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How to get rid of snakes

How to get rid of snakes

Snakes are shy creatures who prefer to avoid human contact. They are of benefit because they consume mice, slugs, grubs, insects, and other pests, as well as providing food for other species such as hawks. Although most snake species in North America are harmless, several venomous species can be dangerous to humans and pets.

Snakes are scaly, legless creatures that you probably don't want to share your yard with. Unfortunately, the features that make your backyard enjoyable for you, such as shade, attractive landscaping, and perhaps a little amount of natural water, can also attract snakes.

Problems snakes can cause

Humans and their pets are at risk of snakes, particularly venomous species. Some of the larger species can be a nuisance in chicken houses, stealing chicks or eggs occasionally, and posing a hazard to humans. 

People who have a severe phobia of snakes do not want to see anyone around them, regardless of whether or not the snake is dangerous. Even a snapshot of a snake can create true terror, which is why they always wish to eradicate them as soon as possible.

You're not alone if you're asking how to get rid of snakes on your property. We'll share a few of our best snake-removal tips in this article, as well as how to maintain your backyard snake-free this summer and beyond.

How to get rid of snakes

Common types of snakes that you can meet in your yard

  • Garter snakes

    Except for the arid areas of the southwest, garter snakes can be found in almost every region of North America. They have three stripes down the length of their bodies, larger heads than necks, and can reach a length of 54 inches. Species differ in color and pattern.

  • Rat snakes

    These snakes, like garter snakes, come in a variety of colors and patterns, but they usually have a dark body with a brighter underbelly and chin. Their heads are likewise larger than their necks. Rat snakes can swim and climb, therefore they may be found in trees or bodies of water.

  • Kingsnakes

    The kingsnakes, a typical garden snake, come in a variety of colors. Because of the bands of color down their backs, these snakes are frequently confused with deadly species like coral snakes. Kingsnakes can have red, yellow, or black markings, depending on the species. Most of them will have a spoon-shaped head with round pupils.

Why do you have snakes around your house?

Snakes, like other unwelcome visitors to your yard or house, are usually looking for food or shelter. Some snakes may stay around if they have enough rats, mice, moles, fish, frogs, small farm animals, slugs, snails, and grasshoppers to eat.

Also, snakes may seek shelter under thick bushes, mounds of compost or leaves, or bodies of water. Snakes can also seek refuge from the heat in broken gutters, firewood barrels, and other areas where there is ventilation. Natural snake predators, such as raccoons and foxes, may be scarce in your area.

How to understand that the snake is venomous

How to get rid of snakes

Snakes with venomous bites have unique heads. Non-poisonous snakes have rounder heads, but poisonous snakes have triangular heads. The shape of a poisonous snake's head may deter predators. 

However, by flattening their heads, some non-venomous snakes can imitate the triangular shape of non-venomous snakes. Potential predators may perceive them as more dangerous.

Another way to tell if a snake is venomous is to look at its pupils. Venomous snakes have small, black, and vertical pupils surrounded by a yellow-green eyeball, similar to a cat's eye, but non-venomous snakes have round pupils. 

In the United States, venomous snakes come in a variety of colors. Most snakes with a single color are absolutely harmless. Cottonmouths are venomous, therefore, this isn't a reliable method of distinguishing them.

The modern method of getting rid of garden snakes and snakes in the house

You aren't asking the wrong question if you want to know what the best modern strategy for eradicating or repelling snakes is.

The ultrasonic, electromagnetic, and bionic waves produced by the Everpest tiny home ultrasonic pest repellers push pests out of your home. Pests will never adapt to the pulses and will leave your home because of the different frequency of sound (from 20 to 40 kHz).

This technology is cruelty-free. It does not kill, rather, it makes the living conditions of pests intolerable, causing them to flee. There will be no dead pests in your home.

Chemical repellents, poison spray, and traps that harm humans are all dangerous. The Everpest repeller is the safest and most effective alternative. The method is safe for humans and pets, but it poses problems for pests, including snakes.

Because ultrasonic waves do not penetrate walls, one repeller per room is the most effective.

Traditional methods that help kill snakes and keep them away from your home and garden

  • Remove food supplies

    Snakes are a component of the natural world. If they move into your yard, you could be harboring frogs, toads, lizards, mice, baby birds, rats, or some other delectable creature that appeals to them.

