Five Tips To Keep Snakes Away From Your Home
A snake in the house can be frightening, especially if the intruder is of the venomous variety. Although a wildlife removal service can get rid of the intruder, it's also a good idea to take some steps to prevent future snakes from invading.
1. Enclose Your Compost
An open compost pile can attract snakes for two reasons. The first is warmth. Compost piles generate their own heat, which makes them an ideal place for a snake to set up its den. The second is food. Compost piles also attract rodents and invertebrates, the main food sources of most snakes. If you must compost, use an enclosed compost tumbler or bin so snakes and other pests can't access it.
2. Remove Food Sources
Snakes typically feed on rodents, lizards, and small reptiles, or insects like crickets. Keeping your yard and home free of these pests will discourage snakes from coming onto your property. Don't leave items like pet food or birdseed out where rodents can access them, for example, and have an exterminator treat your home for pests like insects. The less food available to a snake, the more likely it is that snakes will stay away from your property.
3. Dry Up Water Sources
Like any animal, snakes need water, so they prefer to set up their nest and hunting grounds near a water source. Remove anything that can hold standing water in the yard, such as lawn ornaments, outdoor toys, or items like tires. Birdbaths should be hung up or placed on pillars that can't be accessed easily by a snake. Not only does removing water sources reduce the attraction of your yard for snakes, but it also makes it less attractive to other nuisance wildlife and pests.
4. Adjust Your Landscaping
Certain types of landscaping are more attractive to snakes. Unmaintained hedges and bushes provide the perfect place for a snake to set up their den, so prune bushes and hedges so there is space between the ground and lowermost branches. Then, keep this space clear of leaf and debris. Further, avoid using rock piles or thick gravel in your landscaping, since snakes can be drawn to piles of rocks when seeking a sun-warmed area to set up their den.
5. Seal Up Openings
Any opening into your home can allow a snake inside. Doors need to have sturdy thresholds and weather sealing, especially overhead garage doors. Any holes in the foundation or siding should be sealed with caulk so there is no easy entrance for a snake or the rodents that can attract them.
Contact a wildlife removal service if you need more help in eliminating snakes in and around your home.