Get Rid of Snakes With This 4 Step Guide

Depending upon which part of the United States you live in, snakes around your property can range from a minor nuisance to a major safety concern. Venomous snakes are found in all states other than Alaska, with more than 20 venomous snake species identified in America. In addition to several venomous species of rattlesnakes, other dangerous snakes include the Cottonmouth, Copperhead, and Coral Snake, along with many others. 

Keep in mind that the snakes around your property are almost certainly there because the environment is hospitable for them and they have access to a source of food. Focusing on these two important elements will help you drive snakes off your property quickly. Pest Control Everything's 7 Step Snake Elimination Guide helps reduce the likelihood of having snakes in your yard or ever gaining access to your home. 

Step 1: Eliminate Snake Harborage Areas

• Trim bushes, trees, shrubs, and grasses: A well maintained yard is a key part of driving snakes out of the environment. Because bushes, trees, shrubs, thickets, heavy foliage, wood piles, and tall grasses are all ideal resting and hiding spots for snakes, minimizing the presence of these conditions will make your yard less appealing. Tall grass also lends itself the presence of other small animals, rodents, and insects that could contribute to a higher concentration of snakes in the area. Keep grass cut short, weeds eliminated, bushed and trees well manicured, and gardens well-maintained in order to render the environment around your home minimally attractive to snakes. Also be sure to eliminate any piles of debris that could serve as snake hiding or nesting sites. 

• Eliminate objects and other snake hiding spots: Tires, furniture, flower pots, stones, pavers, blocks, woodpiles, cavities, tarps, and many other objects can provide perfect protection for snakes. Inspect your property for any unused or unnecessary items and consider eliminating them whenever practical.  

Step 2: Reduce Populations of Rats, Mice and Other Animals

• Most species of snakes rely on rats, mice, and various other small rodents as a primary source of food. After your yard has been made undesirable for snakes through lawn maintenance and debris removal, you will want to begin eliminating potential snake food resources. A rodent reduction program from a professional exterminator can rapidly eliminate rodents around your property and ensure their populations don't have an opportunity to replenish. 

• If you choose to do your own rat and mice removal program, be sure to acquire an ample supply of top rated rodenticides such as Contrac Bait Blox or First Strike Soft Bait Rodenticide along with the necessary tamper-resistant rodent bait stations, such the Protecta Evo Express, to safely house the rat or mouse poison. By reducing the potential availability of the snake food supply, the snakes previously inhabiting your property will be forced to move elsewhere in search of sustenance. 

Step 3: Eliminate Snake Entry Points to the Home

As you begin improving the exterior snake habitat around your home and start eliminating populations of rats, mice, and other rodents that snakes feed on, you will also want to make sure your home is adequately sealed so that snakes don't have a potential access point to work their way inside.

Seal off cracks and crevices around the foundation, as well as any gaps or holes around utility penetrations on the side of the home. Make sure all windows are doors seal tightly so that snakes are not able to penetrate through. Vent openings should also be adequately sealed so that snakes cannot access the home through or around them. Keep bush and tree limbs cut back so as not to come in direct contact with any part of the home. Weather stripping, steel wool, and foaming sealant are all cost-effective options for eliminating potential snake access points around the home. 

Step 4: Consider Removing the Snake Populations

So how do you actually get rid of snakes around your yard? There are many, many snake repellent products on the market boasting effective snake repellencies such as Ortho Snake B Gon and Havahart 6400 Snake Shield. But whether these products actually work in repelling snakes is open for debate. Many homeowners (and some professional exterminators) speak very highly of their effectiveness in certain situations despite limited scientific corroboration.

In reality, it is important to understand that for the most part, science seems not to be on the side of most snake repellent products. Moth balls and other naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene containing products, or repellents containing sulfur, have not be proven to consistently repel snakes. The video below provides information as to the ineffectiveness of some of these products.

So if snake repellents are unlikely to work consistently well, what then is the optimal way for trying to remove snake populations? In most instances, snake removal should be left to licensed professionals with advanced training in how to not only safely remove them from your property but also how to relocate the snakes in a manner that is safe for them. Killing, removal, or relocation of certain snake species in certain states may be restricted or entirely prohibited, so be sure to understand local snake regulations before taking any action. Click here to find a professional snake removal company in your area now.

Other than consulting a professional snake control company, the best approach is to executive steps 1-3 of this Snake Control Guide and allow the snake populations to mitigate themselves over time. The better your emphasis on habitat modification, the more likely you are to entirely (or mostly) drive snakes out of your yard.

If you do choose to handle your snake control efforts on your own, remember the following considerations:

• Products such as moth balls and other similar snake repellent products are unlikely to consistently repel or deter snakes, but have the potential to adversely impact insects and mammals and have proven toxic to humans, especially small children and the elderly. 

• Several snake traps are available on the market, some which result in live capture and release and some which result in a slow, agonizing death. Glueboard sticky traps are not recommended for use particularly outdoors for control of snakes. If a live snake trap is used, be sure to understand all trapping regulations and have a trained snake handler ready for safe and proper removal and relocation. 

• For the most part, snakes are tremendously beneficial creatures, and should be respected as such. Far too commonly the fear of snakes leads to rash decisions about how to eradicate them from our properties. Before taking any action, educate yourself on how to safely, efficiently, and responsibly co-exist with snakes. 

Looking to Buy Snake Control Products? Shop Snake Products Now. 

Pest Control Everything provides access to snake repellents and snake traps to help you in your snake remediation efforts. As a reminder, snake handling should be left to trained professionals.