What is the weirdest thing you have found in a crawlspace?
Short answer: Seventeen old snake skins hanging from floor joists in a century farmhouse crawlspace. The crawl had been blocked with concrete years earlier, and spider webs on the skins showed they were not fresh. Caution still mattered: I scanned with a bright light, found no current activity, removed the skins so the next inspector would not get the same jolt, and finished the termite inspection.
The farmhouse crawl
One mid-October I was inspecting a roughly 100-year-old rural farmhouse for termites during a sale. Most of the house was not updated, but the crawlspace under the house had been closed off with concrete blocks instead of left open to animals. Access was a hatch in a bedroom closet floor. I dropped onto the dirt floor, shone my light, and counted seventeen snake skins hanging from the wood joists.
Caution over panic
I was not there to remove snakes. Knowing the history of the closed crawl and seeing spider webs on the skins made it clear they were very old. With snakes, you still stay cautious. I scouted the crawl with a very bright flashlight, found no evidence of current snake activity, collected the skins, and removed them so the next person into that crawl would not get the same startling welcome. The inspection finished, and the house closed snake-skin free. An early Halloween memory I have not forgotten.
What homeowners can take from it
Old evidence is not the same as an active problem, but you still verify before you relax. Closing a crawl to wildlife can stop new visitors and leave souvenirs behind. If you find skins, nests, or droppings, identify what you are looking at, decide whether activity is current, and remove old material so it does not scare the next visitor or inspector. For rodents and other home invaders, start with the rodent guide; larger wildlife questions belong with a qualified wildlife pro when animals are still active.
Related guides
- Rodent Guide
- Hiring a Pro for Wildlife
- More Ask the Sherpa Q&A
- Ask the Sherpa: send Greg your question
References
This article was written by Greg Baumann, founder of Pest Sherpa, and reflects more than 40 years of professional pest management experience.
About the Author
Greg Baumann | Pest Control Expert
Greg Baumann is the founder of Pest Sherpa and a Pest Control Expert with more than 40 years of professional pest management experience. His articles combine decades of field experience, technical expertise, and science-based guidance to help homeowners identify pests correctly, understand real-world risks, and make informed pest management decisions.
Mission: Identify the pest. Understand the risk. Stop the problem. Prevent the comeback. Know when it’s time to call a professional.