You may have seen slither tracks in particularly dusty areas of your yard, indicating there are snakes nearby. If they're outside, then chances are a few will have made it inside too. If you think they have, you could try a sprinkling of flour on the floor to see if it is disturbed by snake activity.
The best places to search for a rattlesnake den are dark and cool areas, like animal burrows, underneath rocks or logs, and even your own porch. Just be careful and avoid any sudden movements! If you suspect a den nearby, but are not sure, look for snake skins.
If you find a dry, scaly sheet of the skin or a crumpled heap somewhere close to an entrance into the walls of your home or small space areas. If you are inspecting a dusty area or crawl space, you might notice slither tracks that indicate where a snake has traveled. Snakes have a distinctive smell that is noticeable.
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.
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.
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.
When it's cooler, snakes are typically out moving. Just because you see one does not mean there are more. If you see 6+ babies or adults in the same location in a short amount of time, then you have a problem.
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."
These holes can be found embedded in grass, in piles of dirt or sand, or under piles of logs or sticks. Snake hole openings are circular but can range in diameter and depth due to the snake's size. There are a few things to look out for that can help determine if there are (or were) snakes living in the hole.
In addition to hiding in tall grass, snakes will hide in yard debris. Tall grasses and shrubs are two ideal hiding spots for these reptiles. They also tend to hide away in storage sheds, piles of wood, or in fallen branches and limbs.
Recognize The Habitat
While in these environments, snakes may seek shelter in tree hollows, under logs, leaf litter, underground holes, rock outcroppings and/or burrows that have been abandoned by other animals. Here, they hunt for food, lay eggs, hide from predators, and seek shelter for thermoregulation.
Relocating snakes short distances is ineffective because they will likely find their way back to their home range. If you have one snake in your yard, that means there are others around! Removing one or more snakes often creates a false sense of security.
During the cold months, rattlesnakes conserve their energy in dens. During the warm months, the snakes are attracted to warm and dry spots. They usually find a shady spot during the hottest time of the day and venture out to hunt during cooler morning and evening periods.
The fact remains that the scales of snakes are mainly designed to repel liquids. So, the chances of snakes absorbing the acidic content of vinegar are most likely not going to happen. However, snakes can stay away from white vinegar because it confuses their sense, (smell), and organs.
Most commonly snake repellent people try to 50-50 of salt and crushed garlic. The salt may irritate the snakes skin and the garlic smell will update the snake and keep it away. Most people recommend to sprinkle the mixture around the edge of your property and house. Snakes will then leave your area alone.
What scents do snakes dislike? 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.
Calcium cyanide is a good chemical for killing snakes taking refuge in burrows, while there are several gases that sometimes work in fumigating dens.
What animal are snakes afraid of? Cats, foxes, raccoons, turkeys, pigs, and guinea hens are natural predators of snakes. Having these animals on or around your property is an effective natural way to keep snakes at bay.
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.
Baby snakes tend to be independent almost immediately after birth. Some stay near their mothers initially, but adult snakes do not provide protection to their offspring. As such, young must capture their own food to survive.
When snakes excrete waste, it is actually a mixture of feces and urine that looks white and is more of a liquid than a solid, much like bird droppings. The pests' waste may contain bones, hair, scales, and other indigestible materials leftover from meals.