How To Get Rid of Snakes

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There are approximately 120 species of snakes in North America, 17 of which are venomous. They live in a variety of habitats, some aquatic, some land-based. All snakes are carnivores, and feed on a variety of small prey, which they swallow whole. Snakes can prove beneficial in reducing certain types of vermin, but many people prefer not to encounter snakes at all.

NOTE: Do not provoke or attempt to catch or handle any snake that you cannot properly identify - it may be a venomous snake. If you are bitten by a venomous snake, you should immediately get medical attention at a hospital. Read about how to tell if a snake is venomous

After you read the below information, in the event that you wish to hire a snake removal company, you may want to see how much does our snake removal cost?


How To Get Rid Of Snakes: First of all, snake education is very important. Many people are ignorant about snake species and behavior. If you have a fear of snakes, it's best to just leave them alone! They will not attack unprovoked. That said, if you wish to control or eliminate the snake population on your property or in your home, there are several steps you can take:

Physical Snake Removal: The most certain way to get rid of snakes is to physically remove them from the area. This is the technique that I most specialize in. If a snake is on the property, I come and remove it. I might catch it by hand, or I might use a tool such as a snake hook or snake tongs. I put the snake in a snake sack and remove it from the property and relocate it far away from the capture site. This technique eliminates the problem with the known snake on the property, but of course there might be more snakes, or a new one might come by.

Snake Prevention Techniques: There are several snake prevention techniques. The easiest, and perhaps the best, is habitat modification. The snakes are on your property because something is attracting them to that area. The two most likely attractants are cover and forage. If your property has a lot of debris and thick plantlife, it will attract snakes. Especially attractive are things snakes can hide under, such as plywood boards, gaps under concrete, etc. Eliminate the clutter, trim back the weeds, and fill in any gaps that snakes would like to use for shelter! Also, lower the food source through methods such as rat control. Another, more extreme, means of snake prevention is the installation of a fence around the perimeter of the property. It must be flush with the ground, or preferably go into the ground, and angled outward at a 20 degree or so angle, and be at least two feet high. A nice, solid, vertical fence that is flush with the ground, no gaps underneath, will also do.


Snake Trapping: Trapping snakes is also an option. You can set snake traps on the property, and they will catch any present snakes. Trapping is a very good option when you've seen a snake a few times, but it never sticks around long enough to remove by hand. Snakes have the advantage of working 24/7. You can buy a very good snake trap (probably the best available) via a link at the bottom of this page.  This is probably the best way to get rid of snakes in the yard or inside the home, garage, or pool area.

Snake Repellent: Many snake repellents are sold, even at reputable hardware stores. Alas, I've tried every one available, numerous times, and there is no magic spray, snake powder, or device that you can use to make them go away. Some people try to sell predator urine, such as coyote or fox urine to get rid of snakes, but that doesn't work. Mothball flakes (naphthalene) and sulfur are also very commonly sold, but these do not deter snakes in the slightest. They actually poison the environment. Ultrasonic sound emitters are also marketed for every creature alive, including snakes, but these devices are worthless at deterring snakes. Some old wives' tales recommend the use of sisal rope, human hair, ammonia-soaked rags, garlic, etc to make them leave, but I've been to countless homes where these techniques failed - biologists know that these attempts won't work.

What to Do About a Snake in the Home, Attic, or Basement? If you have a snake inside your house, it must be physically removed. Hire a wildlife professional to find and remove the snake, or set snake traps inside the home. You can set traps to remove snakes in attics, or in the basement as well. You can use a net to remove a snake from the pool. Removing the snake is not enough. If you want to know how to get snakes out of the house, you must find out how it got into the house, and seal shut any and all entry points. Snakes can climb, so it's important to seal the entire house. This is good for keeping out all sorts of critters. Sealing the house will also get rid of snakes in the basement as well. Setting traps in the cellar is a good way to catch and remove snakes in the basement.


I can give you advice on How To Get Rid Of Snakes Without Killing Them as well as let you know about Plants that keep snakes away. Find out if you are eligible for How to get free snake removal and whether or not snakes can crawl up plumbing or toilets. Learn more about whether snakes are dangerous to cats, dogs, or other pets, and how to find a lost snake in your house. I also have advice on how to get snakes out of your walls, and a list of Home Remedies To Keep Away Snakes And Get Rid Of Them. Find out if snakes have ears or bones and what attracts them to your property. Don’t miss the Snake Poem: Red Touch Yellow, Kill a Fellow.

Please take a look at my award-winning snake removal photo galleries and unique snake removal blog for more information on snake removal and control from a true expert!

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People often encounter snakes because their property provides good habitat. Like all animals, snakes seek out good places to hunt and hide. Sometimes this includes a person's property, or even house if there is access. Like many animals, snakes often choose flight before fight, but a startled or provoked snake will certainly defend itself. Many snake bite victims are bitten on the arms or hands, indicating that they messed with snakes they should not have. Bites can be avoided using common sense. Many snakes give a warning before a strike (such as the rattlesnake's tail rattle), but not always. Some snakes can be unpredictable. It is best to keep distance between yourself and a dangerous snake, at least up to half a snake's body length, which is a typical striking distance. Let the pros safely identify, capture, and remove an unwanted snake. You can read this article about the red touch yellow kills a fellow rhyme. The ONE AND ONLY WAY to take care of your snake problem is with physical removal of the reptiles. If you need to find a professional trapper in your hometown, just click our comprehensive list of hundreds of wildlife removal professionals, and you can have your problem quickly taken care of!

You can safely catch snakes with a special trap, which you can order by clicking this banner: