Need some advice on removing rat snakes from a lady's basement.

[Trackstrong83]

Well simple story really, my moms friend is TERRIFIED of snakes, and she has what seems to be several in her unfinished basement. Bad thing is, her walls are hollow in her basement, creating a wonderland of mazes for the snakes to live in. I've caught 6 babies so far, so I'm guessing there are more. I've also found two HUGE skins, well over 5 feet. They are just harmless rat snakes, but they're there because she has a small rodent problem as well. She can't seem to get rid of the rodents, so I was going to try and catch the snakes, and bring them back to my land and let them free way back in the woods unharmed.

problem though: as mentioned before the walls are hollow, and I can't seem to find the bigger snakes without tearing down the walls. Could I lure them out with a few f/t mice laid out around the basement? I don't have much experience with colubrids, are rat snakes nocturnal?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I don't her to call the exterminator and them kill these snakes. Thanks a ton.

[stanton3]

I believe they are diurnal, but I'd be willing to bet they are out mostly at night when the mice are more active. I'd try f/t like you said and maybe try setting up a warm hide near the f/t . Once you get the snakes out i'd definitely get her working on the mice, snakes are always going to find them.

Good luck, let us know how it goes! And take some pics if you catch any of them. I see you're from McDonough, i'm in Macon.

[Trackstrong83]

Oh okay thanks! I'm going there tomorrow night so we will see how it goes, and I'll definitely take pictures cause the skins I found were huge!!!! Macon huh? Well hey neighbor! Haha

[bioteacher]

Try the f/t... and also leave a hide or two around the room - they may go for cover. One of the best options though is to just hang out quietly in the basement a little after dusk with a headlamp and go basement herping. You would need to get them out soon though as you wouldn't want to throw them outside in the snow... they need time to find a hibernaculum.