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!
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! However, it is starting to cool down, so they will be going into hibernation soon. We treat the area right around the house in March every year as it starts to warm back up.
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.
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 always heard that if you sprinkle sulfur around the house and yard it will keep them away. Hope it works. Good luck.
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 :
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.
Sulpher is the best! It will eat there skin off!
Better the mothballs smell than a snake in the house ... Better cancer than a snake in the house ?
Mothballs consist of naphtalene or paradichlorobenzen. Naphtalene is a carcinogen. Paradichlorobenzene is a carcinogen. Mothballs sublimate into gas it is the gas that kills or repel moths. The insects don't have to touch the ball or eat it or come close to it just breathing the gas is enough to kill the insect. What you call the "smell" of the mothball is in fact that killer gas and if you smell it it means that you are breathing it.
also will mothballs help to keep cockroaches away?? THANK You
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
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.
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. There is also a chemical property to this fruit that supports this. It works for spiders too if you get rid of eggs and webs first. You also get rid of a snakes' food source.
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.
I have just about given up the love of gardening because of the abundance of snakes I come across. Any suggestions?
