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Spending more time in your yard enjoying the summer weather can sometimes drive home how common it is to see snakes on your property. Fortunately, most of the species you are likely to encounter are relatively safe and non-poisonous , and all play a vital role in the ecosystem. But there's always a chance that one of them will get close to your actual living space and make their way inside. And now, experts are warning that certain conditions could make it more likely that snakes will be inside your home. Read on to find out where to look first for potential intruders and what you can do to prevent any unexpected visitors.

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Your home is meant to be a place where you feel comfortable emotionally and physically. This can become even more apparent during extreme seasons, when our heating or air conditioning systems can relieve the weather outside. But humans are not the only ones enjoy a pleasant temperature : Experts warn that snakes will also make efforts to get indoors, especially when trying to escape hot summer temperatures and direct sunlight.

"When it's very hot during the day, just like us, they look for shade, which can be inside the houses", Bruce Ireland , a San Diego-based reptile removal expert known as The Snake Wrangler, told local Fox affiliate KSWB.

Other summer lawn stains could also make your property even more attracting reptiles , making them more likely to make their way inside. "They're looking for places that are cooler…or that may have water, for example." Daren Riedle , wildlife diversity coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, said The Wichita Eagle . "So if you're watering a garden or your lawn, they could intervene in those situations."

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While it is possible for snakes to sneak inside in search of a meal or seek comfort when temperatures drop, they can also sneak inside through more obvious. "Many homes don't have air conditioning, so their only option is to leave doors and windows open, and snakes aren't necessarily looking to get into homes; they're looking for shade and shelter," he said. Ireland at KSWB.

For this reason, experts warn that checking areas around your front door may be the most important. This includes relatively high traffic areas both inside the threshold and outside your porch, where there should be protection from the sun.

"It's important to understand that Copperheads aren't attracted to people or porches, but they can be attracted to nearby shelter or food," Falyn Owens , a wildlife biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, recently said The News and the Observer . "Close encounters between people and Copperheads almost always involve the person approaching the Copperhead, not the other way around."

Keeping your eyes peeled for potential snakes in and around your driveways can be especially important if you have pets or young children . In May, a 4-year-old boy camping in Highlands, North Carolina was bitten by a copper-headed snake that was hiding under patio furniture. After receiving 10 vials of antivenom, doctors still decided to airlift the injured child by helicopter to another hospital where his the condition finally stabilized .

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Even if you keep your doors and windows tightly closed, there is still another common place where snakes seek refuge. Sheds and garages often provide the cooler temperatures, shade, and hiding places that reptiles need in hot weather. And even if the front or back doors of your home aren't ajar, snakes often take advantage of the wide-open entrance available to them where you park your car. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Unfortunately, an incident in June showed how this can create a dangerous situation n when a 14-year-old boy from North Carolina was bitten by a copperhead in his garage after playing basketball. The snake managed to sink its fangs between the boy's toes, resulting in a trip to the hospital that included expensive antivenom treatment.

"I continually tell my children - and I have six - that they have to close the garage door because, I say, the snakes will want to come inside." Joel Levy , the boy's father, told local FOX affiliate WJZY.

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Of course, experts say being proactive about keeping a snake out of your home is the best way to avoid any unwanted surprises. This means that in addition to making sure doors and windows are kept closed, you should also eliminate any rodent problems in your yard, garage or basement and regularly inspect for cracks, holes or leaks. other entry points they could use to get inside. But if you encounter a small snake indoors, it's best to stay calm.

“It can be a shock to see one in your house, the most important thing is… not to overreact and cause you to trip or fall or anything like that,” Riedle said. The Wichita Eagle , adding that they could be swept up into a trash can or bucket so they can be released outside. "For them to enter a house...is a unique affair, especially if you harass them or stress them out like you would if you threw them in a trash can. They're unlikely to come back [inside." ] in most cases, unless you have something really appealing to them."

If you're still worried about going it alone or think the snake might be dangerous, don't hesitate to call an expert to handle the situation. And if you notice a snake just outside, chances are that leaving it alone will soon make it move on.

"Just walk around it, give it space; snakes generally don't want anything to do with humans. The only time they'll usually get defensive is if you choose to confront that snake. “Ireland told KSWB. "I would say just let it go."