Simple But Effective Ways To Deter Snakes From Your Yard

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Snakes are a natural (and often beneficial) part of the outdoors, but they can also become problematic in some circumstances. An occasional snake here and there is not usually dangerous unless a venomous species has entered your yard. Aside from preventing venomous snakes, you don't want to see a large number of these reptiles around your yard, either. Not only can they cause frightening encounters, but having a lot of snakes can also mean there are large numbers of their prey around your home, such as mice and rats.

If you are looking to keep snakes out of your yard, you don't necessarily have to spend money on a pest professional, though. Instead, you can look for simple ways to remove things that might attract snakes, such as places to hide and sources of food. It's no coincidence that many of the ways you can keep snakes out of your yard also involve reducing ways you might be accidentally attracting their prey, too. Most snake-deterring hacks are relatively simple to execute, but consistency is the key for them to help control them year-round.

There are many benefits to having a bird feeder in your yard. However, there can certainly be some downsides associated with feeding your avian friends. Bird seed may directly attract other wildlife, and in turn, their predators. Snakes are one of the creatures that may be attracted to your feeders because of rodents that are tempted by the seed. So, cleaning up bird seed messes can reduce potential sources of food for snakes.

Unfortunately, birds can be quite messy at feeders, often flinging seed on the ground beneath them. There are a few ways you can control this problem. The first is by cleaning up underneath the feeders at the end of each day. A less laborious option involves using a different type of feeder, such as the Swissinno No-Mess Bird Feeder. Not only do such products help catch some of the dropped seed, but some (like this model) are also designed to prevent rodent access. You might also consider ways you can protect your bird feeder from rodents with other natural solutions. If you're dealing with a severe snake problem, though, you may need to consider removing feeders entirely during the late spring and summer months when both rodents and snakes are more active.

While seemingly innocuous, fruit trees are other common yard features that may indirectly attract snakes. In fact, rodent and snake problems are among the things to consider before planting a fruit tree in your backyard. Fallen fruit from the trees can attract rodents, especially if the fruit is overripe or rotten. When rodents target these fallen bits of fruit, snakes may learn to find prey here and start to frequent your yard as a result. You don't necessarily have to get rid of your prized fruit trees, though. Instead, you'll want to regularly pick up any fallen fruit to reduce rodents and subsequent snake visitors.

Implementing this strategy is relatively simple and straightforward. All you need to do is clean up any fallen fruit on a daily basis and promptly discard it. The end of the day is a good time to do this, as many rodents, like rats, are more likely to scavenge for food at night. Be sure to place all fruit in a bag and then in a sealed garbage can so it no longer attracts rodents. Consistency is key here. So, consider setting a reminder on your phone or calendar to tackle this issue before it turns into a snake problem. 

Dog and cat food is not on a typical snake's menu. So, you might be surprised to find these reptiles hanging out by the food bowls you have outside. Spotting a snake in this area doesn't mean that it has a sudden hankering for kibble. Instead, they might recognize the spot as a prime target for capturing rats, mice, and other rodents. These small mammals are attracted to pet food thanks to its enticing blend of protein and fat. Taking pet food out of reach of rodents can, in turn, reduce the number of hungry snakes in your yard.

The best way to accomplish this task is to stop feeding your pets outdoors. This can decrease the pests in your yard that might be attracted to kibble, treats, or wet food. If you must feed any animals outdoors, avoid leaving any food unattended. As soon as your pet is done feeding, clean up any crumbs and leftovers, and then bring the bowl inside. And leaving bags of kibble is a common food storage mistake that may attract snakes to your garage or shed. Rodents can easily chew through the bags. So, keep non-perishable pet foods in sealed containers to avoid attracting them and subsequent snakes. 

A tidier lawn can have the added benefit of reducing the number of pests in your yard, including snakes. This is especially the case during warmer weather when snakes may take a break to cool off in the grass. The reptiles also favor tall grasses because these can help them hide from predators, such as birds of prey.

How often you should mow your lawn can depend on the type of grass and the time of year. However, most types of grass can be kept to about 3 inches tall. You also don't want to mow more than 1/3 of the height of your grass at a time, or else this can stress it out and cause damage. Establish a mowing schedule and stick with it as best as you can. Not only will you enjoy healthier turf overall, but you might also see fewer snakes around your yard. Plus, preventing the turf from growing too tall reduces the effort required for each cut.

Tall grasses aren't the only plants that can attract snakes. Aside from frequent mowing sessions, make sure all trees, bushes, and vines are pruned on a regular basis. This helps to reduce the number of places snakes can hide around your yard. Cutting back branches also helps to deter rodents from climbing and hiding, subsequently attracting their reptilian predators. What's more, keeping any large plants pruned can also reduce the chances of snakes accessing your home, too.

