# rattlesnake in basement? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797 "2017-06-12T19:15:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/41 "2017-06-14T02:03:59Z")
Question – are there any kind of household products that would either kill or incapacitate a snake? Like, could I pour some bleach or Drano on it, and slow it down, just long enough to go out and grab the shovel from outside? Or squirt it with hairspray, or WD40? > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Didn’t you see the second picture with that article? The picture of all those rattlesnakes in a _bucket_? Dude, I closed the article after the first picture. That was a little too much. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/42 "2017-06-14T02:18:47Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Question – are there any kind of household products that would either kill or incapacitate a snake?..squirt it with hairspray, or WD40? The [aerosol blowtorch method](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX8ZTIiMapA&feature=youtu.be&t=4m31s) worked fine for Roger Moore. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/43 "2017-06-14T02:59:39Z")
Don’t kill it! You do need to make real sure it’s gone (or was never there). Here’s a couple of ideas. If you done mind a bit of mess, sprinkle flour or baby powder around the basement floor, especially doorways and close to walls. You’ll know in a day or two if you have company down there. This is how my friend kept track of a missing boa until he caught it. Btw, I actually found it for him by heading straight for the refrigerater. Sure enough, he was curled up between the fridge and wall where the motor was keeping things nice and toasty. The other idea would be to get your hands on a video baby monitor or security camera, the kind that records when there is motion. DO NOT go poking around! A camera on a broom handle might help for looking onto corners and under things but a big rattler can move extremely fast and a poked snake is a pissed snake! Better to try the non-invasive stuff. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/44 "2017-06-14T04:47:10Z")
It’s easy. Send in my 3 dogs. Wrigley is stupid but with matted fur fangs can’t get thru. The Girls will kill it while it tries to untangle itself. They don’t eat their prey, but there’s lots to eat on a snake. I’ve heard it tastes like snake. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/45 "2017-06-14T04:49:57Z")
> [@zoogirl](#): > > The other idea would be to get your hands on a video baby monitor… Aren’t baby monitors almost as nasty as adult monitors? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/46 "2017-06-14T15:16:29Z")
> [@robz2](#): > > Well I checked it out and did not find anything. My daughter and granddaughter spent the night at my house. > [@Jennshark](#): > > Glad everyone is safe, but a bit disappointed the excitement is over 🆒 Oh, it’s not over. That snake is still in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/47 "2017-06-14T15:27:52Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Oh, it’s not over. That snake is still in the house. You trying to rattle the OP all over again? mmm ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/48 "2017-06-15T03:12:18Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Aren’t baby monitors almost as nasty as adult monitors? Oh, I dunno about that! I knew a Savannah Monitor that thought it was a dog. Vanna the Savannah used to belong to my friend Linda, who kept little Softclaws caps on her claws and generally gave her the run of the place! ---
**Author:** ![robz2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@robz2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robz2)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/49 "2017-06-15T15:00:49Z")
Silver Spring woman was recently bitten by a venomous snake — in her bed > **[Perspective | A Silver Spring woman was recently bitten by a venomous snake —...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-silver-spring-woman-was-recently-bitten-by-a-poisonous-snake--in-her-bed/2017/06/14/e623b7b6-5102-11e7-be25-3a519335381c_story.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark)** > > Experts say copperheads aren’t any more common now, but it pays to be careful. "The snake in Christie’s bed was a copperhead, which seldom get longer than three feet. But it was big enough. It had bitten Christie — twice, it turned out. " Silver Spring, Md ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/50 "2017-06-15T15:56:01Z")
So **robz2** what are you and/or your daughter going to do to assure her that there is no snake in her house? ---
**Author:** ![robz2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@robz2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robz2)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/51 "2017-06-16T13:24:51Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > So **robz2** what are you and/or your daughter going to do to assure her that there is no snake in her house? I searched the basement, her husband has searched. We moved boxes and shelves, the washer & dryer. Her dogs have been all over the basement. They left for vacation for a week. When they get back I will tell them to do the baby powder trick and see if they find anything. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797/52 "2017-06-16T14:38:10Z")
> [@robz2](#): > > I searched the basement, her husband has searched. We moved boxes and shelves, the washer & dryer. Her dogs have been all over the basement. They left for vacation for a week. When they get back I will tell them to do the baby powder trick and see if they find anything. Do you have a key to her place? If so, do the baby powder thing now; that way when they return, it’ll either be undisturbed, so no worries, or they’ll know they’re dealing with [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClwIj3x24Q4). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rattlesnake-in-basement/788797.md?page=2)