How to Get Rid of Snakes and Keep Them Away

How to Get Rid of Snakes and Keep Them Away

Snakes can be unsettling visitors on your property, particularly when you have young children or pets. While snakes do provide valuable pest control services by eliminating rodents and insects, having them on your property can create anxiety and safety concerns. Understanding why snakes are attracted to your yard and knowing how to effectively remove and deter them are essential for maintaining a snake-free environment.

Snakes are attracted to properties that offer food sources, water, and shelter. By identifying these attractants and implementing targeted removal and prevention strategies, you can reclaim your outdoor spaces and reduce the likelihood of future snake encounters.

Why Snakes Are Attracted to Your Property

Before tackling removal methods, it’s important to understand what makes your yard attractive to snakes in the first place. Snakes don’t randomly choose properties to inhabit—they’re drawn to specific environmental conditions that meet their basic needs.

Food Sources

Snakes are primarily attracted to properties that provide abundant food sources. The main prey items include rodents such as mice and rats, as well as insects and other small creatures. If your yard has a significant rodent population, snakes will inevitably follow. Similarly, properties with high insect populations create an attractive environment for snakes seeking sustenance.

Water Sources

Water is another critical attractant for snakes. Standing water, whether from pools, bird baths, or broken gutters, provides snakes with hydration and creates ideal hunting grounds for their prey. Even small accumulations of water can be enough to draw snakes to your property.

Shelter and Hiding Spots

Snakes prefer environments where they can hide from predators and remain cool. Tall grass, dense brush, firewood stacks, piled hoses, open spaces under sheds, and storage containers all provide ideal shelter. These dark, protected spaces offer snakes the security they need to thrive on your property.

Immediate Snake Removal Methods

If you encounter a snake on your property, having immediate action strategies is important. These methods work best for non-venomous snakes, and it’s crucial to be certain of the snake’s type before attempting removal.

Spray with a Hose

One of the simplest and safest removal methods is using a garden hose. If you are completely certain the snake is not dangerous, stand at a safe distance and gently spray the snake with water. This approach is non-harmful to the snake and usually encourages it to move away from your property. Always maintain a safe distance and never approach the snake if you’re uncertain about its species.

Trap with a Garbage Can

For temporarily containing a snake until professional removal arrives, a garbage can or bucket can be effective. If you’re certain the snake is safe to approach, slowly move toward the coiled snake and lower an empty container over it. Once the snake is trapped, place a weight on top of the container to prevent escape. This method is only recommended if you plan to have a professional remove the snake the same day.

Use Snake Repellent Products

Commercial snake repellents are available and can be effective deterrents. Products such as Ortho Snake B Gon work by disrupting a snake’s sense of smell and deterring them from nesting in your garden. These products typically contain cinnamon oil and clove oil, which are recognized as effective snake repellents by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. While household items like vinegar are often recommended on the internet, there is little scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.

Set a Trap

For capturing and releasing non-venomous snakes, trapping is an option. However, not all traps are equally humane. Glue traps are the cheapest alternative but are the least humane option available. Releasing a snake from adhesive requires dousing it in cooking oil, and even then removal is difficult and often results in the snake being killed. Wire mesh cage traps are a significantly better choice, as they allow for safe capture and release of the snake unharmed.

Long-Term Prevention and Habitat Modification

The most effective approach to snake control is preventing them from establishing themselves on your property in the first place. By modifying your yard’s environment to make it less attractive to snakes, you can dramatically reduce the likelihood of future encounters.

Eliminate Standing Water

Inspecting your lawn and home for pools of water is a critical first step. Pay particular attention to areas near garden hoses, under storage containers, and in gardens. Removing these water sources forces snakes to find alternative areas to establish themselves. Standing water should be drained or redirected to prevent accumulation.

Remove Shelter and Hiding Spots

Snakes require warm, sheltered places to hide from predators and regulate their body temperature. Systematically removing these hiding spots from your yard is highly effective. Actions include:

• Removing piled hoses and organizing storage
• Clearing firewood stacks or storing wood elevated off the ground
• Trimming tall grass and vegetation
• Clearing dense brush and undergrowth
• Sealing open areas under sheds and decks
• Organizing and securing storage containers

Keep Your Grass Short

Regular lawn maintenance is a simple yet effective snake deterrent. Mowing your lawn frequently with the blade set low prevents snakes from hiding in your yard. Snakes require adequate cover to feel secure, and maintaining a short lawn eliminates this protection. This practice also makes it easier to spot any snakes that do venture onto your property.

Fill in Burrows

Some snakes hide in holes and burrows, while others adopt burrows created by other animals. Identifying these openings and filling them with gravel or dirt discourages snakes from establishing permanent homes. Regularly inspect your yard for new burrows and address them promptly.

Lay Gravel or Uneven Ground Coverings

Snakes prefer moving across smooth, grass-covered surfaces. Installing gravel or other uneven ground coverings in areas where snakes are problematic makes it difficult for them to move comfortably and reduces their ability to hide effectively. This physical barrier encourages snakes to relocate to more suitable environments.

Landscape-Level Prevention Strategies

Beyond immediate yard modifications, broader landscape changes can significantly reduce snake presence on your property.

