Snakes Are Getting On My Nerves....

[TSDaycare]

I would be having a fit! I would be very afraid to let the kids play outside!

Anyways here we have black snakes and copperheads- our trick is to put mothballs out- along your woodsline and all around the edge of your yard, also in your shed or under any decks, porches, etc. where it is cool and dark, that is there favorite place to hang out. One mothball every few feet works wonders, we haven't seen any snakes in two years since we started doing that and I am surrounded by woods, we saw several the first year living here before we knew what to do....of course if it rains alot you need to replace them because they will "melt", but it seems to work! Can't hurt to give it a try-a very cheap solution if it works for you!

Good Luck!

[Cat Herder]

I would be having a fit! I would be very afraid to let the kids play outside!

Anyways here we have black snakes and copperheads- our trick is to put mothballs out- along your woodsline and all around the edge of your yard, also in your shed or under any decks, porches, etc. where it is cool and dark, that is there favorite place to hang out. One mothball every few feet works wonders, we haven't seen any snakes in two years since we started doing that and I am surrounded by woods, we saw several the first year living here before we knew what to do....of course if it rains alot you need to replace them because they will "melt", but it seems to work! Can't hurt to give it a try-a very cheap solution if it works for you!

Good Luck!

I will try that around the playground. Thanks. I am one of those weirdos that actually likes the smell..

These are great snakes to have around because they eat pit vipers, I just have never seen this many before....:confused:

I already tried doghair around the outside fence line of the playground since my golden gives me a daily supply...it did nothing. Critter rid did not help with them, either

[youretooloud]

This afternoon, the neighbor kid found a HUGE (at least five foot long) Bull snake near my fence today.

So, clearly I Jinxed myself when I said I'd be thrilled to have them instead of rattle snakes. I wasn't upset... but, I wasn't out there trying to give him a name or anything. Sorta glad a bunch of 13 yr olds found him instead of me.

It took three teenage boys and one dad to hold him up for pictures. Then, they took him to some Reptile rescue place.

[laundrymom]

Perfect answer,.. Move. Lol. Holy crap I'm a weenie! I love indiana, I love Indiana, I love Indiana!!!!!

[Michael]

Don't know what I would do if I saw a snake in my yard. I thought having 2 brown recluses in my house within a week of eachother was bad. Scary!!!

I'd take a bucket full of snakes over a recluse spider anyday!

[laundrymom]

I'd take a bucket full of snakes over a recluse spider anyday!

I don't want snakes, gators, or spiders. Lol. Nice well behaved fluffy puppies for me!!!! Lol

[Unregistered]

Someone toled me to have a outside cat ,snakes dont like the smell of cats and also cut the bushes back they dont like to much light.I had snakes in my yard in Louisiana,I`m from Germany and we dont have snackes (zoo only) ,fricked me out ,I dont know wich snake is poisend .

[Meyou]

Cirtus oil will work too. Snakes hate citrus. It's the best way to get a snake to detach if you're bitten as well. I'm a big snake and reptile lover. I have a ball, 3 giant geckos and 2 beardies.

I read your post and was thinking...JEALOUS! Not so much that you have to clear the yard daily but that you have such beauties around you daily. I love rat snakes. My friend had a strawberry one that was just gorgeous.

[Cat Herder]

Citrus oil will work too. Snakes hate citrus. It's the best way to get a snake to detach if you're bitten as well. I'm a big snake and reptile lover. I have a ball, 3 giant geckos and 2 beardies.

I read your post and was thinking...JEALOUS! Not so much that you have to clear the yard daily but that you have such beauties around you daily. I love rat snakes. My friend had a strawberry one that was just gorgeous.

Where would I find citrus oil??

You would definitely love them, then. They are thick, strong and no scarring to be found...they must be living well.

I have over 30 rhacs (they are addictive ) and have fostered many other species over the years.

[dEHmom]

for the moth balls, would it work to put them in some sort of enclosure where they wouldnt' get wet, but would still give off a smell??? then you wouldn't have to replace them as much.

i know for our cabin when we'd close it for the winter, we'd put moth balls in a container with lids and holes. that way we didnt' knock them over and have moth balls running around. it works great. then we'd just take all the containers and bag them in the spring, and pull them out again in the fall.

[sharlan]

I would be very cautious with the moth balls as a little one might find them attractive.

[Michelle]

ummm, I will never complain about an earthquake again,
shaking house is way more fun that snakes!

[Meyou]

Where would I find citrus oil??

You would definitely love them, then. They are thick, strong and no scarring to be found...they must be living well.

I have over 30 rhacs (they are addictive ) and have fostered many other species over the years.

The citrus oil I have is in a spray can and I got it at home depot. It's actually a natural air and surface freshener but its all natural so just pure citrus oil. It won't harm them but it does irritate them like and it will release any biter. They HATE the smell.

I would love to see them and my oldest would never leave your yard!

[Cat Herder]

Someone toled me to have a outside cat ,snakes dont like the smell of cats and also cut the bushes back they dont like to much light.I had snakes in my yard in Louisiana,I`m from Germany and we dont have snackes (zoo only) ,fricked me out ,I dont know wich snake is poisend .

I have 4 indoor/outdoor, fat, long haired cats... I guess they just don't present much of a threat. :::: I would be hard pressed to get the off the couch during the day or the deck furniture during the nights, though.

Even my resident skinks and anoles all have their tails and lay across the decks ignoring the cats. The hummig birds dive bomb them all the time too, it is hilarious. ::

for the moth balls, would it work to put them in some sort of enclosure where they wouldnt' get wet, but would still give off a smell??? then you wouldn't have to replace them as much.

i know for our cabin when we'd close it for the winter, we'd put moth balls in a container with lids and holes. that way we didnt' knock them over and have moth balls running around. it works great. then we'd just take all the containers and bag them in the spring, and pull them out again in the fall.

Great idea Thanks!

I would be very cautious with the moth balls as a little one might find them attractive.

Absolutely. My playground is fenced, I will just put them around the outside fenceline (I already keep several feet cleared with round-up there.

[Blackcat31]

LOL!! This whole thread makes me laugh! We were out working in the garden last weekend and my DH saw a Common Garter snake about 18 inches long. He spent the rest of the weekend inside because he was so freaked out!! He HATES snakes! I think that is the biggest one we have around here. We have other kinds but they are teeny tiny and none are poisonous.

I am also with Michael on this one; I would spend the entire day with a snake (poisonous or not) before I get within a mile of a brown recluse spider....or any other spider for that matter. Those are what keep me inside and I don't think we have any venomous spiders where I live either.

FTR: we have no gators, crocs or lizards either. The worse thing we have where I live are misquitoes and sub-zero temperatures. ::

I was told that mothballs can and do work but other animals and pets can eat them and die so if you use them they should be put in somehting where the smell can still get out but no one can actually get to them.

I have also heard that sulfer powder sprinkled on a fence line works fantastic as does planting marigolds.

Someone else said put an "Owl" windsock out because snakes are prey for owls so the snakes will stay away from a natural predator.

If all else fails: move. LOL!!