Snake Removal & Prevention
Serving Cumming, Forsyth County & Metro Atlanta since 1980 — backed by the Forsyth Promise: if pests come back, so do we.

Snakes — Control & Prevention in Metro Atlanta & North Georgia
Most snakes in North Georgia are harmless — even helpful, since they eat the rodents we're often hired to remove. But copperheads are common across our service area, and no homeowner should have to guess which kind is coiled in the garage or flower bed.
Forsyth Exterminating removes snakes safely, identifies what you're dealing with, and then addresses why the snake was there: usually shelter (wood piles, dense ground cover, debris) plus food (rodents and insects). Treat the cause, and the snakes go hunt somewhere else.
Signs You Have a Snake Problem
- Shed skins in garages, basements, or crawl spaces
- Snakes sighted repeatedly in the same area
- Heavy rodent or frog activity (a snake buffet)
- Cool, cluttered shelter near the foundation
How We Solve It
Safe removal
Our trained technicians remove and relocate snakes safely — venomous or not.
Identification
We confirm the species and tell you honestly whether it was a threat.
Habitat modification
We identify the cover and food sources attracting snakes and how to eliminate them.
Prey control
Because snakes follow rodents, pairing snake prevention with rodent control is the long-term answer.
Common Snakes in North Georgia
Georgia is home to more than 40 snake species, but only a handful turn up around homes in Forsyth County and metro Atlanta. Most are harmless — and several actually help by eating rodents. Here's how to tell them apart. When in doubt, send us a photo from a safe distance.
Copperhead
The most common venomous snake in our area. Heavy-bodied with copper-tan, hourglass-shaped bands. Bites are painful and need medical attention but are rarely fatal. They favor leaf litter, wood piles, and mulched beds.
Eastern Rat Snake
The classic "black snake." Non-venomous and a skilled climber that eats rats, mice, and even competes with copperheads. Often killed out of fear when it's one of the best pest-control allies a yard can have.
Eastern Kingsnake
Glossy black with thin yellow-white chain-link banding. Immune to copperhead venom — it actually preys on other snakes, including venomous ones. A kingsnake in the yard is good news.
Garter & Brown Snakes
Small, thin, and shy. Garter snakes show pale stripes down the back; brown (DeKay's) snakes are just a few inches long and live under mulch and stones. Both are completely harmless and eat slugs, worms, and insects.
Northern Water Snake
Found near ponds, creeks, and lakes. Non-venomous but defensive when cornered, and frequently mistaken for a cottonmouth (which is rare this far north in Georgia). Identification matters — that's part of our job.
Not Sure What You Saw?
Never handle a snake to identify it — that's when most bites happen. Take a photo from several feet away and send it to us, or call and describe it. We'll tell you honestly what it is and whether it's a threat.
Call (678) 341-4945Keep Them From Coming Back
- Keep grass cut and ground cover thinned near the house
- Store firewood off the ground, away from the foundation
- Seal crawl space vents and garage door gaps
- Control rodents — the food that attracts snakes
Request Your Free Inspection
Fill out the form and our team will be in touch shortly to discuss a protection plan for your property.
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Snakes FAQs
How do I know if a snake is venomous?
Don't get close enough to find out. In our area, copperheads are the most common venomous species. Send us a photo from a safe distance or call — identification is part of our service.
Do snake repellents work?
Most consumer repellents perform poorly in independent testing. Habitat modification and prey (rodent) control are what actually keep snakes away.
What should I do until you arrive?
Keep people and pets away and, if it's safe, note where the snake went. Don't attempt to trap or kill it — that's when most bites happen.
When are snakes most active in Georgia?
Spring through fall, with peak activity from April to October. They shelter in cooler months and brumate over winter, but a warm winter day can still bring one out. Sightings around the house climb in late summer as young snakes disperse.
Do you relocate snakes or kill them?
We remove and relocate live snakes whenever it can be done safely. We don't needlessly kill harmless, non-venomous species — many of them control the rodents that draw snakes in the first place.
Are "black snakes" dangerous?
No. The common black snake here is the Eastern rat snake — non-venomous and genuinely beneficial. It eats rats and mice and can even keep venomous snakes away. It's one of the last snakes you want to remove from a property.
How much does snake removal cost?
It depends on the situation — a single removal is different from ongoing habitat work and rodent control. We start with a free inspection and give you up-front pricing before any work begins, so there are no surprises.
Ready to be done with snakes?
Free inspections. Same-day service usually available. Backed by the Forsyth Promise.
We Handle Snakes Across North Atlanta
Family-owned and headquartered in Cumming — protecting homes and businesses across metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
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DeKalb
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Don’t see your city? We likely still serve you — call (678) 341-4945.

