Humane Snake Removal & Relocation
North Carolina is home to 37 snake species, and only six are venomous, with the copperhead being the one you’re most likely to actually encounter in Western North Carolina. Most snake calls we get are harmless species doing a genuinely useful job around a property. Go On, Git! identifies what’s actually on your property first, then relocates it the right way.
Common Snake Identification Myths
A lot of the identification advice people repeat about venomous snakes is simply wrong, and it’s the kind of wrong that gets a harmless snake killed for no reason:
- Myth: Triangular Head Means Venomous. Several harmless species flatten their heads defensively when threatened, mimicking a triangular shape. Head shape alone is not a reliable test.
- Myth: Pupil Shape Is a Safe Way to Check. That requires getting close enough to a snake you don’t want to be close to, and several nonvenomous species can appear to have similarly shaped pupils depending on lighting.
- Myth: A Rattling Sound Means Rattlesnake. Several nonvenomous species vibrate their tails against dry leaves to mimic a rattle when startled. It’s a defense bluff, not proof.
The only reliable way to identify a snake is by its species range and whole-body pattern, which is exactly what our technicians are trained to read on-site.
Why We Relocate On-Property, Not Miles Away
Most snakes are highly territorial and die from stress if moved more than about two miles from where they were found. Hauling a snake to a distant park isn’t actually the kinder option, it’s often a death sentence. We relocate on-property or nearby whenever it’s safe to do so, which keeps the snake in familiar territory with an established food source and shelter.
STATE COMPLIANCE
PROTECTED SPECIES EXIST
Nine North Carolina snake species are state or federally listed and cannot be harmed, harassed, or relocated without an Endangered Species Permit. Correct identification isn’t optional, it’s the law.
IF A BITE OCCURS
Call the NC Snakebite Hotline at 1-800-222-1222 immediately for guidance, regardless of which species you believe was involved.
How do you tell if a snake is venomous?
By species range and whole-body pattern, not head shape, pupil shape, or whether it rattles. Those are common myths that lead people to misidentify harmless snakes as dangerous ones.
Will you relocate any snake I find on my property?
Most non-listed species, yes, and we do it on-property or nearby rather than hauling the snake miles away, since relocating them too far is actually more likely to kill them from stress. Nine NC species are state or federally listed and require special permitting, which our technicians know how to identify.
Related reading: Snake Identification Myths That Get Harmless Snakes Killed.
Begin with a Wildlife Safety Assessment
Every project starts with a detailed $149 Wildlife Safety Assessment and Consultation. Our licensed Wildlife Control Agents perform a safety walk-through of your property, deploy thermal imaging to check nesting spaces, and deliver a custom structural sealing proposal. The $149 fee is credited 100% back toward your exclusion service.