Snakes are an asset to local ecosystems. Though they aren’t always a welcome member of our yard communities. For most, it will be hard to know whether a snake is in your yard. Snakes are secretive creatures, who tend to not show themselves. When you do see a snake, it is normally a glance and then they’re gone.
You’ve likely walked past a snake or been near one without ever knowing. For many, this is a concern, and people look for ways to get rid of snakes from their yard. If this is you, looking for natural deterrence is a good option. In this article, we will look at how to get rid of snakes in your yard naturally.
Snake Behavior
The first thing to consider is the behavior of snakes in your area. Most snakes are not going to be showing themselves off. While they are portrayed in the media as vicious predators who are willing to attack at a moment’s notice, this is a myth that the snake doesn’t deserve.
Many snakes are small, shy creatures. They don’t want to be seen by anything, not even their prey. They tend to ambush predators because it is an effective hunting technique, but it is also a good way to stay hidden from predators.
Snakes have lots of predators, which include domestic cats, foxes, birds, and other mammals. And snakes don’t have many ways to defend themselves. A bite is pretty much their form of attack and defense if they are confronted.
Snakes are also limited in their senses. Evolution has limited their hearing to just picking up vibrations, compared to humans they have very poor hearing. Most rely on sensing heat from their prey and smelling their prey. And these factors can be the key to getting rid of snakes.
Snake Bites are Not All Bad
Generally speaking, a snake bite is not a particularly bad thing. As many reptile keepers will testify, the worst thing about most snake bites is the shock of being bitten. Most snake species that are found in the US will only give a small bite, which is like two pinpricks. And most snakes will prefer not to bite, instead doing a mock bite where they hit their head on you.
Venomous snakes, like the copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix), can provide a bite with venom. However, it is important to note that many venomous snakes will deliver what is known as a dry bite, a bite with no venom.
It will depend on the species as to whether the bite is likely to be dry. Some species, namely Taipans from Australia will deliver dry bites in only 5% of instances but others are known to deliver dry bites 80% of the time.
Dry bites are often the case because the venom gland would need to produce more venom after a bite, and this isn’t instant for the snake. It can take some time. While the snake is producing venom, its hunting chances are reduced significantly. Therefore, the snake would prefer to not waste venom and rely on shock tactics to scare away would-be predators.
Despite these reassurances, the best advice, if you are bitten by a snake, is to seek medical attention. Snake bites are mostly harmless, but even a small bite can become infected.
How to Get Rid of Snakes in your Yard Naturally
Learning how to get rid of copperhead snakes or other species from your yard should be done naturally. Snakes are an important part of our ecosystems, they help to keep pest populations to a minimum and are a vital food source for numerous species. So here are some options to get rid of snakes from your yard which won’t harm the environment.
1. Envirobug
This little device is one of the best you can get for keeping snakes away from your property. It utilizes the fact that snakes have poor hearing and rely on vibrations to trick them into thinking that there is a large predator constantly in your yard.
By sending vibrations in the ground, the snake believes the predator is constantly moving or on the hunt. Therefore, the snake will vacate the area.
2. Plant Natural Deterrents
Snakes aren’t very fond of several species of plants. Marigolds, lemongrass, mother-in-law’s tongue, garlic, basil, and yellow alder are some of the species of plants that should be grown in your garden. Not only do many of them look attractive, but many of them have a sweet odor to them.
It is the odor they release that is important. As mentioned, snakes rely on their sense of smell to understand their environment and hunt. These plants will impair their ability to sense anything around them and therefore they stay clear from these areas.
3. Snake Wire
Snake wire is an option for those who are looking to replace boundaries. Snakes can often climb through or up fences because they are adept climbers. However, snake wire is designed to disrupt this.
Snake wire can also be used as a way to bolster existing boundaries.
4. Yard Birds
Many yard birds will naturally deter snakes. Guinea fowl are particularly dangerous to snakes and may deter the snake from your yard with ease.
5. Call in Experts
There are experts in most areas of the US who are willing to remove snakes from a yard if they are found. These individuals can charge, but they can also do it on a volunteer basis. Removing the snake is not a long-term solution, however. What attracted the snake in the first place, might still be there and other snakes might move in.
Most experts will not harm the snake. Instead, they will relocate them to a more suitable environment where they can hunt and live in peace.
Final Word: How to Get Rid of Snakes in Your Yard Naturally
There are numerous ways to get rid of snakes in your yard naturally. Above is a quick explanation of what motivates a snake and how you can remove snakes from your property without harming the snake.