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.
There are many scents snakes don't like including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents.
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.
You can also use materials that make it difficult for snakes to slither over like holly leaves, pine cones, egg shells, and gravel. You can also consider planting snake repellent plants that provide a natural deterrent. Some common examples include marigolds, lemongrass, and wormwood.
Too much landscape water may attract prey species such as worms, slugs and frogs, which in turn may attract snakes seeking a meal. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed and away from your home and garage, and keep branches off the ground.
Vinegar: Vinegar is effective at repelling snakes near bodies of water including swimming pools. Pour white vinegar around the perimeter of any body of water for a natural snake repellent.
It's costly, but you can snake-proof the entire yard with a concrete chain wall that extends six inches or so below the surface, noted AWR. "If you already have a wooden fence and the boards are very close together, a good solution is to snake-proof the bottom."
Victor Snake-A-Way repellent is proven to repel venomous and non-venomous snakes, including garter and corn snakes, from your property. The fast-acting formula uses a unique blend of ingredients that temporarily disrupt the snakes sensory receptors, causing them to flee the area in search of fresh air.
Calcium cyanide is a good chemical for killing snakes taking refuge in burrows, while there are several gases that sometimes work in fumigating dens.
According to Evans, Jeyes Fluid is the most popular repellent and many home owners pour it around the house, either once a week or once a month to keep snakes away. "This certainly won't make your house snake-proof. But, if poured right next to a snake, it probably will chase it away.
Vinegar and bleach can both be used to keep rattlesnakes away from your home. Bleach is less commonly used because it is a much stronger chemical that could be damaging to plants or other animals. Vinegar is most often used to keep snakes away from bodies of water.
Salt does not repel snakes. They aren't slugs so they won't dissolve on contact with sodium chloride. Nor will snakes go out of their way to avoid it since they're not afraid of it. Simply put, salt will have no effect on snakes.
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.
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.
"A common sign that you have a snake infestation is finding snakeskin around your property," Toby Cahoon from B&T Pest Control tells Best Life. "They shed their skin as they grow, so finding old skin around is a good sign that they're currently living in your yard."
It's likely that most snakes won't choose to go near dogs. They're bigger, noisier, and more of a hassle than a good snack. Simply by having your dog around, you will likely help to keep snakes away.
Do mothballs repel snakes? Moth balls are common old-time home remedy to keep snakes away, but this old wives' tale doesn't stand the test of science. Mothballs don't repel snakes. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them.
On cooler, overcast days, snakes may come out into the open to sunbathe for longer periods of time. You might find them on heat-reflective surfaces like glass or concrete.
Plant marigolds around your home, they tend to deter snakes.