VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- A man in Virginia Beach filmed a big snake he found in his backyard and it's become the talk on social media.
"My neighbor, the other day, came running over and was like 'I've got something to show you' and I said 'what is it?' and she said it's a snake and I'm thinking it's something small and it's a 3-to-4 foot snake dangling in my tree," said Paul Holley, who lives on Bay Island.
He caught the snake on video, unsure if it was dead or alive at the time. A few days later, after it didn't move, he disposed of it.
"It was in a deep sleep or it was dead. I waited two days before I went back up to it. I kept the dog away from it and everything. There was no way I was going to touch that thing, get close, or grab it," he said.
For the most part, he said he usually leaves snakes alone when he sees them in the yard. That's what Virginia Beach Animal Control recommends.
"Your backyard is their habitat. It's where they live. They're there for a reason. Most likely, they found food or a place to live," said Rebecca Franklin, a supervisor at Virginia Beach Animal Control.
Franklin said snakes want to avoid humans as much as humans want to avoid them. And, if you want to keep them out altogether, just keep the yard clean.
"Keep your lawn cut short and keep areas trimmed, especially garden and flower bed areas. Make sure it's trimmed and weeds are pulled," she said.
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries also has information on their website.
Paul said he's seen snakes around more lately than usual. Animal Control said this is the time of year where snakes start popping up, after a season of hibernation.
Franklin said there aren't many venomous snakes in the area, but, if you do come across one, they have distinguishable features.
Click here for a guide to different types of snakes.