Snakes can be frightening to stumble upon while gardening. Learn about what attracts them to your yard and how to keep them out.
Most people don’t want to share a backyard with a snake, as some have venom that can be fatal if you get bitten. However, if you live in certain areas, for instance, close to the woods or ponds, a snake might find its way to your yard. Like other wild animals, snakes find their way to your yard for many reasons. Remember that this animal is usually not out to get you; they are generally looking for food or shelter.
Sometimes the very thing that attracts you to your yard, like a beautiful lawn and plenty of shade, might also appeal to snakes. Nonetheless, if you don’t want to encounter snakes in your yard, learn a few tips that may help you keep them at bay.
Common Signs You Have Snakes
Snakes are not known to announce their grand entry into your yard; they move in stealth, sneaking into your garden without your knowledge. Snakes don’t often enter the house but will find a space to hide in the yard. Because of their biology, snakes hide in shaded and isolated places, like underneath a rock with crevices, under a pile of leaf litter, or sometimes they coil in thick undergrowth. One of the most apparent signs of a snake in your yard is the presence of shed skin. Snakeskin is easy to recognize as it is often white and long, depending on the size of the snake.
Another common indicator is a snake trail. Depending on their movement, some trails can be straight, while others take the shape of a wavy line.
If you don’t see a snake trail or shed skin, sometimes their odour will give them away. Although different species produce different smells, especially when they feel threatened, an unusual stench of rotten eggs or vegetables warrants further investigation. This might not be very common, but it is something about which to be vigilant.
Eliminate Potential Hiding Spots
One of the easiest ways of preventing snakes from getting to your yard is to eliminate all potential places where they can hide and breed. Begin by mowing your grass short; about an inch or less should be ideal. Also, keep coiled hoses and unused furniture out of the yard. They provide the snakes with the perfect cover, making it more difficult to spot them. If you live in an area known for snakes, avoiding rock piles in your garden is wise.
Keep your firewood elevated and in boxes. If possible, remove large mounds of leaves and clear large shrubs. Enclose your yard, especially if there is plenty of shade. Use snake-proof fencing, preferably made of at least ¼ an inch of heavy galvanized mesh. The fence should be dug up to 8 inches in the ground and angled outward about 30 degrees as snakes will try their best to sneak their way in, this should make it challenging.
Get Rid of Food Sources and Water
Other than looking for shelter, snakes will also explore further into your yard if there is something for them to eat. Eliminating their food sources will encourage them to move somewhere different for a meal. Snakes feed on mice and other small house pests; therefore, keeping such pests under control is ideal. Avoid feeding your birds and pets outside; the food remnants will attract rodents, which will encourage snakes to your yard or into your house.
Snakes are also drawn to wet surfaces. Repair leaky faucets, and remember not to leave the sprinklers on for too long. Consider irrigating your lawn in the morning so water can seep through or evaporate during the day.
Repel Them
Fortunately, snakes have a strong sense of smell, and you can use plants and ingredients they hate to keep them away. Snakes hate the smell of cinnamon, lemongrass, and onions; therefore, scattering these scents around the fence will discourage them from crossing over.
Something else that snakes cannot stand is the smell of ammonia. Soak pieces of old pieces of clothes in ammonia and put them in unsealed bags before placing them close to the fence or other suspect places in the yard.
Besides ammonia, vinegar is also ideal for keeping snakes and other pests away from your swimming pool areas. Since vinegar is easily absorbed into snake skin, it will discourage them from passing over the vinegar barrier into your pool. All you need to do is to pour white vinegar around the perimeter of your pool.
Scare Them
When you encounter a snake coming into your yard or coiled up somewhere, you can scare it away quite easily. However, because some snakes can be venomous, keep a good distance between you and the snake. A good way of safely scaring a snake off your yard is by spraying it with a steady stream of water using a garden hose.
Also, although snakes have a few natural predators, the biggest snake predators are birds, for instance, raptors or hawks. If you can, consider installing a perch pole for such birds. Also, animals like raccoons will scare snakes away.
Sssee You Later
Snakes are part of the food chain, and seeing a few around means you are in a healthy ecosystem. However, since some snakes are venomous, it is imperative to take measures to keep them away. Is your lawn invaded by snakes? The best way to ensure snakes don’t get to your yard is to be proactive instead of reactive. Implement preventative measure that includes keeping your yard dry and free from rodents. Despite your efforts, one may sneak in. In such a scenario, call animal control because dealing with a snake can be dangerous.
Have you had snake encounters in your yard before? Share how you dealt with the problem in the comment section below!
Source: Backyard Boss
