How to Get Rid of Snake Infestations

Snake infestations can be scary, especially when the snake infestation includes venomous snakes. Getting rid of snakes can be tricky, since there are many different environmental factors that can contribute to the overpopulation of snakes in your area. While a few here or there are always to be expected, an actual serpent infestation is too much for most people to handle. Read on for step by step tips that will help you eliminate the majority of factors that create an overpopulation of snakes.

Snake proof boots

Electronic snake repellers

List of species of snakes infesting the property

Kerosene

Mint (dependent)

Rodent repellents

Put on a pair of heavy boots for protection, as you will need to take a look at your property and the areas that snakes seem to like the most. This will offer your feet and lower legs some protection against venomous snake bites.

Determine what types of snakes are part of the snake infestation on your property. Different snakes have different food sources and shelter preference. You might be overrun with bull snakes if there are tons of gophers in the area, for example. Having this knowledge will help you figure out the best strategy for getting rid of the snakes.

Look for a "preferred habitat." For example, if you have piles of stones and tall weeds around the property, these are both habitats that snakes enjoy, especially if there is a water supply close by. The same can be said for unkempt hedges. One of the most effective ways to get rid of a snake infestation is to identify the snakes' favorite environments, then alter the environment to make them less appealing. If you're going to take apart rock piles, be very careful and wear heavy duty gloves.

Kerosene is unpopular with snakes. You should never dose a large part of the property with it, Use a little bit around rock formations might be a good way to discourage snakes from approaching. Other people like using electronic snake repellers in the same way, placing them in areas that would normally serve as snake shelters to make those shelters less appealing.

Get rid of the food supply. If you have a lot of gophers, get rid of the gophers and the snakes will leave. Mice hate mint. Grow mint sprigs around the property and see if that gets rid of the snakes. Maybe when the mice leave, so will the snake infestation.

Keep snake friendly environments as far away from the house as possible, and keep maintaining the property. A lawn that is consistently mowed without weeds or compost piles is not going to make a snake comfortable.

Consider biological options. In Australia, guinea fowl feed off of snakes, while hawks and owls also will feed on the animals. Some cats will attack smaller snakes, while Jack Russell Terriers are quick small dogs who hate snakes. All of these might provide a way to keep the snake population at bay.

Using a combination of these strategies will often yield the best results.

Spend a lot of time on identifying what food sources and what environmental factors are attracting the snakes, since those two factors account for the overwhelming majority of snake infestations.

Do not handle venomous snakes. Call in the professionals.

Don't use moth balls or chemical snake repellents as many of them don't work, and virtually all of them have toxic chemicals.