Snakes are naturally drawn to garden environments because they supply abundant shelter and food sources. For many homeowners, the prospect of encountering a snake while gardening causes anxiety. Understanding why snakes are present allows for the creation of a strategy focused on safe deterrence and coexistence. This guidance provides practical methods to modify your gardening space and practices, ensuring your time outdoors remains safe and enjoyable.
Modifying the Garden Environment
The most effective long-term strategy for snake avoidance involves eliminating the conditions that attract them: reliable sources of shelter and prey. Snakes seek cool, dark, and protected spaces, making cluttered areas highly appealing. Removing debris like woodpiles, rock piles, leaf litter, and old gardening materials significantly reduces available hiding spots and basking areas.
Managing the garden’s ground cover is a primary preventative measure. Keep grass mowed short, ideally under four inches, especially around the perimeter of the gardening area. Snakes avoid moving across short grass where they are exposed to predators. Dense ground covers, such as ivy or thick mulches, should be limited or avoided, as they provide continuous, safe passage and cover for snakes and their prey.
Controlling the population of small rodents, which serve as a main food source, is also important. Secure potential food sources like bird seed and pet food in sealed containers and clean up dropped seeds beneath feeders. Compost bins should be elevated and secured, as the warmth they generate attracts insects and rodents. Note that while chemical and natural repellents are marketed for snake deterrence, scientific evidence for their long-term efficacy is generally poor.
Implementing Physical Barriers
Installing a physical barrier is the most definitive way to exclude snakes from specific garden areas or an entire yard. This exclusion fencing must be properly constructed to account for a snake’s ability to navigate small spaces and climb. The barrier should be made of galvanized steel mesh, often called hardware cloth, with openings no larger than one-quarter inch. The fence material should extend at least 36 inches above ground and be buried six to twelve inches deep, with the buried section angled outward to discourage burrowing underneath.
For existing fences, the mesh should be attached directly to the interior surface and secured tightly to the ground without gaps. It is also important to seal any potential entry points into sheds, garages, and basements where gardening tools or supplies are stored, as these provide warm, safe retreats.
Safe Gardening Practices and Attire
Adopting specific practices while working in the garden can greatly reduce the risk of accidental contact. Always wear protective clothing, including heavy leather gloves and thick, high-cut boots that cover the ankles and lower leg. These boots provide a physical shield against potential strikes.
Never reach bare-handed into dark or obscured areas, such as under dense shrubs, deep mulch, or behind stored items. Before placing your hands or feet near potential hiding spots, use a long-handled tool, like a rake or hoe, to gently probe the area. This action prompts any hidden snake to move away before you get close. Scheduling gardening tasks for early morning or late evening can also reduce encounters, as snakes are generally less active during the cooler parts of the day.
What to Do During an Encounter
If you spot a snake in your garden, remain calm and slowly back away, as snakes usually only strike if they feel threatened or cornered. Immediately stop all movement and slowly retreat at least five to six meters, giving the snake ample space to move. Never attempt to handle, harass, or kill the snake, as the majority of bites occur when people try to intervene.
If the snake is non-venomous, monitor it from a safe distance and allow it to leave the area naturally. If the snake is inside a structure, such as a garage, or poses an immediate threat, keep a visual on it and remove all pets and children. The safest course of action in these situations is to contact a licensed professional snake remover or animal control service for safe capture and relocation.