Home Remedies to Keep Snakes Away
Snakes – scaly, legless creatures that slither into your yard and sometimes even your home. While your first instinct may be to run the other way, there are several benefits to keeping them around. Snakes keep rodent populations under control, with a single snake able to eat 3 to 4 mice at one time. They also eat moles, voles, insects, and even fish.
When Do Snakes Come Out?
Snakes are more commonly encountered when temperatures average between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit; usually during the spring and throughout the summer. They are most active in early morning and late afternoon, as summer temperatures are often too hot for them to be out in during the hottest times of day. Snake activity will pick back up again in late summer and early fall before they go into hibernation or brumation. Brumation is more common in southern states where the climate is warmer and snow is less likely. Snakes don’t actually sleep in brumation but rather their bodies adjust to the lower temperatures, slowing down their metabolism, and making them less active. On warm winter days, brumating snakes will sometimes come out to bask in the sunshine, often surprising unsuspecting people with their presence.
Eliminate Food Supplies
Snakes are often found in areas where rodents are present as this is one of their primary food sources. Snakes are also known to eat frogs, birds, moles, voles, insects, and even fish. If you have a problem with any of these animals, consider getting rid of that pest issue first. Once the source of food has been eliminated, snakes will move on in search of another source of food.
Eliminate Hiding Places
Snakes prefer dark, damp places and are known to live and hide in cracks, crevices, and holes. Eliminating these hiding places can help deter snakes from taking up residence on your property. Carefully inspect the exterior of your home and your property and repair any cracks or holes you find. Repair any damaged gutters, piping, and ventilation ducts. Repair or replace any damaged screens on windows and doors. Snakes will also hide in wood piles and compost heaps. If possible, store firewood in sealed, lockable wood boxes. Try to get rid of any piles of wood chip mulch, straw mulch, leaves, etc. that may be collecting on your property.
Change Up Your Landscaping
If your yard or garden is prone to snakes, consider making changes that will deter these pests from coming in. Garden regularly to remove any snake attractants like debris, holes, and overgrowth. Keep the grass cut short to eliminate hiding places for snakes. Consider installing snake-proof fencing made of steel mesh, plastic sheeting, or catch net. If you do install fencing, make sure it is flush with the ground and angled outward and that it is at least 3 feet high and 4 feet deep. You can also use materials that make it difficult for snakes to slither over like holly leaves, pine cones, egg shells, and gravel. You can also consider planting snake repellent plants that provide a natural deterrent. Some common examples include marigolds, lemongrass, and wormwood.
Way Snake Repellent
In most cases, snakes and homeowners do not mix well! Here at Priority Pest Services, we have a treatment for keeping snakes away. It is called Snake Away! One might ask, “Does that stuff really work?” The answer is yes, when properly applied by a pest control professional, indeed it does!
Snake away is a repellent product to help repel snakes away from your home. We put it in key locations flower beds or can broadcast throughout your yard or underneath your home. We can also set up a trapping service for snakes using various traps or whatever is deemed to be appropriate for that job. We trap and remove the snakes from the property.
How Does Snake-A-Way Work?
The Snake-A-Way is a granular product that contains ingredients that cause snakes to become unsure of their environment by affecting their nervous systems. Snakes use their tongue to test the air and surfaces around them. Then, they bring the tongue into the mouth and touch it to a special organ in the roof of the mouth that sends signals to the brain giving it information about its surroundings and any prey that may be near.
Snake-A-Way contains an ingredient that interferes with those signals to the snake’s brain, causing it to be uneasy and unsure of its surroundings and thus it goes somewhere else. When properly applied by a professional like those at Priority Pest Services (it does contain ingredients that need care in handling) it will keep the snakes away from your home, shed or yard.
Snakes
It is rare to encounter a snake problem in Trinidad. As shy creatures, if you see one, it is likely that they will simply be passing-by as quickly as possible. They tend to avoid contact with people so will steer clear of you and your pets.
Problems will need to be dealt with using very specific skills. If you have concerns regarding a snake issue, we would urge you to contact your local Zoo for specialist help and advice.
