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Snakes live where there’s a favorable habitat and taking that away will send snakes packing. It sounds simple because it is. The only thing you have to do is learn the dos and don’ts of snake life.
To help you repel snakes out of your yard, let’s look at 7 must-have tips on how to keep snakes away.
1. Keep Your Yard Mowed
Tall grass is the perfect hiding spot for snakes to move around your yard. Not only does it conceal them from you, but it also keeps them hidden from predators such as hawks and owls.
A hungry snake also likes tall grass since it’s a favorite spot for rodents and large insects to hide.
Mow your lawn on a regular basis. Snakes aren’t likely to hang out in a yard with short grass since it leaves them too exposed.
Vibrations from a lawnmower is a good way to scare away snakes. It won’t keep them away for good but will scare them off long enough for you to work in your yard.
2. Trim the Landscaping
Overgrown bushes and shrubbery are another spot snakes like to hide. It gives them a cool area to stay out of sight. For the same reason, rodents, frogs, and other favorite snacks of a snake will hide there as well.
Keep all bushes and trees trimmed away from your house. To avoid low-lying areas for them to hide, create an open space of at least 6-inches underneath shrubs and trees. That way, if a snake does creep through your landscaping, it will be easy to spot.
If you have dense shrubbery, it’s a good idea to thin it out. Also, consider transplanting them to the other side of the yard, away from the foundation of your home.
3. Get Rid of Clutter
Besides your landscaping, snakes will use any lawn clutter to hide. When you want to keep snakes away, it’s time to clean up your yard.
Don’t store piles of firewood, rocks, or other materials close to your house. Trash anything you don’t need. Move everything you do need to keep away from structures and keep the pile tidy.
Toys and other lawn debris are attractive for snakes to crawl into. Don’t leave anything lying around that’s not in use. Store yard equipment and other home improvement items in a shed or the garage.
4. Take Away Their Food Supply
Snakes won’t stick around if there’s nothing for them to eat. To keep hungry snakes moving along, be sure to take away their food supply.
As talked about earlier, mowing your lawn and trimming the landscaping doesn’t give rodents and other creatures a place to hide.
Also, think about moving your bird feeder away from the house. Birds drop seeds to the ground as they eat, attracting rodents. If you can’t move the feeder, try cleaning around it on a daily basis.
Feed your pets indoors. Leaving bowls of food around will attract rodents and insects. Storing your pet food or birdseed in metal containers with tight lids will keep critters out.
If you have a chicken coop, gather the eggs frequently. It’s also a good idea to glue down any artificial eggs you use to encourage the hens to lay eggs, preventing snakes from eating them as well.
5. Seal Openings to Your Home
When learning how to keep snakes away, the last thing you want is for them to end up inside your house. To evict unwanted guests before they even enter, seal up your home tightly.
This involves closing any gap on your home’s exterior that is one-fourth inch in diameter or bigger. Examine your crawl space, basement, sidewalks, and your home’s foundation.
Also, make sure all doors and window screens fit your home tightly.
To prevent snakes from finding a home away from your home, close in the gaps underneath tool sheds and other outdoor structures.
6. Get a Fence
You may not realize it, but the right kind of fencing will help keep snakes out of your yard. While it’s not fool-proof and depends on the type of snakes in your area, it’s a great tool when fighting the battle of how to keep snakes away.
Install a one-fourth inch mesh or solid sheeting fencing material that’s at least 24-inches high. Make sure it’s buried 2 to 4 inches into the ground. Plus, include a bend at the top of the fence to keep snakes from climbing over.
If you already have a fence, there’s no need to replace it. Simply beef it up by installing a 24-inch tall material as described above to the bottom of your fence. You still want to bury it 2 to 4 inches into the ground.
To keep a fence effective against snakes, surround your yard with fencing and always keep it closed.
7. Be Careful with Repellents
There are lots of snake repellents on the market but be careful before you use them. Many are ineffective, while some are even dangerous to your family.
For example, mothballs are commonly used to repel snakes, yet they have little to no effect on them at all. In fact, the active ingredient in mothballs is toxic, which makes it dangerous to your pets and family.
Always read labels thoroughly and do your homework. You don’t want to use anything that isn’t specifically for snakes, can harm other creatures, or poses a risk to the environment.
Natural snake repellents are a great option, such as planting lemongrass or onion plants.
How to Keep Snakes Away: The Takeaway
Take back control of your yard. By learning how to keep snakes away, you can banish those creepy critters, making your yard safe for family and pets again.
Need help controlling pests at your home? Contact us today and ask about our free inspection!
