I get rat snakes in the bird houses all the time. I love watching them climb trees it is amazing. But the one that got in the basement and planted itself in front of the washing machine didn't make the wife very happy! I had to go rescue a poor snake out of the neighbor living room the other day here it the poor snake under a 5 gallon bucket! But to live in the country it is well worth it most get relocated except for the one's that look like eastlands they get the same treatment with a 12 gauge hate to miss em!