Signs Snakes Are Making Homes In Your Yard

Seeing a snake slither through your yard can be an unsettling experience. While many snakes are harmless, some species found in the southern and western United States are venomous. Rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes all make their homes outdoors and may enter yards in search of food and shelter. Watch for these signs to detect if snakes are making themselves at home on your property.

Evidence like skin sheddings, droppings, holes in sandy soil, and small prey carcasses indicate snake activity. Their piercing eyes peering from wood piles, odd hissing noises in bushes, and unexpected foul smells also signal snake dens nearby. Protect your family and pets by learning where snakes hide, what attracts them, and how to make your yard less appealing to these potential dangers.

Identifying Snake Evidence In The Yard

Here are key signs alerting you that snakes may lurk on or under your property:

• Shedded skins from snakes found under objects
• Wavy tracks left on soil, sand, and across grassy areas
• Openings of burrows near the home's foundation or walls
• Odd hisses, rattles, or movement sounds from dense bushes
• Strong musky or ammonia-like smells coming from piles of debris

Snakes enter yards when temperatures get colder to find hot shelters to overwinter safely. Search carefully around firewood stacks, compost piles, gaps in foundations, and debris for evidence of snakes. A shed snake skin signals that snake recently grew and its larger loose skin is now discarded.

Common Venomous Snakes That Invade Lawns

Parts of yards that mimic native habitats are attractive to specific venomous snakes. Here are the most common yard-invading species:

• Rattlesnakes live in sheltered sandy soil spots near woodpiles and patios.
• Copperheads hide at yard edges under thick bushes, tall grass and leaf litter.
• Cottonmouths swim along streams and ponds edges on properties.
• Coral snakes burrow underground near gardens and forested sections of yards.

Knowing where each type hunts, dens, and breeds helps you detect and avoid dangerous snakes. Having a snake-free buffer between human activity areas and wild borders reduces surprise encounters.

Locating Snake Entry Points Around The Yard

Snakes are expert contortionists and can fit through tiny crevices. Here are common access points enabling snakes to enter yards:

• Gaps where wires, pipes, and vents meet exterior walls
• Cracks in patio bricks, sidewalks, and garden retaining walls
• Openings underneath external doors with poor fitting sweeps
• Holes adjacent to structure foundations, under fences, or in loose soils

Inspect along the home's perimeter for unsealed cracks. Use concrete patching products, metal mesh, and copper mesh barriers to permanently seal even tiny access holes. Consult a snake removal professional if you discover evidence of snakes inside crawl spaces or under homes.

Behaviors Revealing Snakes Are At Home In The Yard

Seeing a lone snake passing through isn't as concerning as recurrent sightings on your property. These habits indicate comfortable snakes sticking around:

• Spotting snakes near captivated prey like bird feeders or community pet dishes
• Discovering snake skin sheddings in the same areas over time
• Noticing snakes actively hunting rodents attracted by messy areas
• Finding baby snakes meaning pregnant snakes safely bred there

Eliminate things enticing snakes to move in long term. Dry out soggy spaces, remove excess garden debris, install rodent-proof garbage cans with tight fitting lids. Making the habitat less hospitable encourages unwanted snakes to leave peacefully.

Preventing Snake Dangers In The Yard

Here are useful deterrents making yards less appealing to snakes:

• Clear away woodpiles, rock piles, and compost bins far from the home's entrances
• Seal outside vents with mesh and repair holes along foundations
• Install snake repelling plants like gopher spurge near play areas
• Set up vibrating stakes, movement-activated sprinklers, or lights as barriers

Mow grassy sections often since snakes avoid open exposure. Trim back thick bush edges and ground cover plants to reduce hidden snake paths inside your yard. Protect pets by supervising them outdoors and training them to avoid snakes.

Using Smells And Sounds To Repel Snakes

Strong scents and alarming sounds make snakes bypass areas instead of sticking around. Things generating intense smells or vibrations can be strategically used to drive snakes away:

• Soak mothballs or rags in liquid ammonia or vinegar and place them along fences
• Sprinkle organic citrus oil, cinnamon, or clove extracts around ponds or gardens
• Set up ultrasonic pest repellents tuned to frequencies snakes dislike
• Add wind chimes or pinwheels sparking alert rattles to scare snakes

Focus smelly or noisy repellents around property borders, potential snake hiding areas, and anywhere pets or children play. Reapply strong scent solutions after heavy rains. Ensure kids and pests avoid direct contact with harsh chemical repellents reading instructions carefully.

What To Do If There Are Signs Of Snakes

Never attempt capturing or killing venomous snakes yourself! Their bites can quickly become medical emergencies requiring urgent specialty antivenom treatments. Safely notify professionals trained in snake removal instead of taking risks:

• Call local animal control department or wildlife resource commission
• Hire humane wildlife removal experts to trap and relocate snakes
• Purchase a yard audit to locate dens and strategically design barriers

Finding occasional garden snakes may not require interventions if safely away from living areas. But promptly address recurring snake sightings, strange odors, or multiple burrows which indicate serious infestations

Making yards less suitable for snakes reduces risks to people and pets. Here are useful tips:

• Install snake barrier fencing with at least 6 inches underground
• Ensure crawl space vents, skirting gaps, and stairs have snake screens
• Keep basements dry along foundations with proper drainage
• Direct outdoor lighting outwards to detect snake movements at night

Stack firewood uphill from houses since snakes go downhill into already sheltered areas. Graves, mulch beds, wood piles, and excess debris become tempting snake nesting sites. Place those uphill and incorporate handy snake deterrents around play spaces.