I am glad to know that I am not the only Iowan with snake problems. My parents seem to always have two every year in their house. I usually have a few on my patio laying in the sun...which freaks my dog and I out. The steel wool seems to also work against snakes from what I have been told. I personally just rather not have them around.
Good thought about tossing the pasta since where there is poop, there is pee.