Snakes in your home, garden or rock piles? Those slithering serpents are probably harmless. Critter Control can help you deal with snakes in a humane and rational way. If you see a snake and are concerned, call Critter Control at 800 CRITTER and our trained technicians can oftentimes catch the snake if it is still there.


There are over 30 different species of snakes coexisting with us in this wonderful state. Snakes in the Boulder region are for the most part harmless, with only the Prairie Rattlesnake being venomous. Among the many non-venomous snakes in the area, are the bullsnakes which stronly resemble the rattlesnake. Both snakes have a brownish spot pattern, but the rattlesnake has light circles outlining his dark spots. The rattlesnake also usually appear more of a dusty brown color, and the bullsnake has dark brown, blackish blotches. Though the bullsnake does not have a rattle, it does hiss when feeling threatened, and rattlesankes do not always rattle due to it's ineffectiveness to some humans.


Prairie Rattlesnake:

  • Horny rattle or button on end of tail
  • They can reach up to 48 inches, but are rarely greater than 39 inches long.
  • Head much broader than the neck, and pupils of eye become elongated similar to a cat's when bright light is observed


  • They can grow much longer than rattlesnakes reaching up to 100 inches, but rarely more than 71 inches.
  • They are rattlesnake imposters because they will also coil up and shake their tail, while making a rattle sound.
  • Neck is the same width as the head, and has round pupils


Prairie rattlesnakes occupy virtually every terrestrial habitat and take shelter in crevices, woodpiles, brushy vegetation, or mammal burrows. They are throughout most of Colorado, except the high mountains, reaching an upper elevational limit of 7,500–9,500 feet in different areas of the state. Bullsnakes occupy a variety of habitats and most activity takes place on the ground or in burrows, but these capable climbers sometimes ascend high into trees. They are distributed throughout most of Colorado at elevations below about 8,500 feet, mostly below 7,000 feet and are very common. Favored snake habitats in general include deserts, rocky terrain, forested regions, prairies, near ponds, around streams, and in close proximity to lakes.

Snake Problems


When shelter and sources of food are scarce in their natural habitat, snakes enter homes and yards much more frequently. They can invade houses through cracks in building foundations, tears in window and door screens, and even through holes that serve electrical conduits and plumbing. Tall grasses in unkempt lawns provide snakes with ideal hiding and hunting grounds while stacks of firewood, brush, and junk piles offer the reptiles suitable shelter. If you have a snake problem, you probably also have an insect or rodent problem to go along with it. Snakes carry a variety of diseases, including salmonella, and can make you sick even without biting you.


Most snakes are relatively harmless and actually flee from human interaction. When cornered, snakes hiss, coil, and either strike or bluff at offending parties. Though this can be frightening to experience, especially for young children and curious pets, no harm is typically caused. Nonvenomous snake bites are painful, but leave no lasting effects. In areas where venomous snakes live, approaching the reptiles is much more dangerous. Their bites can prove deadly if not treated immediately and properly. 

Snake Control

Control and Safety

Various methods of exclusion help reduce the possibility of encountering snakes in residential zones. Seal any holes on the exterior of buildings large enough for snakes to get through. Cut back tall grasses and weeds and keep wood piles far enough away from homes to eliminate hiding places. In addition, property owners can make modifications to eliminate prey species that attract snakes to the area.

Trapping and Removal

Even though certain species of snakes are not venomous, all snakes have the capacity to harm both humans and domestic animals. They strike when cornered, which makes attempts to trap them dangerous. Critter Control wildlife specialists can safely and humanely remove problematic snakes from properties. Our professionals are trained, equipped, and ready to keep members of the public safe by eliminating pestilential snakes.

We can help you get rid of snake problems.  Call today: (303) 536-7957

Critter Control of Boulder Service Area

