If you see a snake, please keep your distance, do not try to touch it or try to contain it. Snakes are very common particularly in summer and will regularly be seen around houses and yards. They are usually passing through and will be gone within a few hours.
With the warmer weather on the way, snakes spring into action, moving onto greener pastures where food, mates or a nice warm place to rest will often find them in close contact with humans. It is pretty rare for a snake to stay in the same spot for too long, unless the conditions are perfect.
If you see a snake in your garden or house, do not try to catch or kill the snake. Walk away from it slowly and keep an eye on it from a safe distance (several metres away). Keep your pets safely away from it and the snake will usually move on in its own time.
A licensed snake catcher can catch and relocate a snake for a fee. All snakes are protected in NSW and killing one can be considered an offence. Only licensed people are allowed to catch or keep snakes.
Leave it alone. Snakes are generally shy and will not attack unless provoked, so it's best to leave them be. If you see a snake inside your home, get all people and pets out of the room immediately.
Having some snakes in your yard is a great sign that you have a healthy environment. Snakes are members of the basic food chain to help control unwanted pests and supply food for larger predators like birds. Harmless snakes may even eat venomous snakes, further ensuring a safe yard.
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.
They are harmless when they aren't infesting your home or hiding away on your property. Most species will leave us alone – but they can be temperamental if approached.
However, like most pets, they can accidentally find their way into your home at any time. Because snakes rarely nest, getting rid of one in your yard or home can be as simple as waiting it out. Once the weather changes or the snake is in need of food, it will usually leave on its own.
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.
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.
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.
Snakes will go into hiding as early as September or as late as December depending on which part of the country you live in. Depending on where they are, snakes will either hibernate or brumate. Hibernation occurs when snakes enter a deep sleep state, usually in colder snowy climates.
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 will harbor in areas that serve their needs. They need a place to hide and keep warm, moisture and a food source. Snakes can move indoors if these needs are met inside or near the structure.
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.
Sulfur: Powdered sulfur is a great option to repel snakes. Place powdered sulfur around your home and property and once snakes slither across it, it irritates their skin so they won't return. Sulfur does give off a strong odor so consider wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth when applying it.
Keep predators: Chickens, turkeys, and pigs will kill and/or eat snakes, so if you have the space and your area allows farm animals, consider keeping some around.
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.
Because snakes don't hear sound vibrations in the air very well, clapping is not an effective way to scare them away. Instead of clapping, try stomping your feet on the ground to produce vibrations that the snake will feel. This will be more effective than clapping.
Snakes are at their most active when it's cool out. They move around most in the early morning and around dusk. Snakes hunt in tall grass, weeds, and other sources of vegetation. Around your home, they'll seek out shady or dark places where they can rest and cool down.