OMG There was a snake in my yard!

[lacey9875]

Help. I am so freaked out, I want to move. We were moving some plants around and found a skin one had shed. Ok, so it really wasn't an actual one, but one had been here. NEXT to my house! I am terrified it someone got into the house. I won't be sleeping tonight.

Does anyone know anyway to keep them away? Is there any type of repellant I can use? I hate them so much I can't even google anything in fear of seeing a picture. Even the word skeeves me out. I see a rum and coke in my future, but first I need to find something that will make them go away.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

The only thing you can really do is to get rid of their food source and since you probably don't know what kind of snake left that molt behind, you can only guess as to what that might be...insects, rodents, IDK. But really, there is no need to be afraid. They don't have an interest in getting into your house because, why would they? They are probably more interested in living in your bushes, under your porch, etc. where thay have a decent shelter and have a reliable food source. As long as you don't live in a heavily forested area, very near a rocky cliff or right next door to a marshland, the only two venomous snakes native to DE are probably no where near you. But if you're really worried, you can contact Delaware Animal Control and speak with them.

 

[nowhavethreebears]

I have snakes all over the place here...There was a big black one on my doorstep sunning himself day before yesterday. I personally like the snakes. They keep the mice and frog populations under control. But I digress.........

I can tell you that most snake repellents that you buy ( like Snake Away) do NOT work.

I have heard some people say they have had luck with throwing mothballs into the den. But you have to find the den. It won't work to just spread mothballs around..

 

[lacey9875]

Oh Dear God. Ashton googled something and said they like shrubs,or anything they can find shelter under, so tomorrow I'm cutting down every stinking bush in my yard. Actually, I'm never leaving the house again, so I'll be finding someone else to do it for me.

So there is nothing I can do to keep them away? And if I ever stumbled across a "den" everyone here would hear me scream, no matter where you live.

 

[R Taft]

You obviously will never move to Australia ........We get a lot of snakes here, the best thing is to keep the yard clean and that does not mean you have to cut all the shrubs down, but just keep the area raked and well mown. the sound of frequent mowing is what they hate most. Not so much the sound as vibration. And yes keep food source down, so no aviaries or again areas where mice like to live. You are going to your colder weather period now, so they will soon not be around.
I personally hate snakes too, but they are a part of life

 

[nowhavethreebears]

This time of year they are getting ready to hibernate for the winter, so they are out more in the open looking for food.

The snake probably was just there because it was shedding and the ground may have been moist and cool in that area. They get a better shed if they have moisture.

The odds of it being poisonous are slim. It has probably moved on to other areas by now and you will most likely not see it again.

 

[wrknnwf]

This time of year they are getting ready to hibernate for the winter, so they are out more in the open looking for food.

The snake probably was just there because it was shedding and the ground may have been moist and cool in that area. They get a better shed if they have moisture.

The odds of it being poisonous are slim. It has probably moved on to other areas by now and you will most likely not see it again.

I agree completely with this. However, if you are concerned about them getting in your house (which I think is unlikely), go around the foundation and look for any openings that can be closed.

 

[KodysGrandma]

As others said, they will be hibernating with cold weather coming on. In the old West they used to put sisal rope around the campsite, the theory being that snakes would not crawl up and over the little pieces that stuck up. Some people swear that's true, others that it's hookum. Don't know, don't imagine you want rope all around your house on the ground either. Don't tear out all your shubbery but if you are really frightened you might make sure that there is space between the ground and the beginning of vegetation so you could see them. I hate them too, but they are a fact of life and panic never helps any situation so force yourself to be calm. Maybe go to the zoo and look through glass, get more familiar.

 

[RiverTheNewf]

I was so excited because I found a huge garter snake at the dog park last week! Grabbed it and showed Malcolm, but he was uninterested (there was a pretty lady golden retriever in the vicinity). In MN we don't get many, but our swampy backyard in Georgia was plagued by water moccasins and copperheads. Every snake I've run into is a scaredy cat, and will be much more afraid of you! Just don't move to Australia, like Ronnie said!

 

[lacey9875]

Ronnie, I've always wanted to visit Australia, but that was before I knew about the rampant things-that-I'm-terrified-of. I'll have to figure something out.

And Jackie, I went to Disney with my best friend and her kids, and Ashton. Walking through the AK, there was a teeny tiny you-know-what, and I screamed and ran. Leaving my 8 year old and her 6 year old in a crowd of people. Ashton picked it up and held it for people to see, and told them all about it, and they made fun of me ( and still do ) the rest of the trip.

I'm now only using my back door, and I've left messages at two different landscaping companies. Isn't there an animal that kills snakes? A mongoose, I think? Anyone know where I can get one???

 

[Angela]

Isn't there an animal that kills snakes? A mongoose, I think? Anyone know where I can get one???

Yes, there is. Her name is Gracie:lol: and she is not a mongoose, but a Newfoundland! We have snakes up here, quite harmless. She will wait in the bushes, grab one, toss it in the air, then roll on it to kill it.
Where do you live? I'll send her on down!!!!

