I have tried every method to deter rattlesnakes. I have found two things that seem to help. Mind you nothing is 100 percent. Just use common sense when out in your yard and on your property. Rattlesnakes do not want to run into you or bite you any more then you want them to. Every single one I have had "face to face" contact with has tried to avoid me. That said here are the two things I have found work best.
Keep your yard clean of debris. Stacks of wood, tires, trash, etc harbor a nice place for a snake to hide and are a place for them to find easy food such as mice, voles, rats, baby bunnies etc. Keep your yard mowed and everything trimmed with a weed eater. Take away the food and shelter source and you take away the odds of having the snakes.
Second is keep a dog. Something in the hunting or herding breed. The snake wants nothing to do with something that may eat them and will try to avoid it. Listen to your dogs bark during snake weather. ( Snake weather in the spring and the fall are warm sunny afternoons following cool mornings, in the summer snakes will often move and feed at night after things have cooled down. This is because a snakes body temp is affected by the temp around them. They warm up in the spring and fall and become active. In the middle of a hot summer they wait until the area temps are comfortable for them to become active.) Dogs do not like snakes and will sound the alarm to let you know that something menacing is around. You will be able to hear the alarm in your dogs bark and can immediately respond and dispose of the snake if needed. We will not harm a snake that is not in the posistion to harm us. If we see them away from our yard we let them be. If they are sunning on our porch we try to find someone to relocate them and in the worse case scenerio we have killed them before.
One more thing to remember is that a snake will not always rattle before they strike and their rattle noise varies according to the age and size of the snake. I have heard rattles sound like a honey bee. Do not trust that they will all sound the same.
I hate snakes, I really do but I have learned to co-exsist with them because I love our home and property. I have learned over the years that with a little work we can both live in the same place. Although that doesn't stop the shivers that run up my spine everytime I see one. Good luck to you.
I'm not sure about rattlesnakes, I use sulfur around my house & property where any kind of snakes could be or stay. I know for a fact they don't like sulfur, it also serves in keeping down ticks, fleas, spiders & other such critters, they also don't like mint. Good luck in whatever solution you try.
I did some research for you about rattlesnakes, what they eat and their habitat. Apparently, man has moved into a rattlesnakes natural habitat and are plagued with them at times. If your residence has a lot of what they eat like small rodents, rats, birds, lizards, rabbits, squirrels, frogs, gophers, crickets and bugs then they will not go away easily.
Wild boars will kill and eat rattlesnakes and farm pigs will stomp and sometimes eat them while deer will stomp at them. Hawks, heron, fox, raccoons, milk snakes and racers also help to rid rattlesnakes.
Rattlesnakes live among rocks and damp land, high grasses and fields. It is best to keep lawn care maintained and one website I visited stated that moth balls will deter rattlesnakes. The party placed moth balls all over the yard and had seen one or two rattlesnakes in a year's time.
Surely there is a critter gitter in your area or goes by another title that will remove the rattlesnakes for you as their venom is useful in the world of medicine. But, if all else fails and I'm making light of this, have you thought of learning to eat rattlesnake? I hear it tastes like chicken. There's also websites that tell you how to prepare it for eating. Mmmm, Delish!
Forget the moth balls. Everyone seems to believe critters will run the other way with mothballs. The critters either push them out of the way or ignore them. When I had some problems with critters I contacted my state and asked them for some information. In my case they put me in touch with the forest service and I had my questions resolved.
In my state we also have what is called an extension service that helps with these types of problems. You could contact a college or university that has animal laboratories. I believe Florida has wild animal farms that feature crocks and snakes,you could give them a call. I also would call the companies that rids ones property of critters and ask them for some information. They should be listed in the yellow pages. In the long run I don't think you will find any long term treatment to deter the snakes from coming on your property.
I have always used mothballs as a deterrent. You just toss them around everywhere. I would suggest starting by putting them under your house. Also, bait traps or use poison for mice or rats to help get rid of snakes.(you could put some of these under your house as well). The snakes are probably there after them to start with and if you cut off their food source then they will go elsewhere. Hope this Helps! Good Luck!
Request: Deterrent For Snakes (09/16/2009)
I babysit my Grandkids at my son's house. It is on the end of the street with a big backyard next to a wooded area.
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Sprinkle mothballs along edge of backyard close to wooded area and around perimeter of yard; that is basically all that the stuff called "Snake Away" is. (09/18/2009)
Snakes don't like the smell of marigolds. Plant them around the edge of the yard as a border. I did this and it really worked for me, There were a lot of snakes in my yard at one time. Since I planted the marigolds I might see 1 a year. You could possibly set pots of marigolds out, too. Since it's the smell they don't like it might work just as well. (09/19/2009)
I babysit my grandkids at my son's house. It is on the end of the street with a big backyard next to a wooded area. Last night while taking out garbage my son thought he saw a snake in the trash can. I am terrified of snakes, I would sooner see a monster in the yard. Is there anythin that will be a deterrent for snakes? They also have a dog and I wouldn't want to poison her in the process. Please help.
Mamaw, KC
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RE: Deterrent For Snakes
I live in FL and boy oh boy do we have snakes. Like you I am terrified of them. We have found that putting Snakeaway in the garden and around the foundation of the house helps. You can buy it at Home Depot, Tru Value, Ace, and some of the larger Wal Marts carry it. Hope this helps you. (05/16/2005)
By Louise B.
RE: Deterrent For Snakes
My granny used to use moth balls and just throw them around the area she didn't want to cross paths with them. She swore by them. (05/16/2005)
By San
RE: Deterrent For Snakes
Use lime. (05/17/2005)
RE: Deterrent For Snakes
Snakes are beneficial as long as the snakes aren't poisonous or extremely large. Snakes kill mice, rats, and other pests. Usually if you ignore them, they will go away on their own. Call your local state park or another source of information and find out how to recognize the snakes in your area. My kids were taught to identify wildlife and their habits so they had a better understanding of nature. (05/17/2005)
Snakeaway is not worth the money. I had seen 2 snakes at my place, so I bought some Snakeaway, $15 and used the whole container around the house and under it. 2 days later, what did I see? Another snake sitting on top of the stuff so I put moth balls out, my mother swore by them as well. Been told sulfur and lime will work as well. So am waiting to see if there are more around. I will be getting a cat for outside, maybe that will be the best way. But Lord knows if one gets inside the house I will have a heart attack. (05/18/2007)
By Terrence
RE: Deterrent For Snakes
I have found Snake repellent sold at Tractor Supply Co. works and does not smell like mothballs. A friend told me to keep Seven dust out around the house, snakes seem to not like it. I haven't tried that.
I am deathly afraid of snakes, any kind. We live in South Texas on 10 acres and there are lots of rattlesnakes, Blue indigos, garters and such. The Blue indigos can give you a heart attack, but are great for keeping away rattlers. (07/20/2008)
By Diann
RE: Deterrent For Snakes
I have found that keeping a mongoose with you at all times will prevent snakes. I have three who I take everywhere with me. Work is sometimes a bit funny about it, but I have never encountered a snake so they clearly work. I have attached a picture of my mongoose with a snake he caught recently (09/12/2008)
