Snake Control
Unlike other species, snakes can be a little difficult to control. For
example, with mammals, trapping often provides an easy and effective method of
control. Snakes however, often require one to change the habitat around your
home to prevent entry. While trapping is effective to control snakes, it is not
AS effective as it is when trapping mammals. We at Wildlife Damage Control don't
want you to be discouraged, just realistic. We hope the information provided
will be beneficial. As always, tell us how we can do more.
Snake Identification:
Snakes
Snake Traps
Our first advice is to try to get you the homeowner
to live with the snakes. Snakes living under your front steps or cruising through
your back yard is not really anything to worry about. Unlike other animals,
snakes don't damage property.
If you still can’t handle the sight of
snakes, there are a few things you can do to reduce their presence around your
property. First, keep the lawn low cut and clean. Snakes need
cover to hunt in and protect themselves. If they don’t have places to hide they
are less likely to be around. Don’t leave wood or brush piles sit in one spot
for years on end. Cut grass short and keep leaves and other debris picked up.
Second, repair cracks along your foundation and fill holes
around pipes. Snakes only need about a ¼ inch crack to get inside. Fill the
hole before they decide to set up a brood nest there.
Third, just because you see a snake on your property doesn’t
mean you have to kill it. As most of you know, I am not an animal rights activist.
But just because it is not wrong to exercise dominion over creation doesn’t
mean than we must exercise it at every opportunity. Proper dominion only occurs
when the ruler understands his/her subjects. Try to take the opportunity to
learn about the snake. Watch him. There is a reason why God made him that way.
To give you a head start, these snakes are designed to hunt creatures living
in tight quarters. Can you think of any other reasons why the snake is built
the way he is?
Natural Enemies to Snakes
One e-mailer wondered, "If you think guinea fowl
would be helpful." WDC would be interested in any comments regarding the effectiveness
of Guinea fowl to keep away snakes.
One e-mailer writes, Take it for what it is worth Readers.
But WDC is thankful for the response.
Having grown up on a farm, I have observed a lot of different
animals' interactions with snakes. First off, the guinea pen was more
of an attractant to snakes than a repellent. Eggs and chicks were constantly
disappearing with only slightly more noise from the guineas than usual.
If directed to do so, the rat terrier and border collie would play tug
of war with and eventually destroy a snake. Of the farm animals, the best
deterrent by far was the pigs. The pigs would go into a killing frenzy
whenever a snake had the misfortune of entering their pens.
As for rodents, the rat terrier was a much better deterrent
than any of the barn cats. The rodent population grew immensely after
his death, regardless of the cat population. Now pack rats have caused
$1200.00 damage in 1 night to one of the 4 vehicles they've nested in.
They're a little too crafty to fall for any of the traps or poison that
has been put near their nests, so vehicles parked there now have their
hoods left up and work lights hung under the hoods. Control of raccoons
and opossums was much easier, usually involving an electric fence around
the garden and a nearby farmer with a shotgun!
Hope some of the preceding info will be useful. Michelle
- If you have snakes inside your building then you
will need to set traps for them. We sell Snake Guard® traps. They are easy to use and effective in capturing snakes. Please visit
our page on Snake Guard for more information.
- Removing
Snakes in Homes
- Snake Tongs
6/14/04
Disclaimer: WDC seeks to provide accurate, effective and responsible information
on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is
governed by this understanding.
We welcome potential users of the information
and photos to simply ask for permission via e-mail. Finally, WDC welcomes
e-mail but understand that all e-mails become property of Wildlife Damage Control.
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