Montana Ranch Life: Battling Unexpected Houseguests

Imagine expecting a standard Tuesday and instead getting a front-row seat to a horror movie trailer starring your own home. That is exactly what happened to Callie, a 27-year-old rural Montana mom who discovered her historic farmhouse’s cinderblock foundation was functioning as a literal snake den.

Known online as @callieoverseas, Callie captured the internet’s attention by documenting the skin-crawling reality of watching upwards of eight garter snakes a day drop out of her foundation in the spring. The crisis peaked when she found a baby reptile chilling on the living room floor right next to her six-month-old daughter’s pack-and-play.

While the internet collectively advised her to “burn it down and move,” the home is tied to her husband’s beloved job as a local ranch hand. Choosing to stay, the family is currently playing high-stakes defense. Between lining the kitchen with sticky traps and embarking on a massive renovation to overhaul the foundation, Callie is using her platform to raise $75,000 to eventually buy a snake-free property.

The silver lining is that her uninvited guests are just harmless, bug-eating garter snakes. However, an irrational fear doesn’t care about ecological benefits, and Callie has had to learn a lifetime of snake facts entirely against her will.

For homeowners looking to avoid a similar subterranean reptile convention, her hard-earned wisdom—and standard pest control protocols—offer a definitive blueprint for snake-proofing a property.

Why Snakes Move In

To successfully fight back, you have to understand why these unwanted guests choose your home. In the spring, common garter snakes frequently appear on patios or front steps. They aren’t just arriving; they’ve spent the winter “overwintering” in the warm, above-freezing spaces behind concrete steps, under patios, or inside foundation walls. Most snakes can fit through a crack just 1/2-inch wide.

While garter snakes dominate the spring, homeowners in timber rattlesnake territory face a different timeline. Venomous rattlesnakes typically show up in late June, July, and August, drawn by ample cover and rodents.

The Four-Step Home Defense Plan

Reclaiming a home requires a systematic approach that targets a snake’s need for shelter, food, and camouflage.

1. Timing the Structural Seal

The most critical step in snake defense is sealing the cracks between the house, stoop, patio, and foundation using expandable caulk, spray foam, or tuck-pointing. However, timing is everything.

Cracks must be filled during the summer when the snakes are out hunting. If you seal the foundation while the snakes are still inside, they will either be forced into your living spaces to escape, or they will die inside the walls, creating severe odor problems. If you cannot find the entry points, an energy audit company can use specialized equipment to locate the air leaks where snakes are slipping through.

2. Evict the Food Source (Mice)

Snakes frequently enter basements and garages searching for their favorite meal: mice. By eradicating rodents, you automatically discourage hungry snakes.

• Secure Food: Store dog food and birdseed in metal garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.

• Relocate Feeders: Move bird feeders away from the house, as fallen seed is a primary rodent attractant.

• Clear Nesting Sites: Remove woodpiles stacked adjacent to or inside the house or garage.

3. Defensive Landscaping

Certain landscaping choices act as an open invitation to reptiles. Modifying your yard can make it highly unappealing to snakes by eliminating their comfort zones.

• Lawn Care: Keep grass mowed short. Large, open lawns leave snakes feeling exposed and vulnerable to natural predators, keeping them away from the house. It also makes them much easier to spot.

• Watering: Avoid excessive watering of lawns and gardens, which attracts snake prey like worms, slugs, and frogs.

• Materials: Avoid damp mulch or large stones, opting instead for smaller pebble or river-rock. Swap out loose-stone retaining walls (like limestone or old railroad ties) for solid retaining wall bricks, and seal any cracks that develop.

4. Eliminating Cover and Creating Barriers

The final layer of defense requires removing physical hiding spots and creating an absolute boundary. Homeowners should clear yard debris and trim all shrubs and trees to ensure at least a 6-inch gap between the ground and the lowest branches.

For an absolute guarantee, install snake-proof fencing. You can modify an existing chain-link, picket, or split-rail fence by attaching 24-inch-high hardware cloth (1/4-inch weave) or aluminum flashing to the outside bottom.

To prevent snakes from burrowing underneath, the bottom of the flashing must be buried 2 to 4 inches into the soil. Because snakes will travel along a fence rather than climb it, the barrier must completely encircle the yard with tightly closed, snake-proofed gates. Any mammal burrows that appear near the fence line should be filled immediately.

As Callie’s ongoing remodel proves, the snakes might have been there first, but with the right defensive strategy, they don’t get to dictate who owns the home.

@callieoverseas Callie terrified 😬😭🐍 #ranchwife #momof3 #westernaesthetic #ranchlife #sahm #montana #wfhmom #sahm #dailyvlog #Vlog #wfh #snake #narrator #narratortrend #capcut ♬ original sound – callieoverseas