There are countless stories of snakes making their way inside homes, with the owners finding it surprising to discover the beast inside their house. However, according to a snake expert, they can do so because they can flatten their bodies to fit into tiny holes.
Watch How a Snake Flattens Its Body to Cross the Gap Under Door
Mark Pelley, an Australian-based snake hunter, shared a video of a snake going through a tiny gap under the door on TikTok. The clip features a huge eastern brown snake that managed to enter the home by crossing the small space under the door, Newsweek reported.
Pelley said in the video that eastern brown snakes, even the ones as large in the clip, can flatten themselves and gradually squeeze under tiny gaps. He shared the video to answer how snakes get inside houses even when doors are closed.
Eastern brown snakes are venomous. There were multiple reports of deaths involving the snake.
Pelley's video received several responses, with many saying they would never visit Australia because snakes are rampant in the country. Another said he would never take a mansion in Australia even if it's offered for free.
A different commenter said he would choose life and wouldn't risk being around eastern brown snakes because it's one of the deadliest snakes.
@snakehunteraus how snakes get in houses #viral #fyp #venom #deadly #Snake #snakecatcher ♬ Spongebob Theme - Unay
Why Snakes Flatten Themselves?
According to Wildlife Troopers, the most common reason snakes flatten themselves is to create a larger surface area to absorb more heat when out in the sun. Some flatten their bodies to appear more significant to their predators when threatened. The move could also be a strategy to keep themselves less noticeable.
The outlet noted that squeezing under doors is not one of the reasons, and chances are low that snakes would do it unless they had flattened their body before by a door, which is seemingly to be the case in Pelley's video.
The outlet noted that, in most cases, snakes are stationary when they flatten themselves. There were instances when people reported seeing snakes trying to enter their homes, but they slithered away because they could only flatten themselves for around an inch but not over their entire length.
Snakes can reportedly fit tiny spaces like gaps in bricks, ventilation, drainage pipes, walls, and door cracks of tight spaces.
Tiny snakes, like grass snakes, can squeeze through tiny spaces. However, they are likely to leave the grass to live inside your house.
Snakes can smell rodents, and if a home is infested with mice or rodents, it can attract snakes. They will try to enter the house through any opening where they can fit in.
It's impossible to evaluate how well-proofed your home is, so it's best to schedule a pest control inspection. Also, it's best to have a plumber check drainage pipes because some crawl in through worn-out pipes connected to a laundry dryer.
RELATED ARTICLE: Nearly 8ft-Long Snake Found in Georgia Almost Broke National Record; Reptile Deemed Harmless Despite Enormous Size
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