Getting Rid Of Snakes

[Moonshine]

Our neighborhood in the metro is seeing a lot more snakes this year.  They are in the rocks next to my front patio and the wife won't go out there any more.  Does anyone know of a way to kill garter snakes?  I have been looking for poisons, but can't find anything and they have been too quick for me to get with a shovel.  I saw snake repellents, however I would rather just kill them.  Any help is appreciated.

[bobbymalone]

I have seen glue traps but I have heard mixed reviews.

 

I know a handful of chickens will gang up and kill garter snakes with great efficiency, but that's probably not a good option for you.

[Mike89]

they do eat alot of skeeters and such...   I'd use repellent......

[1968]

No tips here other than a comprehensive plan will also involve dealing with your surplus of snake food should you kill them.  Anything that eats what eats or nests in my stuff is beneficial in my book.

 

Think positive. The front patio is now your quiet place. 

[Wanderer]

I get it that some people don’t like them but those are really harmless.  As others mentioned, more beneficial than a nuisance.  They’ll thin out as they disperse and probably not be so prevalent next year.

 

I know, I know, that’s not a plan the wives are usually happy with.

 

I won’t even let any of my family kill bull snakes on our property.  Good mouse control.

[delcecchi]

Pick them up with your hands, put them in a bag, paper or plastic, drive to a nearby waterway and release them on the shore.  

 

They don't bite and are good for the environment.

 

 

 

[Moonshine]

All good points.  I have heard that they like to eat mice.  Not sure why I was able to trap over 35 voles this year then.

[Wanderer]

8 hours ago, Moonshine said:

All good points.  I have heard that they like to eat mice.  Not sure why I was able to trap over 35 voles this year then.

 

Sounds like you need more snakes!

 

Sorry, couldn’t pass that one up.  But seriously, maybe the vole population is the reason they’ve showed up so heavily.

 

I have a couple acre yard/field at my place and have some gophers living in it.  The foxes will try digging them up on occasion making the mowing a little rough.  Had to ask myself at one point, do I shoot the foxes for digging or kill the gophers so they don’t have anything to dig for?

[Wanderer]

Guess what I saw at Fleet Farm.

[Juneau4]

Snakes are quiet and only eat things I don't want in the house, bugs and mice.

They go to  food source.

[Hawg]

One of my absolute fears, I'd sell the house!

[delcecchi]

On 8/13/2019 at 4:32 PM, Juneau4 said:

Snakes are quiet and only eat things I don't want in the house, bugs and mice.

They go to  food source.

If it is garter snakes, pick them up with your hand and put in a bag.   Release them a mile or so away.  

[Moonshine]

On 8/20/2019 at 3:47 PM, delcecchi said:

If it is garter snakes, pick them up with your hand and put in a bag.   Release them a mile or so away.  

If I can get that close to them, they are getting the spade shovel.

[Wanderer]

12 hours ago, Moonshine said:

If I can get that close to them, they are getting the spade shovel.

 

Did ya try the repellent?  Curious if it works.

[Duffman]

We used to get garter and milk snakes during the spring in the house growing up. I figured they were hibernating somewhere in the foundation and looking for a way out or hunting mice.

Was always a sight watching my mom walk by with a snake in her hands. She started wearing gloves after a couple of milk snake bites.