    Cutting off snakes' food supply is the best method to keep them away.

    You'll see them if you never mow your lawn, live near an empty lot, a canal, or have tall brush or grass since those factors attract toads, frogs, mice, and rats, which are the food sources snakes seek.

    Any type of firewood, brush pile, heavy vegetation, or tall grasses should be removed. To kill the mice or rats that snakes want to eat, use traps or chemicals. Snakes are more likely to hunt elsewhere if their food source is removed.

  • Eliminate places where snakes can hide

    Snakes live and hide in cracks, fissures, and holes because they favor dark, damp environments. Snakes will be less likely to take up residence on your property if these hiding places are removed.

    Examine the exterior of your home and property for any cracks or holes and make any necessary repairs. Repair any gutters, plumbing, or ventilation ducts that have been damaged. Any damaged screens on windows and doors should be repaired or replaced.

    Snakes hide in woodpiles and compost heaps as well. Store firewood in sealed, lockable wood boxes. Attempt to remove any heaps of wood chip mulch, straw mulch, leaves, or other debris that may have accumulated on your land.

  • Change your landscaping around the house

    If snakes are a problem in your yard or garden, think about making some improvements to keep them out. Clean up any waste, holes, or overgrowth in your garden daily to keep snakes at bay. Snakes can hide in long grass, so keep it cut short.

    Consider putting steel mesh, plastic sheeting, or a catch net to keep snakes out. If you decide to put up fencing, make sure it is flush with the ground, angled outward, and at least 3 feet tall and 4 feet deep. Materials like holly leaves, pine cones, eggshells, and gravel make it harder for snakes to slide over.

    Planting snake repellent plants, which acts as a natural deterrent, is also a viable option. Marigolds, lemongrass, and wormwood are examples of common plants.

  • Call for natural predators

    Snakes are frequently hunted by foxes and raccoons. Snakes will be deterred by guinea fowl, turkeys, pigs, and cats. When spread around your property, if foxes are native to your area, fox urine is an excellent natural snake repellent.

  • Naphthalene

    Many commercial snake repellent products contain naphthalene, which is a common component. One of the most widely used home remedies to repel snakes. 

    If you don't want to spend money on a commercial solution, the major element in mothballs is naphthalene. The smell of naphthalene irritates snakes, but it does not damage them.

    Place mothballs in any holes, cracks, or crevices on your property where snakes could be an issue. One exception to using mothballs is that if they are consumed, they can be toxic to children or pets, so use caution or avoid using them if you have children or pets in your home.

  • Sulfur

    Powdered sulfur is an excellent snake repellent. When snakes crawl through the powdered sulfur, it hurts their skin, causing them to flee. Because sulfur has a strong odor, wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth while applying it is recommended. 

  • Clove and cinnamon oil

    Snake repellents such as clove and cinnamon oil work well. For best efficacy, combine these ingredients in a spray bottle and spray directly on snakes.

    Snakes will often run in the opposite direction of the spray, so be cautious. You can also use this mixture as a fumigant in a diffuser inside.

  • Garlic and onions

    Snakes are repelled by sulfonic acid, which is found in garlic and onions and is the same chemical that makes us shed tears when we slice onions. For maximum effectiveness, combine this with rock salt and sprinkle it around your home and yard.

    You may also use garlic to fumigate rafters, basements, and other hard-to-reach areas by infusing it into any essential oil.

  • Ammonia

    Because snakes dislike ammonia's odor, spraying it around any damaged locations is one solution. Another method is to soak a rag in ammonia and place it in an open bag in snake-infested areas to keep snakes at bay.

  • Vinegar

    Vinegar easily repels snakes when they are near bodies of water, such as swimming pools. For a natural snake deterrent, pour white vinegar around the edge of any body of water.

  • Lime

    Pour a snake-repelling lime combination with hot pepper or peppermint around the perimeter of your home or property. The mixture has an unpleasant odor, and the fumes irritate snakes' skin.

  • Spray with a hose

    From afar, drench the snake. This will urge it to move away without causing it any harm. However, keep in mind that this is simply a short-term remedy, and the snake may return.

