If you have pets and small children, you may be wondering how to keep snakes out of your yard to help keep them safe. I know this is a huge concern for us here in Georgia. A few years ago, my husband and I found two rather large copperheads in our yard. Needless to say, there was a lot of commotion over this fact since they are poisonous. I am a huge nature lover but I can’t have poisonous snakes in my yard. Unfortunately, we had to kill both copperheads which was very upsetting to all of us. What I really want to do is to keep snakes away before they even cross my property line! If you are concerned about snakes in the yard, here are a few tips on how to keep snakes out of your yard.
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How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard
There are many different methods to keep snakes away. Some require that you buy products, others will require you to do some physical labor outside. But, with a little bit of work, you will reduce your chances of a snake bite while strolling through your backyard.
Snake Repellants:
There are many snake repellants on the market today. There are mixed reviews online about whether or not they actually work. Some you will not want to put anywhere near areas that your pets and children have access to. Here are a few options:
- Solar Powered Pest Repeller: This Solar Powered Pest Repeller doesn’t actually get rid of the snake itself. It is designed to repel small mammals like moles, chipmunks, mice, etc. In theory, if you get rid of the food source, the snakes will leave for better hunting grounds.
- Snake Repellent Granules: These Snake Repellent Granules can be sprinkled in the yard to help keep snakes away. The ones I linked to are supposed to be all natural and safe for pets and children. They contain sulfur granules and essential oils.
- DIY Snake Repellent: If you want to try some DIY snake repellent, try ammonia. Supposedly snakes hate the smell. Soak rags in ammonia and place them in unsealed plastic bags. Leave the plastic bags where you usually see the snakes. Hopefully, they won’t come back!
Spread Your Humanity Far and Wide
Snakes are just as afraid of you as you are to them. Honestly…they really are! Let them know humans live nearby by leaving your hair around areas they like to hang out. Next time you get your hair cut, ask for the trimmings. Spread them around your wood pile. Take the hair from your brush and stick it near the bushes around your front door. You can do this with pet fur, too.
Clean Up Your Yard
Snakes love places that they can hide. Remove clutter from your yard to reduce places where they like to hang out. Store your wood pile off the ground in a firewood holder so they can’t live in it. Remove unneeded piles of rocks, lumber, or other scrap material in your yard. Patch holes in sheds and trim bushes, especially the lower branches. Mow your grass regularly to make it less appealing for snakes.
Put up snake-proof fencing
Yes, there really is such a thing as snake proof fencing. There are several ways to go about this, apparently, but look for local fence companies that can help if you want to install this type of fence around your entire yard.
Plants That Repel Snakes
There are several plants that repel snakes. Plant a few of these things to help keep snakes away:
- Marigolds: These are very common in most nurseries and are great to help keep snakes away, as well as other pests.
- The Mother-in-law’s tongue (Variegated snake plant ) This has very sharp leaves that snakes don’t like.
- Lemon Grass: This is a great culinary plant as well as one that repels snakes and mosquitos. Growing Lemongrass is very easy!
- Sarpagandha: Also called Indian Snakeroot and Insanity herb, this plant is known for its ability to repel away snakes.
Use Snake Traps
Sometimes, knowing how to keep snakes out of your yard isn’t enough. These slithery little reptiles don’t read signs and they really don’t care about your phobia. If you find a snake in your yard consider putting down a snake trap. Before setting up snake traps, contact your local animal control officer or state wildlife agency. You want to make sure that the procedure is done safely and legally.
Knowing how to keep snakes out of your yard will give you greater peace of mind when your children and pets are outside playing. Keep in mind, however, that not all snakes are BAD. Rat snakes actually eat small copperheads so I am happy to have a rat snake or two in my yard. Know which snakes are poisonous and which aren’t by checking out the Wildlife Land Trust.
Have any other tips on how to keep snakes away?
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