 

[RiverTheNewf]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_can_you_buy_mongoose

 

[Ocean's Edge]

Not sure, but a domestic ferret *might* do the trick, although I know they prefer mice they might be a close enough relative to the mongoose.

My sister in law lives in rural Australia (they own a cattle station in the Eidsvold area) ... anyway, with cattle and horses and working dogs comes horse feed and dog food; with horse feed and dog food comes MICE. And where there are mice, there will be those things.

She got rid of the those long hissy things (at least in the yards around the house) by encouraging a wild 6' goanna to take up residence under the veranda*. HOWEVER, I'm not sure if you're frightened of the slithery things, that a 6 ft lizard is gonna make you feel any better.

(*she did get a mite miffed with it when it came into the house through the cat door and started pushing the kitchen chairs around - they did eventually come to an understanding at the end of corn broom)

 

[Murphy]

Lacey.. you are killing me.... :goofy:

 

[KodysGrandma]

Yes, a mongoose will kill snakes. They were brought from India to Jamaica and eliminated all the snakes (better than St. Patrick in Ireland). HOWEVER after the snakes were gone they still had to eat and so started on the more exotic birds. It's kind of a draw now but one of those "careful what you wish for" things. Not sure they are allowed in this country anyway.

 

[NessaM]

Ronnie, I've always wanted to visit Australia, but that was before I knew about the rampant things-that-I'm-terrified-of. I'll have to figure something out.

And Jackie, I went to Disney with my best friend and her kids, and Ashton. Walking through the AK, there was a teeny tiny you-know-what, and I screamed and ran. Leaving my 8 year old and her 6 year old in a crowd of people. Ashton picked it up and held it for people to see, and told them all about it, and they made fun of me ( and still do ) the rest of the trip.

I'm now only using my back door, and I've left messages at two different landscaping companies. Isn't there an animal that kills snakes? A mongoose, I think? Anyone know where I can get one???

Yes. India. Name the mongoose Rikki Tikki Tavi.

 

[Wash]

We have snake skins all over the place where we live, they like to climb into our firewood piles. All harmless species of snakes around here though.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Not sure, but a domestic ferret *might* do the trick, although I know they prefer mice they might be a close enough relative to the mongoose.

My sister in law lives in rural Australia (they own a cattle station in the Eidsvold area) ... anyway, with cattle and horses and working dogs comes horse feed and dog food; with horse feed and dog food comes MICE. And where there are mice, there will be those things.

She got rid of the those long hissy things (at least in the yards around the house) by encouraging a wild 6' goanna to take up residence under the veranda*. HOWEVER, I'm not sure if you're frightened of the slithery things, that a 6 ft lizard is gonna make you feel any better.

(*she did get a mite miffed with it when it came into the house through the cat door and started pushing the kitchen chairs around - they did eventually come to an understanding at the end of corn broom)

Your SIL sounds like my kind of gal!

 

[wrknnwf]

What kind of area do you live in? Suburban, wooded, grassy, etc. There are only two venomous snakes in your area, timber rattlesnake and copperhead, and they are somewhat different in the kind of terrain that they like to inhabit and their personalities.

Timber rattlers are shy and prefer wooded areas where they can stay hidden in the leaves and tangles on the floor, and they usually have to be provoked to strike. Copperheads are more bold, will happily sun themselves in open places, and are much more likely to bite without provocation.

It's very unlikely that your snake was venomous, but learn to identify both of the venomous kind so you will know. They both have very striking patterns that you can ID with a pair of binoculars. Please remember that without snakes, you could have a worse problem. Rodents are much more likely to spread serious diseases, destroy property and inhabit your house.

Keep your yard mowed and picked up. No wood piles, no piles of leaves, no rubble, no outdoor dog water bowls or kiddie pools, no loaded trash barrels that might attract mice, and keep your shrubberies trimmed and free of debris (like fallen leaves or trimmings). If you have a fish pond, it may attract snakes on occasion. Snakes are adept at catching fish and like to sun on any rocks.

There is no way to completely deter snakes (ripping out your plants won't help at all since many species of snakes inhabit open grassy areas), but they won't hang around in areas where there isn't food or shelter for them.

 

[R Taft]

Not sure, but a domestic ferret *might* do the trick, although I know they prefer mice they might be a close enough relative to the mongoose.

My sister in law lives in rural Australia (they own a cattle station in the Eidsvold area) ... anyway, with cattle and horses and working dogs comes horse feed and dog food; with horse feed and dog food comes MICE. And where there are mice, there will be those things.

She got rid of the those long hissy things (at least in the yards around the house) by encouraging a wild 6' goanna to take up residence under the veranda*. HOWEVER, I'm not sure if you're frightened of the slithery things, that a 6 ft lizard is gonna make you feel any better.

(*she did get a mite miffed with it when it came into the house through the cat door and started pushing the kitchen chairs around - they did eventually come to an understanding at the end of corn broom)

Here is ours...."Henry", he is about 4 foot long, he frightens us when he arrives out of nowhere PS our trees are HUGE