Snakes, any way to keep them away?

Snakes should be left alone to do their job, whch is a much healthier way to keep rodents in check than poison is. Use all of the advice for deterrents on here. Many of them are common sense: Mowing, keeping the area cleaned so as not to attract rodents, keeping chicks in clean quarters with 1/4 inch hardware cloth, planting clover, spreading mothballs , anything to help you with your phobia or hatred but leave the killing out of it. Snakes are villefied to such an extent that some people kill them on sight, for no reason. Teach your children to leave them alone. Learn to tell venomonous from nonvenomous. Make it a priority. Snake phobias and hatred are learned; they are not innate responses and they can be unlearned. I ive in a wonderful area for observing snakes and I catch and release every one I can, even venomous. Not once have I been bitten (cept a dry bite by a pygmy rattler) and I provoke them by cornering and catching them. They will not run to your children to bite out of spite. If you keep your yards clean and mowed, they will have no place to hide. Far worse for your children and pets are the use of poisons to kill rats when the snakes are all gone.

__________________
Tiny Forest ~ my tiny blog

Timely topic for me!

Found a copperhead by the water faucet last night. I paniced and didn't think of how I could kill him. Woke up at 3 a.m. thinking "he may live in those chipmunk tunnels under the cement front doorstep & walkway". Had to go to work this morning. Got home mid-afternoon. Shining a light under the cement walkway.....yikes there he is!!!

Called animal control. They send someone out. she can't get him out of the tunnel tells me to call an exterminator. Guy says it will take him an hour to get there. While I'm on the phone with him, my son and the animal control person have decided to get him out by spraying water in the hole. MISTAKE!
He went further in his tunnel. These tunnels must be deep!

Pest control guy shows up. Can't find snake. Was a nice guy, felt sorry for single panicky woman with shaky voice and doesn't charge me.

He said there are probably more in this wooded subdivision. He said to maybe look into getting a Kingsnake.

I have a decent sized dog and a few cats. I don't want them to get hurt from any thing like poison or moth balls (would the dog really eat them?)

I'm not happy. I'm scared to walk out my front door. If I try to kill him with the shovel do I try to chop him with it or flatten him?

Usually, you just chop the head off with the shovel.

Tina,
just maintain your high caution when it comes to snakes, When we lived in Georgia I killed on average three a year in the yard. The yard was mowed close, as was the area surrounding it for 20 yards or more and they still came into the yard. One time a rattler bit my dog, cost me over $400 by the time it was all done with, (anti-venom is not cheap). Most people told me I should have just let the dog die and save the $400, well I couldn't, the dog was a friend and was between the snake and my grandson. By the time I got out there and killed the snake it was too late for the dog. Another time I got a call at work from the wife, her and the daughters had got in the pool (above ground) and a water moccasin decided to take a rest at the bottom of the ladder, that is funny now but it wasn't then.
I don't know of any magic potions so to speak, I do know that some birds will alert to a snakes presense, not sure if this is only when they have eggs or young, but you have to be alert enough and home to hear them. I have heard that a free roaming pig will keep them away but again don't know if it is true. I have heard a king snake will kill them but don't know if that is all poisonous ones are just certain ones, and what's to keep the king snake there if you release it. Some people say snakes will not bother you if you leave them alone and are just doing their job. That may be true of some but not each and every one, usually I have had rattlers slither off if they can, but moccasins are another story I have had more then one come at me, even some in the wild that I had no intention of killing. To me snakes (all animals actually) are more like people then we like to admit, each is an individual and not subject to the normal or average behavior pattern and they may or may not preceive you as a threat. Just be careful girl.

I live on a farm with lots of pasture. This year we've re-located five huge black snakes already. I have dozens and they average 5 feet or longer, with the longest being 7 feet so far. No exaggeration.

I've talked to a wildlife biologist about them because I know they are doing what snakes do. I do try to appreciate them, but they give me the willys. I think it is all in their size -- they are so big!! Since I have chickens and other fowl, I have lots of spent food and that means lots of mice. But, the snakes take the easy route -- they go after my ducks (ate three and then couldn't get back out the tiny hole it came through), and my hen eggs. The mice keep on coming.

A five footer was at my front door the other day, trying to get inside. They like it inside. The wildlife biologist, btw, told me that mothballs, sulphur, all those remedies do not work. But, I heard the other day that pigs will eat them.

I have also heard that black rat snakes are very territorial and keep other snakes away. That might be true -- when I first moved here, we had great ring-neck snakes and kingsnakes. Not anymore, which is a disappointment, but perhaps they will keep copperheads at bay. I hope so.

I have guineas, and all they do is circle the snake, point at it, make a huge fuss and then move on. They do NOT keep them from coming in the yard. Nor does short grass. They move where they need to go, through clover, grass, whatever.

I wish I could embrace them. I have several neighbors who hold them and let them twine around their arms. Oh, if only.....but un huh.