How to Keep Snakes Away

Snakes are found in many regions across the globe. If you have a spacious garden with abundant plants and insects, you may occasionally come across a snake. Their presence often indicates a healthy ecosystem, though they can be frightening or even dangerous if venomous. For non-venomous snakes entering your home, you can usually allow them to find their way out. If you'd prefer a more proactive approach, you can use a broom to guide the snake toward the door to open it.

Contact animal control if you suspect the snake is venomous. If you're uncomfortable handling the snake yourself, even if you believe it is non-venomous, there is no need to face it alone. Call animal control to safely trap and remove the snake. Venomous snakes must always be handled by professionals, such as animal control officers or wildlife trappers.

• Try to contain the snake in a room. For instance, if you spot the snake in the laundry room, close the door and stuff a towel under the door to prevent it from escaping.
• Keep children and pets away from the area until animal control staff catch the snake.

Let the snake find its way out. Typically, a snake will leave the house on its own if given time and space. If the snake is in a garage or a room with an exit, close all indoor doors and open the door leading outside so the snake can crawl out.

• The snake will leave your house fairly quickly. This method is simpler and more reliable than using forceful methods that might scare the snake into hiding in hard-to-reach areas inside your home.

Guide the non-venomous snake into a large trash can. If you're comfortable handling the snake, you can try this traditional method: First, tilt the trash can to lie on its side in the room where the snake is, then use a broom to guide it into the can. Once the snake is inside, lift the trash can up and secure the lid.

• Once the snake is safely inside the trash can, you can take it to a forest or another location far from your home to release it. Tilt the trash can, gently open the lid, and wait for the snake to crawl out.
• Consider asking friends, family, or neighbors for help if possible. The task will go faster and smoother with an extra pair of hands.

Catch the snake using a trap placed inside the house. If you suspect a snake is in the attic, garage, basement, or somewhere else in the house, set traps along the walls in those areas. The snake will slither into the trap and get caught. Once trapped, you or an animal control officer can safely remove the trap and take it outside.

• If it's a non-venomous snake, you can place the trap in a bucket and carry it outside or to the location where you want to release it. Pour vegetable oil on the snake to encourage it to leave the trap and crawl away.
• Check the trap daily to see if the snake has been caught. If you wait too long, the snake may die from hunger.

Catch the snake and take it outside if you're sure it’s non-venomous. Wear thick gardening gloves for extra protection. Slide a stick under the snake’s head and use your other hand to lift its tail. Alternatively, you can grab the snake firmly behind its head.

• Ensure the snake is non-venomous before attempting to handle it. If you're unsure, avoid touching the snake.
• Remember that the closer you get to the snake, the higher the risk of injury.

Let the snake leave on its own. For non-venomous snakes, the simplest method is to let them leave your yard on their own. Snakes that appear outside your home usually don't pose serious problems and will eventually leave. However, you should prevent children and pets from approaching the snake. Even non-venomous snakes can deliver painful bites.

• If you notice snakes frequently around your house, you might want to develop a preventive strategy instead of dealing with each individual snake.

Spray the snake with a hose. If you spot a snake hanging around near your home and want to encourage it to move away, sometimes all you need is to create a reason for the snake to leave. Use a garden hose to gently spray water on the snake until it moves away from your house and leaves the yard.

• Striped snakes and other harmless species are ideal candidates for this method.

Use a pool skimmer to remove the snake from the water. If you find a snake in the pool, you can safely remove it with a pool skimmer or any other similar tool. You can also use this method to scoop small, non-venomous snakes off your yard or grass. Try not to grip the snake too tightly to avoid damaging its ribs.

• Take the snake to the back yard or a nearby area with some trees and release it there.

Set snake traps outdoors. Outdoor snake traps are typically plastic boxes with bait or scents used to lure snakes inside. Once the snake enters the trap, it can't escape due to the trap’s shape. Place the traps around your yard in areas where you’ve seen snakes.

• Once a snake is caught, take the trap to a wooded area and release the snake.
• Avoid using lethal traps to capture snakes that enter your yard. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem and should be handled safely, not killed.

Trim the plants in your garden. Snakes typically thrive in tall grass and dense shrubs, so regularly trimming your lawn and cutting back bushes can make your yard less inviting to them. It’s important to remove fallen tree branches, hollow stumps, or any places where snakes might take shelter. Use these tips to make sure your yard isn’t overrun by snakes:

• Store firewood and other wooden materials at least 0.6 meters off the ground, and keep compost piles and garden material piles far from the house.
• Consider removing tall shrubs and trees that may provide shelter for snakes.

Eliminate snake food sources. Snakes primarily feed on rodents, crickets, and other insects. By reducing the number of these animals in your yard, snakes will be less likely to stick around for food. Fill any holes created by burrowing rodents in the yard with dirt or rocks. Clear away items like birdseed, fallen berries, nuts, and leftover food scraps from compost piles, as these attract mice and insects.

• Consider trapping or using other methods to reduce the rodent and insect population in your yard. You can read the article “How to Eliminate Mice” and ”How to Get Rid of Crickets” for more ideas.

Seal your home. Prevent snakes from entering your house by inspecting the foundation for cracks and gaps, then seal them with caulk or expanding foam. Be sure to also seal doors and windows. Attach mesh wire to chimneys, vents, and any other openings where snakes might slither in.

• The mesh should have holes no larger than 0.6 cm to effectively block snakes.

Use snake repellents around your home and yard. Snake repellents usually come in liquid form that you can spray on the exterior walls, or as powder that can be spread across your yard. These products are eco-friendly and safe for pets and lawns.

• Many types of snake repellents are available at home improvement stores or garden centers. You can also find them online from major retailers.

Make your own snake repellent. Mix one part rock salt with one part crushed garlic and scatter it around your home’s entrance, garden, or anywhere you want to keep snakes away. If the infestation is severe, you can mix equal parts sulfur and camphor for a stronger effect.