"You fold up the leaves of a blue flax lily, some people call it a dianella plant, and you blow into it," Uncle Mark says. "The leaves compress the air and it makes a high-pitched sound that scares snakes.
Research has shown that cinnamon oil, clove oil, and eugenol are effective snake repellents. Snakes will retreat when sprayed directly with these oils and will exit cargo or other confined spaces when these oils are introduced to the area.
There are many scents snakes don't like including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents.
While their diet varies by species, most snakes feed on small rodents (like mice) and birds. Having an abundance of these favorite foods around your home will draw snakes to your yard. Inspect your yard for signs of rodents.
Natural repellents including sulfur, clove and cinnamon oil, and vinegar may help repel snakes. Pour these substances around the perimeter of your property, any place you have noticed snake activity.
Avoid nighttime trail running.
Snakes also hunt at night. Their heat sensors allow them to detect pray unseen this way. You don't want to step in between a snake and its dinner. However, if you must run at night, run with both a buddy and a headlamp.
Calcium cyanide is a good chemical for killing snakes taking refuge in burrows, while there are several gases that sometimes work in fumigating dens.
The verdict? White vinegar may repel snakes – perhaps they hate the smell. However, it's a good idea to have a back-up plan in the (quite likely) event that it doesn't work.
Toxicants employed to kill snakes include nicotine sulphate in water, strychnine in eggs, and various insecticide sprays.
Should you find a snake (venomous or non) near your home and, for whatever reason, you'd like it to move along, spray the snake gently with a garden hose. A steady stream of water usually gets the snake to move away and seek cover (think about being a child and playing with water guns).
Ammonia is a common snake repellent. Snakes hate the smell of ammonia and won't come near it. Soak rags in ammonia and place them in unsealed plastic bags. Leave the bags where you usually see snakes to keep them away.
Snakes are most active whenever temperatures are between 80-90F. This means that the snakes may be active most of the day during the spring, and during the early mornings and late afternoons throughout the summer.
Snakes are at their most active when it's cool out. They move around most in the early morning and around dusk. Snakes hunt in tall grass, weeds, and other sources of vegetation. Around your home, they'll seek out shady or dark places where they can rest and cool down.
Garlic and onions are thought to be one of the most effective ways to repel snakes because they contain sulfonic acid, the chemical that causes us to cry when we chop onions.
Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes are extremely wary of humans and are not prone to strike. A bite is their last-ditch effort to avoid harm. Simply leaving a snake to do its job in the landscape is the best way to avoid a bad encounter.
It's likely that most snakes won't choose to go near dogs. They're bigger, noisier, and more of a hassle than a good snack. Simply by having your dog around, you will likely help to keep snakes away.
Leave it alone. Snakes are generally shy and will not attack unless provoked, so it's best to leave them be. If you see a snake inside your home, get all people and pets out of the room immediately.
"Essentially the answer is anywhere that the snake can fit its body is where it can be." He said they'll usually go to warm places low to the ground, so you're not likely to find one in your bed or bathtub.
Spotting a snake
The only way people will know whether there is a snake in their house is by seeing it, Sollenberger said. Snakes don't really have an odor and don't really make sounds so it would be impossible to smell them or hear them.
When it's cooler, snakes are typically out moving. Just because you see one does not mean there are more. If you see 6+ babies or adults in the same location in a short amount of time, then you have a problem.