John Maerz and Michael Mengak, wildlife professors at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, spoke with Southern Living about the best ways to keep snakes away from homes and gardens.
“Snakes generally are harmless to us,” Maerz said. “They’re shy animals that would rather hide than come in contact with us.”
For those uncomfortable with snakes, Maerz recommended learning about them to better understand their behaviors.
Snakes don’t often make their presence known.
“If you see one, it probably didn’t just show up. It’s been there all along, but they’re very cryptic,” Maerz said. “If you think about how rarely you see one, you realize snakes aren’t typically an issue in our yards.”
When snakes do make their way into sheds, garages or crawl spaces, they’re likely looking for cover from predators or a place to stay cool.
“They love brush piles, stacks of wood, compost or mulch piles,” Mengak said. “In hot weather, they may be attracted to cool, damp places, such as in basements.”
According to Maerz, snakes are not aggressive and don’t chase people. “Snakes know they can’t eat you. If they’re seen, they try to bluff their way out of a situation by puffing, hissing or rattling to warn you that they’re there,” he said. “Finally, if they’re completely cornered, they will strike. Biting is a last-ditch effort.”
Maerz warned that there are several venomous snakes in the Southeast that could potentially harm people or pets: three species of rattlesnakes, copperhead, cotton mouth and coral snake. However, any animal will bite if it’s pinned down.
Though there is no way to keep snakes away entirely, it is possible to make homes and gardens less inviting for them.
Mengak recommended storing firewood off the ground and away from the house to reduce the type of cover that’s attractive to snakes. Keep grass mowed and remove piles of brush or other debris.
Try not to leave food appealing to snakes around homes and gardens. Bird feeders can be placed farther away from living areas, and pet food bowls should be brought in overnight.