Remove Bird Feeders and Bird Baths

While bird feeders and bird baths attract birds to your yard, they also indirectly attract snakes. Birdseed attracts mice, which in turn attract snakes seeking prey. By removing these features or maintaining them away from your home’s perimeter, you eliminate this food chain connection.

Feed Pets Indoors

Leaving pet food outside creates attractants for rodents and insects, which subsequently attract snakes. Feeding your pets indoors prevents outdoor accumulation of food debris that might draw unwanted wildlife.

Trim Tree Branches

Some snakes are skilled climbers and may establish themselves in trees directly over your yard. Trimming branches keeps snakes from climbing into trees and reduces their ability to make homes in elevated spaces. This modification also improves overall yard aesthetics.

Install Snake-Proof Fencing

For properties with persistent snake problems, installing a snake-proof fence provides a comprehensive barrier. These specialized fences are thin and sealed at ground level, preventing small creatures like mice and snakes from entering your property either above or below ground. While more expensive than other prevention methods, this approach offers long-term protection.

Remove Water Features

If your property is in an area prone to snakes, reconsidering water features in your landscape design is wise. Ponds, fountains, and decorative water elements attract the organisms that snakes feed on and provide hydration for snakes themselves. Evaluating whether these features align with your pest control goals is important.

Addressing Underlying Attractions

Professional pest control companies recognize that treating snakes without addressing underlying issues is often ineffective. The following factors should be addressed for comprehensive snake prevention:

Excess Moisture

Moisture creates ideal conditions for insects and rodents, which in turn attract snakes. Repairing leaks, improving drainage, and reducing humidity in areas like basements or crawl spaces eliminates conditions favorable to snake prey species.

Rodent Activity

Rodents are the primary food source for most snakes. Implementing comprehensive rodent control measures, including trapping and exclusion, removes the primary reason snakes are attracted to your property. This approach addresses the root cause rather than just treating the symptom.

Insect Infestations

Excessive insect populations support rodent populations and directly provide food for snakes. Treating your lawn for insects eliminates another food source and makes your property less attractive to snakes.

Common Snake Prevention Myths

Do Mothballs Really Keep Snakes Away?

Despite popular recommendation, mothballs do not have significant repellent effects on snakes. Additionally, the chemicals in mothballs can be toxic to water systems, cause negative health symptoms in humans, and harm pets. Mothballs should not be relied upon as a snake control method.

Professional Snake Removal Services

For severe infestations or situations where you’re uncomfortable handling snake removal yourself, professional pest control companies offer specialized services.

How Professional Services Work

When treating a home for snakes, professional pest control companies begin by identifying the specific snake species and locating entry points or hiding spots. Exterminators then use traps or one-way exclusion devices to safely remove snakes. After removal, professionals recommend sealing access points such as gaps under doors or cracks in the foundation. Technicians also address underlying issues like excess moisture or rodent activity that attracted snakes initially.

Notable Pest Control Companies

Terminix, a nationwide provider with more than 380 locations, offers trapping and removal of snakes along with snake prevention and exclusion services. Orkin, another major nationwide pest control company, may also have wildlife specialists on staff, though availability varies by branch. Both companies can provide follow-up pest control to remove food sources for snakes from your property. Anticimex specializes in humane removal of snakes and other nuisance wildlife, while Rentokil uses integrated pest management approaches tailored to your specific situation.

Choosing the Best Snake Repellent

When selecting snake repellents, Ortho Snake B Gon is one of the most popular and effective commercial options available. However, general changes to your home and landscape provide the best long-term defense for snake control. A comprehensive approach combining environmental modifications, habitat elimination, and professional prevention services yields superior results compared to relying on repellents alone.

Quick Reference Prevention Methods

Frequently Asked Questions About Snake Removal

Q: What should I do if I encounter a snake on my property?

A: First, determine if the snake is venomous or non-venomous. For non-venomous snakes, you can gently spray it with a hose from a safe distance, trap it in a container for professional removal, or use commercial repellents. If you’re uncertain about the snake’s species, maintain a safe distance and contact a professional.

Q: How can I prevent snakes from returning to my yard?

A: Eliminate water sources, keep grass short, remove hiding spots like brush piles and firewood, fill burrows, treat your lawn for insects, remove bird feeders, feed pets indoors, and consider installing snake-proof fencing for severe situations.

Q: Are mothballs effective for snake control?

A: No, mothballs have little to no repellent effect on snakes. Additionally, they can be toxic to water systems, harmful to pets, and cause negative health effects in humans. They should not be used for snake control.

Q: What is the most humane snake trap?

A: Wire mesh cage traps are significantly more humane than glue traps. Glue traps often injure or kill snakes, while cage traps allow for safe capture and release of snakes unharmed.

Q: When should I hire a professional for snake removal?

A: Contact a professional if you’re uncertain about the snake species, uncomfortable handling removal yourself, or experiencing frequent snake encounters. Professionals can identify snakes, implement comprehensive removal strategies, and address underlying attractants.

Q: Can snakes enter my home through small openings?

A: Yes, snakes can fit through surprisingly small gaps. Seal any cracks in the foundation, gaps under doors, openings around pipes, and vents. Professional services can identify and seal entry points specific to your property.

Q: What’s the best commercial snake repellent?

A: Ortho Snake B Gon is one of the most popular and effective commercial options, containing cinnamon oil and clove oil. However, environmental modifications and habitat elimination provide superior long-term results than repellents alone.