Wild snake in parents house Help

Well now while I'm sitting at my parents house waiting for my new mojo to get her, my mom told me my dad had found some poop in the basement. He had saved it to show me what is looked like. Well it had urates in it so I'm guessing that it's a snake. I looked up native Oklahoma snakes, and the are 14 that are venom to humans. He had found it before he had got in the shower. I'm just wondering where I should look for it? I'm thinking that it may be around the furnace, hot water heater, or the cloths dryer. Were going to try to find it, cause my mom needs to wash some cloths, and is now terrified to go downstairs. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to catch it, and keep it secure. Or where to even look for it. Thanks.

They may not search out heat as much as you think.

Dark, secure hiding places are the most likely.

Cupboards with holes in 'em, underneath the fridge or oven.. Basically behind or underneath furniture or structures of any sort.

If "downstairs" means a basement, I'd put money that the snake stayed down there.

What are inside vs outsite temperatures like? And be careful, like you already mentioned there are venomous snakes around your area. Most likely it isn't, but still be careful. Bring a flashlight, a couple long sticks/brooms(or even better a snake hook), and a pillowcase.

thanks for the quick response. Yes the downstairs is the basement. So I should just look under everything with a flash light.

yup. Scout it out, if it's clear your mom can do laundry :)

Well we found it bagged it and let it loose on the edge of town. Its kind of a funny story I told my mom it would be ok to wash some cloths. She started and then he poked his head out of the hole in the floor where our sump pump goes to drain the water out from under the house. Then I heard her scream "Daryl get down here HURRY." She had seen its head. So I grabbed a pillow case, broom and a metal cloths hanger. Got it out, bagged it, and let it loose. Its crazy doing field herp in mom and dads house. Anyway here is a pic, I think it is a northern watersnake. What do you think? But on the internet it just shows those to be native to the eastern part of Oklahoma, not the western.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../BaseSnake.jpg

I thought northern water snakes were a bit more girthy than that. Could be wrong though.

This one was a little guy, and boy was he letting the musk out. I can still kinda smell it. I could be wrong, I don't really know what it was I'm just guessing. Any other thoughts of what it could be?

Well I'm anything but an expert.... but it almost looks cornsnake or rat snake-ish to me.... in fact I googled rat snakes and came up with some pretty similar looking animals. But I'll let someone who knows what they're talking about making a more accurate ID :P

I agree it looks quite a bit like a rat snake of some sort to me!

Yeah, its def not a watersnake.

looks a lot like a great plains rat snake to me...??

Elaphe obsoleta, looks like lindheimeri subspecies...

Later, Matt

He's harmless. Possibly even a she.

i think dutch herp hit the nail on the head.

Yeah definately a ratsnake. It's good to have another fellow Okie on here and from Cordell too. I was born and raised in Altus and now am in Oklahoma City. Good to have ya here.

Kyle

Doesn't look like a water snake to me, water snakes have bug eyes more toward the top pf their head. If I had to guess I would say maybe a Plains Rat Snake.