Snake Removal from Your Backyard
Living with snakes is a reality for many of us, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I assume you’d rather avoid coming face to face with them in the backyard or risk your dog getting too near and getting bitten.
Snakes are relatively timid creatures that don’t really care about us or our pets.
They do, however, consume mice, lizards, frogs, grubs, insects, and other pests, in addition to serving as food for other animals like hawks and being valuable to our ecology.
If you notice snakes in your area, it’s likely an indication that the ecology is flourishing there.
There are certain extremely poisonous snake species in North America and Australia that may be a serious threat to people and their pets, even if not all snake species there are benign.
It’s important to know how to keep them at bay.
We won’t ever be able to completely prevent snakes, though. It’s not feasible. However, there are undoubtedly certain dos and don’ts.
In this post, we’ll go over some of the best ways to keep snakes out of your backyard and safeguard your pets.
In order to save you time, money, and the safety of you and your pets, we’ll also dispel all the absurd beliefs and old wives’ tales about using snake repellents.
If your dog, cat, or horse gets bitten by a snake, you should immediately read our article on snake bite emergency first aid to discover what to do.
What Don’t Work in Snake Repellent Myths?
Let’s first address the falsehoods that are frequently repeated in publications regarding snake repellents before talking about how to prevent snakes from entering your space.
Snakes Can Be Repelled Using Mothballs
The myth that suggests using mothballs to deter snakes is perhaps the most prevalent. This is so funny. Mothballs are dangerous to children and our pets, yet there is NO research to support this. Typically, paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene are used to make mothballs. The most hazardous of the two, naphthalene, not only causes severe headaches but can also result in haemalytic anaemia if eaten.
Red blood cells are destroyed in hemolytic anaemia, and because red blood cells carry oxygen, there is less oxygen moving through the body. As a result, breathing becomes difficult, organs can no longer function properly, and death follows. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t use these.
Snake-Repelling Oils
- Numerous sources suggest misting the region with vinegar, cedar oil, cinnamon and clove oil, or garlic oil.
- The use of these oils as snake repellents is not something we endorse or support.
- The advice to spray these things on the ground is intriguing since it is an odd suggestion in and of itself.
- The sheer amount needed to make any difference is enormous, and any rain will dilute the effect.
- Studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of cinnamon, clove, or eugenol oil suggest spraying the oil ON the snake rather than on the ground.
- Furthermore, before you are allowed to use these oils, you probably need a permit from your local Fish and Wildlife Service.
- These oils may give you the warm fuzzies and be considered natural snake repellents, but they can be hazardous to other creatures.
- It is not advised to use essential oils to ward off snakes.
Plants Snake-Repelling
Unfortunately, there is no plant that will keep snakes out of your garden, despite the fact that numerous publications recommend plants that do. Don’t bother growing onions or garlic, skip the marigolds unless you like the color, and reconsider using mother-in-law’s tongue. Lemongrass is another of the urban legends that won’t deter snakes or, tragically, kill mosquitoes while they are still alive. Additionally, anti snake device also work efficiently in this matter.
Snake Removal
Snake repellents using ultrasound
- Snake repellents that vibrate or make noise are another popular option, but they are terribly ineffective.
- It is believed that sending ultrasonic vibrations into the earth will warn the snake to stay far away.
- Even if it works in principle, it might not in practise.
- Reverse engineering snakes’ demands is the most effective approach to drive them away from a backyard.
What environment fosters the growth of snakes?
The great majority of snakes prefer to reside in areas with an abundance of food and a reliable water source.
To shield them from soaring predators like raptors, shelter is essential. Simply said, when snakes go in quest of food and water, they visit regions where people live. Therefore, we need to make the setting as unpleasant as possible to reduce snake encounters in our backyards.
Take Out the Food Source
Since snakes’ main food sources are rats and mice, it stands to reason that preventing rats and mice from entering your property would help reduce the number of snakes you encounter.
Some suggestions to reduce the number of rats and mice:
- Feed pets indoors and discard any uneaten food right away. Keep pet food and bird seed in airtight, sealed containers.
- If you must place rat or mouse bait, avoid using a bird feeder or scattering bird seed throughout your grass. Take extreme care to avoid hurting your animals. Visit our page on rat bait poisoning to learn what to do if your pet consumes any.
- In addition to serving as a food source, poultry and bird aviaries can also be attractive to snakes because they draw rodents and mice. It is worthwhile to dig thick, snake-proof fences to fence off chicken enclosures.
- Keep these bins well-covered. Compost is a fantastic source of food leftovers for rats and mice.
Minimize Water Essentials
- Keep in mind that snakes also require a water supply.
- This isn’t always a reference to a river, stream, or pond.
- A snake will frequently come if there is a leaky pipe or hose that produces water pools.
- While managing or removing natural water sources might be challenging, it’s a good idea to keep manufactured drains covered and check for leaky pipes near tanks and taps.
Eliminate Any Potential Snake Cover
- Snakes are drawn to chilly, shadowy areas because they might offer them protection and refuge.
- To reduce hiding places, keep your lawn short, the garden weeded, and clear space beneath trees and plants.
- Remove any mounds of garbage, wood logs, leaf litter, or scrap corrugated iron that are near to your home.
- The crawl space or basement entrance points in your property should be sealed.
- Many snakes, especially pythons, like climbing and will attempt to enter your home through overhanging plants.
- This may be avoided by preventing tree branches from getting on your roof.
- Use screens or netting over gaps and on doors and windows to keep snakes out.
- You might also try enclosing your home with specific snake-proof fence.
- While not always effective, this technique can be costly.