Following a pruning schedule can help reduce shrubs, bushes, trees, and other large plants from growing out of control and becoming snake havens. At the same time, you'll want to keep foliage from hanging on the ground so snakes cannot climb up it easily. Cutting branches back from the ground by 2 to 3 feet is a good place to start. It's especially important to keep all trees, vines, and bushes from touching your home.

In times of drought, some homeowners choose to water their lawns. If irrigation is permitted in your area, this is certainly a reasonable step to help prevent your grass from dying. The problem is that many people overdo it. It's usually not necessary to irrigate your lawn during rainy season. You may also need to cut down on the amount of water you're using, particularly if snakes are a concern. (As a bonus, your water bill might thank you, too!) This is because snakes may be drawn to your lawn more if it's wet. The moisture in the grass can be comfortable for the reptiles, and any lingering water might attract their prey, too. These include insects, worms, and frogs.

As a rule of thumb, most lawns need between ½ inch and 1 inch of water per week. This could come from natural rainfall, a garden hose, or an irrigation system. Clay-based soils can be watered in one weekly session, while it's best to water sandy soils in smaller increments a few times per week.

An overwatered lawn is just one spot that snakes might be attracted to. It's also important to carefully inspect your yard for areas of standing water. Pooling water can attract snakes as an easy way to quench their thirst. If these sources are common, then snakes may learn to rely on your yard for this important form of sustenance. (As a bonus, eliminating standing water can also help keep mosquitoes and other pests at bay, too.)

When getting rid of standing water, you can empty larger sources at the end of every day. These include birdbaths, watering cans, and play pools, which can be refilled the next morning as needed. Next, look for less obvious sources of standing water, such as unused flowerpots, toys, and buckets. Also, if your yard frequently puddles, you may need to regrade the soil to prevent this problem from occurring every time it rains.

It's normal to have to create piles of organic materials when you're raking, pruning plants, or mowing. And after a long day's work, it can be tempting to leave these piles to clean up later. When it comes to snakes, though, this can be a major mistake. Piles of wood, leaves, and grasses are all examples of debris that snakes might hide in. They're especially drawn to the coolness, darkness, and moisture such spots have to offer. Rodents may also be drawn to debris piles, and snakes will learn to find them here.

For these reasons, it's critical to remove debris piles right away before a snake decides to make them home. If you've left any debris piles out for an extended time, tap them with a shovel or other long tool to coax out any snakes before removal. Also, if you have firewood piles in your yard, keep them as far away from your home as possible. Or, store it high off the ground  to keep snakes from accessing it. 

While you might be focused on getting rid of debris piles and sources of food and water, it's also important to remove other items that might attract snakes. These can include non-organic forms of debris, such as children's toys, stray patio furniture, and empty flowerpots that may be left around your yard. Not only will you feel better leaving your outdoor spaces spic and span, but you'll also decrease the number of areas that snakes might hang out. Snakes might coil up and take shelter in any of these items, especially if they are hiding from the heat or nearby predators.

This strategy for snake prevention is relatively straightforward, but there are a few tips for success. First, before picking up loose items around your yard, use tools to check to make sure these are indeed snake-free before handling them. It's also helpful to schedule this activity on a regular basis so your yard is kept clean. Consider making it a habit to check for toys and other items around your backyard at the end of every day, especially if you have children who play out there often. Also, check inflatable pools and playhouses before any kids use them to make sure they are snake-free.

Birdseed, pet food, and fruit trees aren't the only sources of food that rodents can be attracted to in your yard. In fact, open trash cans and unsealed compost piles are two other areas that mice and rats might target. Remember that wherever there's a reliable food source to lure rodents, snakes are likely to follow. So, if you have either of these unsealed or uncovered, you could be inviting them to your yard.

The good news is that this is a relatively easy fix. First, make sure your trash cans have lids and that there are no holes around the containers themselves. It's also helpful to place all household trash inside garbage bags as an extra barrier. Rather than having an open compost pile covered by a tarp, consider placing all compost in a sealed bin to keep both rodents and snakes out. When your trash can or compost pile is left open, these containers can also make good hiding places for these reptiles.

Other methods of snake control can be physical ones that directly block these reptiles from accessing your yard. This is where fencing may play a role. When installed with snake prevention in mind, fencing can be an effective tool against unwanted reptilian guests. At the same time, a fence is usually recommended as a last resort when other snake deterring strategies have failed.

While this method is arguably the most expensive and time-consuming of all measures, this type of fence may be easier to install than you think. Mesh styles of at least 30 inches tall work the best, but you will also need to ensure the fence is buried 4 to 6 inches in the ground to prevent snakes from slithering underneath. You can also create a bend over the top of the structure so that snakes cannot easily climb up from the other side. When installed correctly, you might find that this type of fencing could be the answer to your snake problem.