Content
- How to know if there are snakes around?
- how to scare away snakes
- Are there any plants to ward off snakes?
- Garlic scares snake?
- What if I find a snake at home? Tips
- Why can't you kill snakes?
In the animal kingdom we can find some groups of animals that generate fascination and attraction for certain people, while in others they can produce fear and rejection due to its danger, as is the case of snakes and snakes.
In several regions of the world, such as in Brazil, deaths due to snake bites have become a public health problem, so prevention is extremely important when living in areas where they are present. Therefore, at PeritoAnimal we want to offer information through this article about how to scare away snakes, in order to avoid possible accidents that could affect both people and domestic animals, also preventing these snakes from being constantly killed by fear of them.
How to know if there are snakes around?
Due to human population growth, many cities have expanded into areas close to forests or ecosystems where snakes inhabit, so they will not always be found exclusively in rural or agricultural development areas, but in some cities they can also be found, with the possibility of even entering the houses.
How to know if there are snakes around? Well, that's not so easy as it's not simple to identify your trail. However, there are some indicators that can guide us in this regard:
- remnants of your skin: one way to find out is when we find remnants of its skin, which maintains the animal's shape after moulting.
- Animal tracks or traces: they are one of the animals that crawl, so another possibility of knowing if there are snakes around or at home is trying to identify the presence of tracks or traces that they may leave in the surroundings, such as in the backyard or on patios, because when they pass by a sandy soil or earth leaves characteristic and visible marks of its body.
- sounds or hisses: we must also be aware of certain noises that are particular to some snakes, such as the hissing or the sound produced by the vibration of their tails, an example that can be seen in the genus Crotalus, commonly known as rattlesnakes.
- Wounds on our pets: the appearance of unusual and unexplained wounds in our pets may be an indication of the possible presence of snakes in our homes. Of course, if we suspect that our pet has been bitten by a snake, it's important to take him to the vet urgently, as we don't know if he's been injured by a venomous snake.
- Periodic check: Finally, one of the safest ways to find out if there are snakes in homes is to periodically carry out a thorough search through the cleaning and organization of the space we inhabit, especially if we live in areas prone to the presence of these animals.
If at any time you discover any of these animals in your home, you may find it useful to read this other article by PeritoAnimal on the difference between snake and snake.
how to scare away snakes
Preventive measures are essential when we live in certain regions where snakes are common. Therefore, putting certain strategies into practice can be useful to avoid accidents with them or, at the very least, a moment of alarm. Let's get to know some recommendations from how to scare away snakes of a house or yard:
- control your fangs: a first step to take into consideration is to keep certain animals under control, such as rodents, amphibians, invertebrates and even other reptiles, since snakes are active hunters of live prey, and are attracted to these types of animals.
- Avoid accumulating objects: an important aspect to consider is the order around the house, so you should avoid the accumulation of objects that can be used as a refuge for snakes and that do not allow us to see them easily.
- Pruning the backyard garden: another way to keep them away is to prevent them from finding a refuge in soils covered with excessive vegetation, as this gives them the possibility of hiding, preventing their visibility. Therefore, permanent pruning of backyard gardens is recommended.
- How to scare away snakes with pressure water: in case we come across a snake directly, we can scare it away by spraying water with a certain pressure through a hose, or also try to push it away with extreme care using a stick long enough to force it to leave the area.
- catch it with a net: Another way to scare away a snake is to catch it in a net with extreme care, and then release it in an area far from our home. For this, you can use a very long stick or stick. However, if you do not know the species of the snake, that is, if you do not know if it can be poisonous or not, it is better to call a professional directly.
- Milk with salt, a dangerous combination: is generally recommended as snake repellant the use of milk with salt. However, this will only have a certain effect if applied directly to their eyes, as it will irritate them. But this mixture will not be a really effective measure and could be dangerous, due to the proximity to these animals, especially if we do not know if they are poisonous. Therefore, we do not recommend it because of the risk of snakebite.
- Keep doors and windows closed: it would also be important to take into account some actions so that these animals stay away from our homes. An example of this is keeping doors and windows closed or using barriers with nets that prevent their access.
- spread ammonia or sulfur: In some cases it is recommended to use certain chemical repellents for snakes, such as sulfur and ammonia. But we emphasize that they are harmful to the animal and, therefore, it is preferable to spread these substances around the house and not directly on the animal. Furthermore, it is important to handle them with care, as they can also have harmful effects on people.
Are there any plants to ward off snakes?
It is common to read that certain plants can be natural repellents for snakes, however, they are not always fully effective, as it will depend on the species of snake and how irritating the odor of the plant can be to scare these animals away.
However, other zootechnical reports indicate that for some species of snakes, plants like camphor act as natural repellents., so their coordinated planting can be helpful.
Garlic scares snake?
Some studies also report that, contrary to popular belief, the use of garlic to scare away snakes it is not usually very effective, specifically in the case of viperids or vipers, which are quite poisonous.
In any case, if you usually have snakes or snakes in your house, it is better to go to a professional to help you identify the species and indicate the best measures of how to scare away snakes.
What if I find a snake at home? Tips
If you find one of these animals in your home, we recommend the following:
- Contact professionals: the best thing is to get in touch with firefighters, zoonoses or any institution that is dedicated to the capture and good protection of these animals.
- don't grab it with your hands: above all, you should avoid grabbing these animals directly with your hands, because when they feel threatened they can attack causing lethal bites if they are poisonous.
- Find out about the species in your area: if we live in a region where snakes and snakes live, it is important to document which species live in the area, in order to know their characteristics and level of danger.
Why can't you kill snakes?
Don't kill snakes. Despite the fear these animals may generate, we must avoid indiscriminately killing them. Instead, if you want you can pick it up and drop it in another area.
Snakes are within the group of animals that are often hunting victims on the part of humans due to the fear they provide, as in fact some species can be lethal to people.
However, it is important to keep in mind that they have the same value as any other form of life and, in addition, play a key role within ecosystems such as biological controllers, as well as in the food chains of the species. Killing them can cause an imbalance in nature and even cause an exaggerated population growth of other animals, such as rats.
Now that you know how to scare away snakes, you might be interested in knowing: does blind snake have venom?.
Also, we have this other article that shows you several ways to scare off scorpions.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to scare away snakes?, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.