Outdoors

How can you get resting water snakes out of a boat?

Water snake on metal surface Photo by Barry and Carole Bowden/Shutterstock

How can you get resting water snakes out of a boat?

What’s this, Snakes on a Plane: The Sequel? Fortunately, unlike the creatures in that 2006 horror flick, the snakes on your boat aren’t deadly. In fact, they aren’t even poisonous. They’re just northern water snakes doing what water snakes do best—hanging out in a protected space and slithering out to bask in the sunshine. Once they find their way to a boat, probably by climbing over from the dock or up the leg of the outboard, they discover the perfect conditions.

To remove the snakes, don’t try to pick them up with your hands. They don’t take kindly to having their sunning time interrupted and may bite. If you must move them, fishing nets work well, or you can herd them along with a long stick.

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