10 Tips For a Snake Free Yard
Roosters play a vital role in a farm yard. One of those roles is to protect his flock. We have a modest flock of laying hens on our farm, with a rooster named Vinny. This afternoon as I was mucking out the coop, Vinny gave out a distress call and he and the hens made a beeline for the oop. I looked up in the air and saw a cooper’s hawk flying over carrying the carcass of a 30 inch snake in its talons.
That is right folks, spring has arrived overnight in Cincinnati and with that, all our creepy, crawly, and fuzzy fauna is out moving around including our leggless snake friends. Here are 10 tips on keeping your home free from those slithering squatters
Mow grass often and keep it short. Snakes are less likely to hang out and move through short grass because it increases their exposure to predators (e.g., coyotes, hawks). Short grass also makes snakes easier to spot by you and your family members.
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed. Trim trees and shrubs away from your home and garage, and keep branches away from the ground. Creating a 24-36" space under trees and shrubs will reduce snake use and will make snakes easier to spot if present.
Move the bird feeder. Birds are messy eaters and often leave seeds scattered below their feeder. Seed on the ground attracts rodents which may attract snakes seeking a meal. Move feeders away from the house or stop feeding altogether. Store bird seed in a metal can with a tight fitting lid.
Feed pets inside. Feeding pets outside can attract insects and rodents which attracts snakes. If feeding outside is necessary, be sure to cleanup uneaten food right away. Store pet food in a metal can with a tight fitting lid.
Move your woodpile. Store firewood, excess lumber, and other types of debris away from your home. Stacks of lumber and firewood, and other piles of debris are perfect places for snakes to hide.
Think before you landscape. Avoid using mulch and large rocks in your landscaping. These materials attract snakes and their prey, and can create breeding and overwintering habitat. Instead, use smaller tight-fitting rock such as gravel or river rock. Avoid water gardens and Koi ponds as these water features attract snakes.
Seal the cracks. Seal cracks and crevices on the house, sidewalks, and foundations to prevent snakes from using these areas. Consider getting an energy audit. Energy audits can be a great way to identify cracks and crevices that allow air conditioning and/or heat to escape the home - these same cracks and crevices may be used by snakes and other small creatures.
Do not use mothballs. The active ingredient in mothballs is naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These chemicals are toxic to insects and mammals, but are not effective against snakes (San Julian, 1985). Naphthalene may cause illness in humans, and have been linked to death in children. Using mothballs outside your home violates product labels, and puts your family and pets at risk. Do not use mothballs.
Do not relocate problem snakes. Snake relocation might seem like a good way to reduce human-wildlife conflict, but most research on the topic has found that the snakes die more often than not when relocated.
Do not bring out the guns, shovels, or other weapons. Bringing a gun or other weapon to a snake encounter increases the person's risk significantly. Discharging a firearm toward the ground can result in bullet ricochet, and even trained police officers have accidentally killed innocent bystanders when trying to shoot a snake. If you need to get a snake to move on, use a water hose to spray the snake which will encourage it to find a new place to hangout.
Following this advice should help you enjoy a wonderful snake free spring. Of course, if you have persistent problems, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by clicking on the Schedule Service tab on our website and we would be happy to come out and create a plan to help keep your family and property free of the problems snakes can bring.
Till next time… see ya folks.