spaces, these snakes are moving in to hunt slugs, worms, frogs, and small rodents. They are harmless and helpful, but they do catch people off guard when they suddenly pop out of a planter or coil under a stepping stone. In older neighborhoods, they are now among the most common snakes reported to pest control teams, especially in spring and summer. They are not dangerous, but they are one of the clearest examples of how snakes are adapting to modern landscaping trends.
6. California Kingsnakes are surprising suburban homeowners out west.
California Kingsnakes are gorgeous, banded snakes that were once mostly found in wild chaparral and desert edge habitats. But in recent years, they have adapted well to suburban life. They are turning up in backyards, garages, and even inside homes throughout southern California’s sprawl. They prey on rodents, lizards, and even other snakes, which makes them excellent for natural pest control, but they also create some shock factor when people find them in unexpected spots. Backyard ponds, compost bins, and under-deck areas draw them in. They also tend to explore during daylight hours, so they are spotted more often than many other species. In neighborhoods with green belts, Kingsnake sightings are way up, and pest companies get regular calls about them. They are non-venomous and generally docile, but their growing presence is a sign of how easily some native snakes can adjust to suburban sprawl.
7. Dekay’s Brownsnakes are making themselves at home in dense city gardens.
This is one of the smallest snakes on the list, but it is a true urban adapter. Dekay’s Brownsnakes thrive in highly developed environments and are increasingly common in older city neighborhoods with small gardens, weedy lots, and aging infrastructure. They feed on earthworms, slugs, and insects, and they are often found under patio stones, garden edging, and in old sheds. Pest control companies in many cities report that they now get Brownsnake calls even in densely packed rowhouse neighborhoods. They are completely harmless and very small, but they still trigger pest complaints, especially when people find them inside basements or under laundry appliances. Their success in city spaces shows how even small, native snakes are finding ways to live alongside dense human populations.
8. Prairie Kingsnakes are expanding into Midwestern suburbs.
As suburban development spreads across the Midwest, Prairie Kingsnakes are quietly taking advantage of the new landscape. They are common in areas where prairie and woodland edges used to dominate, and now they are moving into yards, garages, and parks in developing suburban areas. They prey on rodents, birds, and reptiles and are very adaptable. Homeowners in newly built subdivisions near green space or farmland are seeing them more often, especially in early spring and late fall when snakes are on the move. They are non-venomous but large enough to startle anyone who opens a shed door and finds one coiled inside. As Midwest cities expand outward, Prairie Kingsnakes are becoming a regular part of the suburban ecosystem.
9. Cornsnakes are getting into attics and barns looking for rodents.
Cornsnakes are one of the most common snakes to turn up in southeastern homes. They are expert climbers and love hunting rodents in old barns, garages, and sometimes even attic spaces. In areas where rodent control is poor, Cornsnakes follow the food and can end up inside homes. They are harmless and often quite tame, but their size and appearance still cause a lot of pest calls when they are found indoors. In suburban neighborhoods with lots of older structures or poor sealing around roofs and crawl spaces, Cornsnake sightings are common. They are another example of how suburban rodent problems are directly driving snake encounters.
10. Florida Cottonmouths are using suburban drainage systems.
Florida Cottonmouths, also called Water Moccasins, are turning up more often in suburban drainage canals, retention ponds, and wetland edges. As more neighborhoods are built near wetland preserves, the snakes are adapting to the human-shaped waterways that dominate suburban planning in Florida. They use drainage culverts, ditches, and even storm drains as movement corridors. People are increasingly finding them near boat ramps, along golf course water hazards, and in neighborhood fishing ponds. Unlike many of the other snakes on this list, Cottonmouths are venomous and can pose a real risk to pets and people, which makes their urban presence a bigger concern for local wildlife agencies.
11. Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes are creeping into Phoenix’s suburbs.
Phoenix has been seeing an uptick in Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes showing up in suburban neighborhoods, especially in developments that back up to desert preserves. As more homes are built along the urban edge, rattlesnakes are following rodent populations and using landscaped yards, rock walls, and irrigation systems as habitat. Pest control companies around Phoenix now offer specialized rattlesnake removal services because calls are so frequent. Homeowners are finding them in garages, under pool equipment, along fences, and in dog runs. It is a growing reality in desert-edge neighborhoods. These snakes are adapting well to the urban interface, and smart homeowners in the region are learning to check their yards regularly and snake-proof their outdoor spaces.