Can I Snake proof my yard?

That list includes:

- Southern Copperhead
- Eastern Cottonmouth
- Florida Cottonmouth


You gonna get picky now? What kind of copperheads have you got?

HA! Well..that just goes to show you how thoroughly I read that list ...Sorry...That is a happy thing...even though this is the first time I actually have proof of one in my yard - I think I would like to use some of that stuff...just in case ya' know...

thank you for pointing that out... :wink: I am in the South East - so I think that should cover both kinds...

Not a serious option I guess, but one of these would be of value.

http://www.moonbird2006.com/kookaburra.jpg


We get snakes all the time I've never heard of a repellant that works.

We found another snake in the front yard Saturday. We are pretty sure it was just a Garter Snake. Non-venomous - but about 2 1/2 feet. ick.

We'ved cleared a lot of the brush and gotten rid of the logs. And I have taught my boys to do the snake stomp and to look carefully before picking something up in the brushy spots.

Hoping for the best...we seem to be a lot more snakey this year than usual. Gives me the willies.

Mismi--

That's unbelievably large for a garter snake.

Check out:

http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=7

You can now limit your search to reptiles in your specific area.

maybe 1 and 1/2 or 2 Noddy - it was long and icky...but skinny....but I did not have a tape measure and am no good at estimating...and I have the gift of exageration.

Pretty sure it was a garter though...had the markings.

Thanks for the link though...that may prove invaluable to my peace of mind.

Green witch's answer is probably the most sensible. I don't think there are any plants or chemicals that work.

A low, small mesh fence would be sufficient to keep the snakes out, but it would also have to keep your dog inside. If your dog likes exploring then it could still get in trouble. The bad experience may have taught the dog to avoid snakes.

The length you give for the snake seems within the length of garter snakes:

"Common garter snakes grow to be 46 to 137 cm in total length. Males are generally smaller than females and have longer tails. Young common garter snakes are born at 12.5 to 23 cm long and are similar in appearance to the adults. There are many dozens of recognized regional populations of common garter snakes that have distinct color patterns. In some areas there are populations that have a high percentage of entirely black garter snakes. Common garter snakes are similar in appearance to their close relatives, ribbon snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) and Butler's garter snakes (Thamnophis butleri). (Conant and Collins, 1998; Stebbins, 1985; Wechsler, 2001)"

I don't know what part of the country you live in, so it's difficult to know what kind of snakes you have in your locality.

Thanks Coluber2001 - I am in Alabama - I am a little less freaked out these days...but still snakes as fascinating as they are best seen at a distance. I feel better though..thanks for your help - hopefully Pistol has learned his lesson and will stay away from them.