From tiny beetles to groundhogs, we share our outdoor space with plenty of creatures, many of who would rather keep their distance from humans. While we may enjoy our backyards, it’s important to remember that other animals can be nearby without us even knowing.

There are many ways for us to create a pest-free yard we’d love to spend time in. While we love our rock walls, woodpiles, and storage units, we may be unintentionally inviting some slithering reptiles. Snakes are plentiful in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and most would rather leave us alone. Still, you may find quite a few in your yard. So, what can you do to get rid of them?

Though snakes aren’t a fan of being near people, they do enjoy warm, damp places

Why are Snakes Near my Home?

While snakes can give some people the heebie-jeebies, these reptiles aren’t all that bad. In fact, these creatures are great for the ecosystem, especially when it comes to pest control. They tend to prey on rodents, like mice and rats, and they try to keep to themselves. While they do a rather good job at keeping those unwanted pests in check, you don’t necessarily want one in your yard.

Though snakes aren’t a fan of being near people, they do enjoy warm, damp places. They hibernate during the winter months, and they tend to seek out a toasty place to curl up. You can often find them in basements, garages, woodpiles, sheds, and even hiding away in rock walls if there’s enough space.

Snakes can slither inside through small cracks or pipes, and they stick around areas that supply a hefty food source. While they can take care of plenty of creatures, you don’t want them to nest near your home. If you want to keep snakes out of your yard and away from your house, here are seven tips to keep your property snake-free.

1. Remove any Food Source.

One main factor in any pest control situation is food supply. If a creature has an ample supply of food and water, they are not going to want to give that up. Try to eliminate any possible food sources that snakes would be attracted to. They tend to feast on rodents, eggs, nightcrawlers, amphibians, insects, and fish. 

If you have a pest problem, live near the woods, or have a pond or creek in your yard, be sure these areas are well-kept to discourage any manner of creatures from venturing into your backyard.

2. Block Any Openings

If you want to keep snakes out of any structure in your yard, be sure to perform regular maintenance on them. Wear, tear, and the passage of time is not kind on sheds, garages, or any other outdoor structure. Cover any open pipes with netting, seal any cracks, be sure to close any openings under doors.

By sealing off entry points, you can encourage snakes to look elsewhere. However, this isn’t limited to outdoor buildings. Snakes can easily find a home in a hole in the ground or in a rock wall. Fill up any empty spaces and keep things covered.

3. Trim Your Lawn

Snakes are usually on the lookout for a warm, moist place where they can take shelter. That doesn’t always mean they need a structure. Bushes and high grass work just fine as well. Snakes don’t like to be exposed, so the denser the area, the more likely it will have a snake. If you want to avoid any slithery entanglements, keep things trim.

Regularly cut your grass, trim hedges, and weed. Don’t let areas get overgrown. 

If you want to avoid any slithery entanglements, keep things trim.

4. Rough Things Up

Ever had a tag scratching the back of your neck all day? It’s an irritation many people can’t ignore. Now, take that up a notch and imagine sliding on your stomach everywhere. Snakes don’t necessarily have sensitive skin, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like hard surfaces. 

Mulch, gravel, and stones are perfect deterrents if you’re looking to put a barrier up around your yard. Any course surface can work; it won’t harm the snake, but they’ll think twice about returning anywhere that causes discomfort.

5. Keep Your Yard Clear

As we’ve established, snakes don’t need much when it comes to a home. They want to be warm and hidden away, and there are plenty of areas in your yard that can service them. Lawn equipment, playground equipment, birdbaths, over-filled gutters, snakes can make use of any space that suits their needs. Be sure to keep up maintenance on your yard and don’t let anything sit for too long.

When it comes to wood piles, make sure you store them away from the house and keep rotating the pile. The more well-kept your yard, the lower the chances you’ll run into a snake. 

6. Eliminate Excess Moisture

Snakes are constantly on the lookout for a water source. All it takes to bring these slithering serpents to your yard is a cool, damp environment. Of course, if you have a lot of moisture, snakes may be the least of your worries, as it tends to draw quite a few pests. Regardless, it’s a good idea to make sure you take care of any areas that gather excess water.

7. Consider Exclusion

Let’s be frank, when it comes to finding a snake on your property, no one is happy with the situation. You don’t want the snake there, and the snake is fairly sure it doesn’t want to be there, especially if you’re around. Rather than harm the snake or coercing the snake unintentionally into harming you, consider calling a pest control expert. 

Snakes are not a common pest, and will likely stay away from you; however, unless you’re a snake expert, you might not know what type of snake is hanging around. The best-case scenario is to not handle it yourself. Consult the experts and you (and the snake) will be happier for it.

Staying Snake Free

While they may seem scary, snakes are a crucial part of our ecosystem. Though it may not seem like it, these creatures are definitely more afraid of you than you are of them. The best way to avoid a slithering entanglement in your backyard is to follow these helpful tips. If you encounter a snake near or in your home, consult a pest control expert. As always, stay safe.

 


 

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