by Joel La Rocque

Created on: November 28, 2008   Last Updated: June 22, 2009

There are several items on the open market that claim to remove unwanted snakes from a yard or home. The sad part I am sorry to say is "none of them work". There is nothing ( that is safe ) that will deter a snake from crossing your property. A snake will follow a scent trail laid down by a prey animal, most often a mouse or rat will leave such a trail. The snake is on the hunt so to speak, if the mouse is within your home and the snake has found a suitable sized entrance that has been used by the rodent, it too will follow the trail into the house. The one thing to remember is a snake will not remain in any area that does not offer the three things required to sustain the snakes life. Food is the first item. If food is abundant the snake will return when ever it feels the pangs of hunger. Second: shelter, the snake must have an area that is secure from predators and maintains a temperature variants suitable for the snakes needs. Third: Snakes mate in Spring and Fall, any area with out the opposite sex will be vacated during breeding season.

To keep your home and yard free from permanent snake infestation you MUST keep the living spaces clean and neat. If you have a fire place and store wood, it must be kept off the ground. You must pick up all forms of metal sheeting and plywood from the ground. These are ideal places for rodents to live and if you have rodents you will soon have rodent eaters ie. snakes. You must caulk and secure any and all openings that are accessible to rodents. In a basement keep everything neat and clean. Store and types of food items such as root and tubers foods ie. potatoes, corn, beans in sealed containers and off the floor. Hanging from hooks is a reasonable way of storing food items.

NEVER NEVER pour gasoline down a hole you find in the yard, you will contaminate the soil for centuries to come and kill animals you might welcome in your yard. Snakes do NOT dig holes in the yard, they might use them now and them for shelter but they do not dig them. Any poison caries with it serious repercussions if used in the wrong manor, think before you act. If you see a snake in your yard and you know that you have done everything you could to snake proof your home and yard, relax, it is probably passing through. In fact take the time to study it from a safe distance, you might enjoy watching its movements, color and its ability to maneuver around or over obstacles in its path. If the snake is in your garage or home, a little more action might be called fore. Remember snakes do not chase people, if it is a small snake use a broom to gently nudge it to the door and close it behind the snake. If you can not bring yourself to do this, call someone who removes wildlife pests and releases them alive and unharmed. There is no reason to kill the animal simply because it wondered onto your turf. Some people charge for their services some do not, I do not.

Have a local exterminating company do an evaluation of your property, most of the things that a pro finds can be repaired by you with little out of pocket costs. A little screen or steal wool, caulk, wood and a mouth full of nails can give you the security and peace of mind you require. Just remember to remain calm and think, you have time on your side and no snake to date has ever swallowed a home owner at least none I am aware of. Don't waste your money on snake proofing products that are on the market, they do not work. If you must spend your money, purchase a book on identifying snakes in your area, it will aid in knowing what you are up against and you just might learn something to boot.

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