Despite whatever you have read or heard, there are no smell or taste “repellents” scientifically proved to shoo snakes away. This stands to reason, since snakes can’t smell, and the only things they taste are prey items. Aside from an occasional wandering snake accidentally crossing your path as it’s passing through, a reptile that hangs around for any length of time finds your snake-friendly yard to its liking. If you simply cannot abide the presence of these highly beneficial creatures, you must make your yard unattractive to them. Snakes don’t stick around for long in places that don’t meet their basic requirements.
Keep the grass in your lawn and a 10-foot band around it cut as short as possible. Snakes are covert animals that dislike areas devoid of adequate cover. Trim tree limbs, bushes, shrubs and hedges neatly. Low-hanging growth provides natural snake climbing and hiding opportunities.
Modify your yard to get rid of snake-friendly hiding places and shelters. Snakes are private, reclusive creatures that often seek out cool, quiet dens to rest during the heat of the day. Remove piles of rocks, lumber, bricks, firewood or logs. If you can’t get rid of the materials completely, stack them on concrete blocks at least 12 to 18 inches above the ground. Haul off piles of leaves, weeds, brush, grass clippings, and unwanted vegetative material. Remove trash, clutter, junk and debris. Eliminating snake hiding places also removes rodent hideouts. Fill in any rodent holes or burrows in your yard with sod plugs or soil. Pack firmly to exclude snakes, which often use the holes to set up housekeeping.
Treat your property for vermin and insects on a continual basis throughout the year. Use natural or chemical controls to eliminate the pests that snakes seek for food. Larger snakes prey on animals such as frogs, toads, lizards and even smaller snakes that are attracted to your yard to feed on insects. Monitor rodent traps carefully. Remove and destroy the catch as soon as possible to avoid attracting snakes.
Eliminate indirect food sources that attract rodents and insects that snakes feed upon. Clean up uneaten seeds under bird feeders daily. Keep tight lids on the garbage and trash cans outside. Feed your pets indoors. If that’s not possible, feed them outside once each day and bring food and water dishes in as soon as they have finished. Seal pet foods and bird seed mixes in hard plastic or metal containers with tight-fitting lids to avoid attracting rodents.
Remove outdoor water sources to deprive snakes of necessary moisture. Eliminate pooling water. Fix leaky spigots and hoses. Avoid overwatering lawn and gardens. Moist environments are highly attractive to insects and rodents. This further invites the presence of snakes.
Allow your dog or cat to patrol suspicious areas of your yard. These pets are highly effective snake predators. Their frequent presence often encourages the intruders to seek more peaceful surroundings elsewhere.
Things You Will Need
- Natural or chemical insect controls
- Concrete blocks, if needed
- Sod plugs or soil
- Plastic or metal containers
- Dog or cat
- Make it your business to be able to recognize and identify all snake species indigenous to your area for the sake of your household’s safety and your own peace of mind.
- The snake’s sense of smell is geared toward sniffing out prey items such as bugs, vermin and other snakes. This is why noxious odors don’t repel them. Forked tongues flick in and out of the mouth, sensing heat given off by prey items.
- Snakes have no auditory organs, so they can’t hear you -- shouting at them won’t help. They are highly sensitive to feeling vibrations through the ground, which is the closest thing they have to actual hearing.
- Do not approach a snake that you cannot positively identify as a nonvenomous species. Do not attempt to handle even nonvenomous reptiles without heavy work gloves, long sleeves and eye protection.
- Do not corner any snake. This is a wild animal that will bite to defend itself if it can’t escape.
- Do not attempt to catch the reptile if you’re not experienced and extremely comfortable with handling wild snakes.
- Do not attempt to kill the snake. This is a good way to get bitten. Killing snakes won’t keep new ones from entering your space.
- No matter how attractive or docile a snake in the yard appears, do not allow yourself to be tempted to capture it and keep it as a pet. This a wild animal that can never truly be tamed. It belongs outdoors and free from captivity.
- Most states have their own laws in addition to federal mandates protecting all of their native wildlife, including snakes. These regulations typically make it a serious crime to touch, collect, harm, injure, kill or even trap and transport the animals. Many snake species are endangered, threatened or “of concern” and must be left unmolested. Consult your area university extension office if you have questions.
- University of California: How to Manage Pests -- Pests in Gardens and Landscapes -- Rattlesnakes
- University of Florida: Dealing with Snakes in Florida’s Residential Areas -- Preventing Encounters
- University of Missouri Extension: Snakes: Information for Missouri Homeowners
- American Wetland Resources: Keeping Snakes in Their Place
- The Humane Society of the United States: What to Do About Snakes
- Melissa Kaplan’s Herp Care Collection: Rattlesnakes! A Homeowner’s Guide to Urban Rattlers
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images