Garter snakes are a common sight in residential areas across North America, and while they are non-venomous and generally harmless, their presence can be unsettling. These reptiles, often recognized by the distinctive stripe running down their backs, are beneficial to the environment, but you may still wish to encourage them to leave your yard. The goal of effective snake management is to use humane methods for immediate removal and then implement long-term landscape changes to prevent their return. This process focuses on making your property less attractive by removing the things snakes seek most: food and shelter.
Understanding Why Garter Snakes Choose Your Yard
The presence of garter snakes is a sign that your yard offers two things they need to survive: consistent food sources and reliable shelter. Garter snakes are opportunistic carnivores whose diets primarily consist of soft-bodied prey. Their favorite meals include earthworms, slugs, and leeches, making moist garden soil and compost piles especially appealing. They will also readily consume small amphibians like frogs and toads, as well as insects and occasional small rodents if they are available in the landscape.
To escape predators and regulate their body temperature, garter snakes also require secure hiding spots. Shelter is often found in common yard debris like stacks of firewood, piles of rock, or old landscaping materials. Dense, low-lying shrubbery and overgrown areas of tall grass provide perfect cover for them to move and bask safely. Furthermore, they often seek out warm, protected spaces for overwintering, such as under patios, near foundation cracks, or inside loosely stacked retaining walls.
Safe and Humane Active Removal
If you find a garter snake currently in your yard, the first step is to confirm its identity from a safe distance before attempting any interaction. Garter snakes have a thin body and typically feature a yellow, white, or orange stripe running lengthwise down their back. Once you are certain the snake is non-venomous, you can attempt to encourage its departure. If the snake is outdoors, simply giving it a clear path and space to move on its own is often the easiest solution.
Manual Relocation
For a snake that needs immediate relocation, you can gently guide it using a broom or a long stick, nudging it toward a container like a bucket or a large trash can placed on its side. Once the snake is inside, carefully upright the container and carry it to a suitable release site. The ideal release location is a natural area with cover, like a wooded edge or field, that is at least a mile away from your property to discourage an immediate return. Relocating them too close or to a completely unfamiliar habitat can severely compromise the snake’s survival chances.
Trapping Methods
Non-lethal traps can be used, particularly for snakes that frequently enter a garage or shed. Minnow traps, baited with earthworms or small eggs, are effective as the snake can enter but has trouble exiting the inverted funnel opening. Additionally, specialized humane glue traps, which are designed to be placed in an enclosed box, can be effective indoors or in protected areas. If a snake is captured on a glue trap, it must be released humanely by pouring vegetable oil over the snake and the glue, which neutralizes the adhesive and allows the snake to slide free without injury. Chemical repellents, such as those containing naphthalene or sulfur, should be avoided, as scientific studies indicate they are not effective at deterring garter snakes and may even be harmful to pets or children.
Modifying Your Yard to Prevent Recurrence
The most effective long-term strategy for keeping garter snakes away is modifying your yard’s landscape to eliminate the attractive conditions. This process focuses on habitat denial and resource removal.
Eliminating Shelter and Cover
Begin with habitat denial by removing potential shelter sites, such as clearing away all debris like leaf litter, piles of rocks, and old boards. Firewood should be stored neatly off the ground and away from the house foundation to minimize hiding spaces.
Maintaining a short lawn is highly effective, as snakes prefer the safety of tall grass to avoid predators. Keep your grass cut to two or three inches. Shrubs and dense ground cover should be trimmed back, ensuring a space of at least six inches between the lowest branches and the soil.
Controlling Food and Moisture
Eliminating the snake’s food supply is an important measure, which involves controlling populations of slugs, earthworms, and rodents.
Controlling water sources is also important, since moisture attracts amphibians and other soft-bodied prey that garter snakes feed on. Address any leaky outdoor faucets or hoses, and ensure that bird baths are not placed directly on the ground near foundation areas.
Structural Exclusion
For structural defense, inspect your home’s foundation, especially around patios and steps, and seal any cracks or holes wider than a half-inch. Snakes can enter surprisingly small openings.
Installing a dedicated barrier, known as snake fencing, provides a physical exclusion zone around your property. This fencing is typically made of hardware cloth with a quarter-inch mesh size, which is small enough to stop juvenile snakes. The fence material should be at least 24 inches high and buried two to four inches into the soil, with an outward-facing bend at the top to prevent climbing. When properly installed, these modifications encourage snakes to seek territory elsewhere.