Snake Bites
There are hundreds of species of snakes around the world but only a low percentage of these are venomous. In Trinidad the only venomous native snake is the Adder also known as the Common Viper.
Types of Venomous Snake Bites
The recommended first aid for snake bites will also vary according to species. Treatment for a snake bite is defined according to whether the venom is cytotoxic, haemotoxic or neurotoxic and the wrong treatment will not only be of little or no help but could even be dangerous.
The Venom from Adders and Vipers is Cytotoxic
Generally two puncture marks at the site of the bite.
Bite causes instant pain, immediate swelling, bruising and blistering.
Symptoms include nausea and dizziness.
Immobilise the limb but don’t restrict the blood flow.
SNAKE RELOCATION
Although many snake species in Southern Africa can be harmless and generally avoid people, they may strike when threatened, causing painful bites to humans or animals. To the unsuspecting eye, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a venomous and non-venomous snake – making professional snake relocations the safest option if you find one or more on your property. When snakes in your backyard or on commercial grounds become a real problem, The Pest Control Specialists offers an effective snake relocation service to protect your property.
WHY CHOOSE OUR PROFESSIONAL SNAKE RELOCATION SERVICES?
We use expertly trained snake wranglers with all neccessary adn up-to-date permits to provide snake relocations programmes
Snakes are relocated to protected habitat areas
Snake relocation does not involve the use of any poisons, chemicals and does not harm the animal
All of the snake relacation service providers that we use are registered with the appropriate conservation departments
SAFE AND EFFECTIVE RELOCATIONS
Snake relocations are done in safe and environmentall manner with no harm on the animal
SNAKE AWARENESS TRAINING
Whether you own a private residence or manage a large commercial establishment, we can provide snake awareness training to you, your staff and family to ensure peaceful co-existence with our indigenous South African reptiles
HOW TO DISCOURAGE SNAKES FROM USING YOUR PROPERTY AS HARBOURAGE:
Mow your lawn regularly. Snakes like to hide in tall grass and weeds.
Seal cracks in your property’s foundation, patio or other areas that may invite snakes to seek warmth.
Compost piles offer a great hiding place for snakes as well as rodents and insects. Keep it contained and be sure to turn it regularly.
Remove any piles of debris and trim overgrown vegetation where snakes can hide
Store woodpiles or any other stacked materials off the ground.
Snake trapping
No one expects to see a snake slithering through their property, and chances are any snake inside your home is just as confused! While most snakes in Richmond and Northern Virginia are harmless, they still belong in the outdoors. Especially because one type of poisonous snake, the copperhead, is common in our region, it’s important to call a professional for snake trapping, removal, and exclusion services.
Common snakes in the area
Thankfully, most snakes in Richmond and Northern Virginia are typically harmless or non-poisonous. For the most part, the following types of snakes aren’t aggressive and do not seek to make contact with humans: eastern garter snake, rat snake, ring-necked snake, and northern black racer. The one snake residents need to worry about are copperheads, which are light brown in color and have triangular-shaped heads. If you notice this snake in or near your property, it’s time to call a professional snake removal expert.
Snake exterminator services
Snakes can be unpredictable and tricky to trap and remove. For this reason alone, it’s important to call a professional to help remove or exclude snakes from your property. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s provides exceptional snake trapping, removal, and exclusion services
How snakes get inside
Once inside, snakes are known to hide in small, dark spaces, such as behind appliances or in crawl spaces. Although they prefer to be outdoors, snakes may find themselves inside your home for a number of reasons:
They’ve tracked down rodents in or near your property.
They made their way through a small crack or gap beneath a door.
They were attracted to your shrubbery and tall grass, which provides hiding spots.
They were seeking warmth in colder temperatures.
Trapping & getting rid of snakes
No one wants to deal with a snake inside their property. While mostly harmless, they still strike fear in the heart of many people. Especially with the copperhead snake being so common in our region, it’s always best to contact a professional snake trapping company who can properly trap and remove the snake for you