  • Use snake repellent

    Natural snake repellent like cinnamon oil can help get rid of snakes. Put these repellents around your house and in areas where you have noticed the activities of snakes.

  • Eliminate standing water

    Snakes are attracted to standing water sources such as rain barrels, birdbaths, and ponds. Look for pools of water in your lawn and house, especially in hidden places like under your hose, under a storage area, or in the garden.

    Many snake species will find another place to nest if these pools of water are removed.

  • Seal possible snake entries

    Snakes can also get into houses through cracks and gaps. Snakes' flexible bodies allow them to slip through even the tiniest holes without being noticed, and they may even use these cracks as an access point.

    Seal any cracks or crevices on damaged walls and decks, especially those that have been damaged by water or other pests.

How to get rid of snakes

Conclusion 

The best way of getting rid of garden and house snakes

The best way to get rid of snakes in your garden or house is to take precautions to keep them out in the first place, such as not storing items that may attract them. Depending on the type of snake, dealing with it can be dangerous. 

If you have a snake problem, call animal control or a professional wildlife management company for help in properly trapping, moving, or removing the venomous snake from your property.

FAQ on snake problem

What keeps snakes away from your home?

You can deter snakes from invading your property or house by using natural sprays, treatments, and barriers. In the long run, it is best to eliminate any snake-attracting items such as rodents, insects, thick brush, tall grass, pooling water, open storage, broken drainage or gutters, bird feeders, or pet food.

Do mothballs really keep snakes away?

Mothballs are said to be a safe approach to keep snakes away. However, it has since been discovered that mothballs have little effect. 

Mothballs contain a toxin that is hazardous to the water system, can induce dangerous symptoms in humans and is dangerous to pets.

What is the best snake repellent?

The best and most effective snake repellent is the Everpest compact home ultrasonic repeller. Other repellents are effective, but this stands out as the best.

 Does salt keep snakes away?

Contrary to popular perception, salt does not work as a snake repellent. Salt harms slugs and earthworms, whereas snakes are unaffected by its chemical composition.

 What are snakes afraid of?

Snakes are scared of anything that they see as a threat to their survival. It's also worth noting that most snakes are prey for other snakes. As a result, snakes are terrified of what eats them in their environment.

 Snakes are also repulsed by noxious odors such as smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use these perfumes in oils or sprays, or grow plants that have these odors.

 Are snakes scared of dogs?

Most snakes are unlikely to approach dogs. They're larger, noisier, and more of a pain to deal with than a tasty snack. You can probably keep snakes away just by having your dog around.

 Snakes also dislike being around large, moving objects that make noise; instead, they prefer to eat things that are their own size or smaller. However, a snake will not have to be terrified of your dog all the time.

 Will cinnamon keep snakes away?

Snakes fear cinnamon, clove, and cedarwood essential oils. Snakes are considered to be afraid of the oils melting their scales, thus they avoid them. Whether they are true or not, they do function to prevent snakes from approaching your home. 

Should you kill snakes in your yard?

Do not try to move or kill snakes that come into your yard. Call a professional wildlife removal company with experience with deadly snakes if there are no children or pets present, or just apply snake repellent to get rid of it. Some states have laws prohibiting the killing of snakes.

How to treat a snake bite

  • Call 911 immediately.
  • It's best not to try to kill or handle the snake because it might bite you again.
  • Lie down and roll over to your side if you can.
  • If your limb swells, take off any restrictive items like watches or jewelry.
  • Attempt to place the body part with the snakebite below the heart.
  • If possible, clean the wound with plain soap and water before wrapping it in a clean bandage and applying pressure.

How to get rid of snakes in pool areas

If you come across a snake in a pool, use a long grappling hook to humanely carry it to dry ground. The snake's fear of any unexpected presence can cause it to run from the pool and over the ground.

There isn't a foolproof strategy to keep snakes away from swimming pools. Installing a fence or barricade around the pool that a snake can't slither through is the most efficient way to keep them out. A solid bottom feature dug into the earth with a dense, mesh wall that is at least 4-feet high. 

Keep bushes and shrubs away from the fence, so the snake doesn't have to climb up through the bushes first.
        Julia Gabriel