Contrary to popular belief, snakes don't like the hot temperatures of summer any more than most of us do. In fact, on particularly hot days, snakes have to scramble to find shade or they'll overheat and die. You might run into snakes as they move back and forth from sunny places to shade.
Temperatures above 90 degrees Farenheit will cause an snake to overheat and could result in a fever that it can't control. Exposure to temperatures above 95 degrees Farenheit can kill a snake in minutes.
The first signs you see of overheating in a pet snake are usually subtle behaviour cues like spending more time on the cool end of the enclosure, wrapped around the water bowl or hiding in it or under it.
Snakes are mostly inactive in the winter months because they are cold-blooded. Scott Courdin at the Georgia Southern Wildlife Education Center says that goes for both venomous and non-venomous snakes. “When the weather warms up, the reptiles start moving around. It's basically due to the warmer weather.
What is the coldest temperature a snake can withstand? Snakes usually stay out of cold climates. Because the coldest temperature any snake can thrive in is around 65° Fahrenheit (18° Celsius), snakes normally live in the warmer temperate or tropical zones.
Contrary to popular belief, snakes don't like the hot temperatures of summer any more than most of us do. In fact, on particularly hot days, snakes have to scramble to find shade or they'll overheat and die. You might run into snakes as they move back and forth from sunny places to shade.
Chances are, you aren't a fan of being outside when it's around 90°F +. This goes for most other animals as well, including snakes. For snakes, their activity happens most prominently between temperatures of 68 and 80 degrees for the most part.
Typically, snakes become less active when temperatures dip below 60 degrees. To survive, snakes often look for snug, safe burrows to keep warm.
Snakes don't need a light to be on at night. They benefit from a day and night cycle, which means they need light during the day and darkness during the night. If the light stays on during the night, the snake could become stressed, lethargic, and may stop eating.
Ice cubes. Positioning ice blocks on the top vent of an enclosure will provide cool drops into the enclosure. This won't dramatically lower the air temperature though, and will increase humidity if allowed to drip on substrate. You could also pop some ice blocks into the water bowl, but not too many!
Lizards are being wiped out as rising temperatures force them to spend more time staying cool in the shade and less time tending to basic needs like eating and mating, a study finds. Sometimes it can be too darn hot even for a lizard.
Some snakes such as eastern brown snakes are active during the day, others prefer to hunt in the evening, while some species are more active at night during the hotter months.
Snakes are most active at night and during early morning and late evening hours, the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension says. One of the most common species of snakes isn't venomous at all.
As the weather heats up, rattlesnakes especially become more active. They, like humans, like to explore when the weather gets warm. Snakes are able to regulate their body temperature by moving in and out of shade. A warmer body allows a snake to move faster when trying to catch prey.
Use Natural Predators
Foxes and raccoons are common predators of snakes. Guinea hens, turkeys, pigs, and cats will also help keep snakes away. If foxes are indigenous to your area, fox urine is a very good natural repellent for snakes when spread around your property.
Research has shown that cinnamon oil, clove oil, and eugenol are effective snake repellents. Snakes will retreat when sprayed directly with these oils and will exit cargo or other confined spaces when these oils are introduced to the area.
Do Dogs Keep Snakes Away? Yes, big dogs especially can be a deterrent to snakes. They bark loudly and are much larger than snakes, so they will typically choose to stay away.
Snakes like to warm their bodies in the sunshine. Hiking in the evening or early in the morning helps you avoid their favorite part of the day.
Snakes are most active whenever temperatures are between 80-90F. This means that the snakes may be active most of the day during the spring, and during the early mornings and late afternoons throughout the summer.
The snake can be out in the night in protected, cool and damp areas. You may meet with the snakes near garage, retaining walls, wooded areas and near rocky streams. The wood piles and the debris have to be kept at a far place and the snake may be under the crawl spaces and the porches.
Food and water sources attract snakes and their prey – mice, rats, and insects. Keep pet food inside. Feed pets indoors to deter rodents and snakes from gathering outdoors around an easy food source.
Are Snakes Really Nocturnal Or Diurnal? Many snakes, such as the ones we've listed, are nocturnal and prefer to hunt at night. Others, such as corn snakes, garter snakes, and eastern indigos, are diurnal and hunt during the day.
Ammonia is a common snake repellent. Snakes hate the smell of ammonia and won't come near it. Soak rags in ammonia and place them in unsealed plastic bags. Leave the bags where you usually see snakes to keep them away.
Basking is common to most active diurnal reptiles. Lizards, crocodiles, terrapins, and snakes routinely make use of the morning sun to raise their body temperature.