If you’re lucky enough to live in a thatched cottage, being concerned over the vermin present in your home is understandable, so let’s look at the question in more detail and see what can be done.
Do Snakes Live in Thatched Roofs? In the UK, snakes don’t live in thatched roofs. We have 3 native snake species, all of which live in grassland and stay away from humans.
As such, thatched roofs don’t hold much interest for native British snakes.
But in warmer countries where thatched roofs are popular, such as South Africa and Australia, snakes can certainly live in them. It’s not a year-round thing, as it depends on the weather and the presence of food.
When Will You Find Snakes in Your Thatched Roof?
You’re more likely to find snakes in your thatched roof after their brumation (dormancy) period. At this time, they’ll be hungrier than usual, so are more tempted to go near homes looking for food.
Considering mice and birds are good sources of food, a thatched roof is a prime hunting ground.
However, you won’t generally find a snake living in your thatched roof. They’re unlikely to permanently reside in it, if that’s any consolation.
Even so, it’s worth knowing what to do if you’re concerned about snakes living in your thatched roof.
What to do About Snakes in a Roof
If you live somewhere that has roof snakes, you probably already know the go-to suggestions for what to do. We’ll run over a few here just so you can be sure you’re doing the right thing.
1. Leave them alone
As mentioned, snakes generally won’t live in your roof, so they should leave after they’ve hunted. Sure, you could try to shoo the roof snake away, but it’s probably easier to just leave it alone.
Of course, if you have kids or pets, this isn’t always viable. That said, seeing snakes probably isn’t an uncommon occurrence, so just follow the usual protocol.
2. Protect your roof
A good solution is to prevent the problem from happening. Simply protect your thatched roof from the snake’s prey, as that’s why it’s there. Rats, mice, and birds are common problems in a thatched roof, so just get rid of them. Bats can roost there too.
It’s pretty easy to do. Make sure the roof is well maintained and has chicken wire over it to prevent pests from making holes.
While it might be impossible to keep all vermin out, reducing their numbers should cut down on snake visits. To an extent, protecting your roof in this way should keep snakes out, too, but they can fit through some pretty small gaps.
These snake repellant pellets do a great job of keeping snakes away. They don’t have an odour meaning you can sprinkle them into your roof without any side effects
Snakes in Thatched Roof
Hopefully, you’ve now got a bit more information about snakes living in thatched roofs. Don’t risk removing the snake yourself, of course.
If you think one is actually living in your roof rather than just visiting, make sure you call a professional to get rid of it. The last thing you want is a venomous snake living in your thatched roof!
