Does rope work as a snake repellent?

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If someone were to put a cutout of you in the window of your home, would that encourage you to move out of it? No, we didn't think so. You'd probably be a tad freaked out at first, but you'd soon start to investigate (although you may call on backup to help), and once you realized there was nothing to worry about, you'd forget about it. You'd probably kick it out the way.



Deterrents and repellents work very much in the same way with these wild animals, we're afraid to say. And by sticking a bit of rope down, that's what you're doing - attempting to get rid of a snake by using a piece of rope designed to look like another snake. There is another reason why snakes are not said to like rope very much, and that's because of the rough feeling on the snake's tummy when it slithers right over it.

Despite the fact that snakes apparently don't like rope, for whatever reason, rope is not an effective repellent or deterrent, and you will more than likely find that the method doesn't work at all. Not even a little bit.

There are quite a few products on the market that are designed to keep snakes away, but sadly, they will have about as much hope as throwing some old rope around. Spicy flavors, such as chili, as well as strong flavors like cinnamon, mint, and more are all mixed together (and used individually) in the hope that the spray-fluid smells or tastes bad enough to keep the snakes at bay. Sulphur is another chemical we've sen advised on the internet to get rid of snakes, although we most definitely would not advise this. Not only does the compound smell vile, it is also an irritant. When you also bear in mind that sulphur very often comes in the form of powder, you will want to be very careful when you're using it. Just the tiniest bit in your eyes, up your nose, or in your mouth will result in coughing, sniffing, sneezing, water, and general irritation. If you get any on your skin, you should wash the area immediately, and you won't want to get any of this on clothes, floors, or soft furnishings either. You may notice that it can stain.

Lemon juice doesn't work, light machines don't work, and high pitched noise devices don't work either. In short, the chances of permanently and successfully getting rid of a snake using some form of repellent are probably slim to none.

The best way to make sure your property is snake free is not to rely on repellents, such as rope, that doesn't work, but rather focus on an inspect-and-repair mission, checking your home and land over for any patches of damage that could have let the snake slither right on in. Fences are a great place to start, although you will need to bear in mind that any fencing will need to go to at least a foot underneath the ground to ensure that snakes can't find their way in. Holes that lead animals into your home should obviously be sealed, and this is to protect against all wild critters, not just snakes. Where you find snakes you generally find rodents, so having your new slithering friend could be a sign of a much bigger problem; a rat or mouse infestation, perhaps?

Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time with repellents and bits of rope. Get the job done properly, first time, and it will prove cheaper, less stressful, and a lot less damaging, to your health as well as the state of your home.

For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does snake removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of snakes - my main snake removal info guide.
Example snake trapping photographs - get do-it-yourself ideas.
Snake job blog - learn from great examples of snake jobs I've done.