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Can anyone please give me ideas on earth friendly ways to keep snakes out of my yard with things I have at home? I had a rattlesnake on my front porch one morning and now I am terrified to go outside. I do live in the country and have never seen any of this for 14 years. We have 5 cats and I thought they were suppose to keep them away. Help!
I can't move and must stick it out. Besides I do love the country life, just not these so close to my door. Please tell me what I can do. Thank you so much in advance and God Bless You.
Kay from Clyde, TX
We've had a lot of luck with mothballs around our house. I live in East Texas near where you are, so I understand. They do stink, so be ready for that, but it's better than a snake in the house!
Well I was always told to pound the ground or floor with a stick the vibrations will make a snake move I not sure if this works or not. But I always hit the ground hard with my walking stick, and have not seen a snake in my path. Is there a nest (I think that's what they call them) around your steps, or porch, etc?
I agree with the use of Mothballs. It works but does smell for a while after putting them around.
We have had the same problem this week; I think it's because the summer is ending and they are looking for places to spend the winter.
I have had luck with spreading sulfur around the perimeter of my yard. It comes in bulk form and has to be spread by hand - cannot use a spreader. Good luck and God bless you.
I used to always call the local Animal Control unit of the police dept to deal with a wide range of animals.They do so kindly!
Here is what I have called them for :
possum (got in under kitchen sink)
wasp swarm
bee swarm
rabid dog
ground squirrels (came in thru chimney flu & chewed the playpen)
I too live in rattle snake country and have tried all the home remedies to no avail. I have found the best way is to keep you grass mowed very short and the fields around your home brush hogged. Remove any piles of wood, construction material, and rubbish as this gives them a place to hunt and a place to hide. Keep your rodent population down and be certain that all feed is kept in metal containers when stored outside as this attacts rodents which attract snakes.
Have any of your cats had kittens, or have any gone missing lately?I ask because we had a huge rattlesnake on our back steps once,and after we killed it, I realized where our kittens had been disappearing too. Sad, but true.
If a snake is coming around, he's looking for one of two things: A place to live or something to eat. If it's hot, he will look for someplace shady (like under your house).
Sulpher is the best! It will eat there skin off!
I heard that moth balls deter snakes. Might be worth a try
Does anyone know of any natural snake repellents? Please suggest.
By Sill from Charlotte, NC
I was going to suggest sulfur, which is in the archives below. Read those posts. Also, cats and dogs keep them away to an extent.
Lemon grass....
How can I repel snakes organically?
By susan
Get rid of their food source. Snakes are part of a healthy eco-system, they eat rodents, bugs, etc.
Get rid of food sources of course and put Osage orange tree fruit aka "hedge apples" by entrances of crawl spaces, entrances, etc. this an old pioneer method probably learned from the natives.
A mixture of hydrogenated lime and granulated sulfur may keep snakes away. Mothballs should not be used as pest control. It is harmful to humans and pets and is not effective at deterring snakes.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I am looking for ways to keep snakes away. I am scared to death of them.
By donna griffith from Lexington, SC
A snake would be scared of a fox. If you have a tractor supply, Rural King, or Big R type of store, they sell a bottle of fox urine. I know this sounds crazy, but it worked for us. We had a ground hog that actually busted the concrete floor in one of our outbuildings. The fox urine would be sold near the hunting supplies. It's a small glass bottle and only about $7.00. Of course it smells very bad. Take a handful of cotton balls and put the urine on them. Then put the cotton balls inside of a knee-hi panty hose and put this wherever you have seen the snake. Supposedly it makes them think a fox is around and they leave. Hope this helps. (06/29/2010)
By Edna Raisor
I have just about given up the love of gardening because of the abundance of snakes I come across. Any suggestions?
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Kathy
Try sulfur they hate it. Just renew when it gets wet. Snake Proof from the store costs $20 for 1 lb. 5 lbs pure sulfur costs 2 dollars and is available at most farm outlets. (05/06/2007)
By bigdood
Our neighbor uses moth balls to repel snakes. I don't know if works on the snakes, but it sure does work on me. Yuck. (05/08/2007)
I heard that lime works well, also. (05/08/2007)
By Elva
My heart goes out to you as I sure understand your plight. I've had snakes between my storm door and my mud room door for the past two years! They made a nest in the crack in the concrete between the foundation and the sidewalk and sunbathe on the concrete.
At first I bought expensive spray over the internet. But it was well worth the money as I learned something. The man who sold it told me snakes hate strong odors. (I think they "inhale" it through their skin.) The product I purchased smelled like the strong creams you put on sore muscles. It contained capsasin which I believe is a type of hot pepper. Last spring I put some Tiger Balm brand in that crack and haven't seen a snake there since that time. I truly believe anything that has a strong nasty smell would work. I particularly like the capsasin ointment because it renews its smell in the hot sun and you don't need to replace it when/if it rains.
I must tell you that I used to have lots of insects in my lawn. Then, voles came to eat the insects. Now I have snakes to eat the voles. Try to figure out if you have this type of food chain in your garden. Do you have any toads living in your mulch? If you eliminate the food supply, the snakes will go away.
Best of luck! (05/09/2007)
By Carol in PA
My husband sprays ammonia with lemon dishwasher detergent (to help it stick) where ever I don't want
snakes. It works. If it rains hard it will have to be done more often. If not maybe every 2-3 weeks. (05/12/2007)
By Marilyn
Milk in a coke can. Snakes get their head stuck in can. Milk attracts them in then get rid of snake. Done. (10/30/2007)
By Dan
