How Do I Get Snakes Out of My Yard

1. 75

   Barbara Kayposted 12 years ago

   Last year we had a Michigan rattler in our yard. Now I am seeing snake holes in my perennial flower garden. I'm not willing to give up my shrubs and gardens. How do I get rid of the snakes?

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      Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There are products made for repelling snakes from your property.  Just search for "snake repellent" on Amazon! 
      
      
      I know what you guys are thinking!

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         earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         ... and don't hurt the snakes, snakes are our friends.

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            Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Earnest! 

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      mdcgardnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Place moth balls out around the yard/shrubs.

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      dredcuanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe you can make some snake traps.  Much better if you trim down all plants in your yard will do so they won't have any convenient place for them to stay.
      
      Not really sure how effective this last tip is, but older people here usually say that snakes are afraid of cats.  Try to have cats, might be effective lol

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   SomewayOuttaHereposted 12 years ago

   i don't know...Randy Godwin is a snake guy - maybe he'll pop by with some suggestions.....

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3. 68

   ThoughtfulSpotposted 12 years ago

   Tempted to tell you to call St. Patrick, but I'm assuming you're looking for a serious answer...
   
   I would try calling your local wildlife conservancy.  They often have great answers for questions like this and are a very under-utilized resource.  Just remember to be patient and conscientious of their time... a lot of conservancies are run by volunteers and private funds.  They may not be staffed very well.

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      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks.

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4. 63

   Lisa HWposted 12 years ago

   Well, I know this isn't helpful, but my approach would be to find a way to keep myself out of the yard and let the snakes do their thing.  There - problem solved.    (I do like the St. Patrick idea, though.     )

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      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa, This would never work. I love my yard and gardening. I think all my plants created a good environment for them.

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         Rafiniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Maybe change your plants to non-snake friendly ones? 
         
         (I honestly have no idea what to do - I've never seen a snake where I live.  Thank God!! lol)

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            Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Sissy! 

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         Lisa HWposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Ah - that may be the difference between you and me:  I have a tendency to kill all plants but those that have miraculously survived for years and years in spite of me.  It probably doesn't matter, though, because the mosquito problem where I live is so bad it would take a whole lot to get me to go out there anyway.   

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            earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Lisa can you grow any plants that keep them away? I hate the little blighters. Yet another thing to blame god for!
            
            
            I don't know if they work or not, but I have heard somewhere that they stay away from some plants.

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               Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Citronella plants, as well as some others, will repel mosquitoes.  But putting up bat houses or purple martin birdhouses can really make a difference in the mosquito population. 

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5. 82

   earnestshubposted 12 years ago

   Carefully!

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6. 0

   lynnechandlerposted 12 years ago

   Couple of weeks back I was overrun with the critters. You have a food source for them somewhere and your best bet is to figure that out and try to eliminate it. For me it is the pond that sits adjacent to my house and the frogs that come with that pond. Can't get rid of the frogs so I got curious. Started looking into other elements and well if you are actually seeing them frolicking in the yard, it could be the universe is trying to tell you something.
   
   The ancients believed that snakes brought signs of change and once you accepted this then they would move on. Interestingly enough about the time I started seeing all my little friends, I was feeling rather unsettled and trying to make a choice of sorts, I thought long and hard about the symbolism and decided it was time to move forward with some things and you know what I haven't seen a snake since.
   
   On another note, you can get some lime and put it around the areas where you are seeing the holes, moth balls don't really work so don't let anyone tell you to use them. My bet is though you have something they want, like mice, chipmunks, frogs etc. I would seriously see if you could figure out what they are after and then try to get rid of the food source first and foremost.

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      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      We have a small lake not far from our house, but not on our property. I can here lots of frogs at night. Maybe that is the problem, but there isn't much I can do about that. Thanks for the info though.

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      mdcgardnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      We have used moth balls for years and never had a snake in the yard.

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7. 71

   Beth100posted 12 years ago

   well, it's obvious.... you need a mongoose!!! 
   
   (except for Randy, he needs lots of love and care)
   
   Sorry, really, I'm no help cause I love my snakes and wouldn't think of getting rid of them.  They help the keep the mice population down around here....and I haven't seen rats in ages! 

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      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      If they were just garter snakes I wouldn't care, but we have dogs and I"m worried about them getting bit by the rattlers. Snakes give me the creeps too. I wished I loved them, but I've been afraid of them since I was a child.

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         Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Or perhaps you need a king snake, such as the one used in my avatar.  They love to eat rattlesnakes and are immune to the rattler's venom.  I saw a seven foot long king a few days ago.  Want me to catch it and ship it to you? 

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            earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            King snakes are like king parrots... they're king and what they say is law!
            
            Reminds me of a little thing my dad used to recite at odd moments.
            
            
            Sh*t cried the King! .... and forty thousand ar*eholes flashed in the moonlight!
            
            Then he would say ... very seriously...
            
            "Of course in those days, the King's word was law!"

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               Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               HA!  Your dad sounded like a hoot, Earnest! 
               
               My dad had some doozies too!

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            Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            No thanks!

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   recommend1posted 12 years ago

   Eat them all - they are delicious in almost any dish where you might use chicken.

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      Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Or cat!  I know you love your Chinese food, Recom! 

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         recommend1posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I did see cat on sale recently - I doubt it will go on much longer as city populations are earning generally higher money and more pets are appearing everywhere, same with dogs, still available in some restaurants but the dog meat specialist places have all gone.
         
         Snake is a delicacy, along with eels and frogs.  I like eel and snake but can't get my head around eating a joined pair of spreadeagled frogs legs !

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            Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You are right, fried rattlesnake tastes very much like chicken, as does frog legs and gator tail.  Rat or cat?  Never tasted it, but a squirrel is merely a big rat with a furry tail and I like it pretty good cooked with rice.  Raccoon is better though! 

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   Michael Willisposted 12 years ago

   Call your local exterminator company. They have products that will repel snakes. The over-the-counter products are not strong enough.

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