Snake phobia is one of the most widespread fears in the world. Snakes are perhaps not the most welcoming visitors to your campground or when you’re simply trying to relax and lie outside. An encounter with snakes, on the other hand, is always possible if you camp near their native habitat. As a result, it is advisable to be prepared in case something occurs.
Snakes do not have the same sense of smell like humans. It’s reasonable to believe that the same fragrance that turns humans off will turn the snakes off as well. Regrettably, this is not the case. Although several solutions promise to repel snakes, certain chemicals are toxic to humans and are not worth the risk. So you’re probably wondering what I’m supposed to do now? Worry not! The following are some Do’s and Dont’s when it comes to keeping snakes away from you.
✅ Mow Grass and Keep it Short
Snakes are less likely to congregate and travel through short grass because it exposes them to predators. Snakes are also easy to see in short grass, something you and your family members will appreciate.
✅ Install a Fence
There are no foolproof methods for keeping snakes away, but if all else fails, a fence may be worth considering. To prevent snakes from climbing up and over the fence, they should be sunk a few inches into the ground and have a curve at the top.
✅ Smart Landscaping
Avoid using big rocks and mulch in your landscape. These materials are attractive to snakes and their prey, and they may be used to construct breeding and overwintering habitat. Use smaller, tighter-fitting rock, such as gravel or river rock, instead.
✅ Feed your Pets Inside
Feeding pets outside might attract snakes by attracting flies and rodents. If feeding outside is unavoidable, make careful to pick up any uneaten food as soon as possible. Pet food should be stored in a metal container with a tight-fitting cover.
✅ Set up a Perch Pole
Natural snake predators like hawks and owls can be lured to an area with the help of a well-placed perch pole. Poles should be put in open places so that the hawk or owl can see the yard and surrounding region.
❌ Use Sulfur
Many snake-repelling products claim that the sulfur in their goods keeps snakes away. Unfortunately, sulfur is ineffective in repelling snakes and is, therefore, a waste of money.
❌ Use Mothballs
Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene is the active component in mothballs. These compounds are poisonous to insects and animals but ineffective against snakes.
❌ Relocate Problem Snakes
Snake relocation may appear to be a useful approach to decrease human-wildlife conflict, but most study on the subject has revealed that transplanted snakes die more frequently than not.
❌ Use Sticky Traps
Traps set outside capture many kinds of non-target animals, resulting in a protracted and excruciating death. When trying to keep snakes away, this is a risky strategy since you could catch something else that would irritate other creatures.
❌ Use Shovels
Bringing a shovel or other weapon to a snake encounter greatly increases the person’s danger. If you need to urge a snake to move, spray it with a water hose to encourage it to find a new spot to hang out.
Home Remedies to Keep Snakes Away
Snakes are more prevalent when temperatures range between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which occurs mostly in the spring and summer. They are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, as summer temperatures are frequently too high for them to be out during the warmest times of the day. Before going into hibernation, snake activity will increase up again in late summer and early fall.
Excrete Food Supplies
Snakes are frequently found in locations where rodents may be found since rodents are one of their major food sources. Snakes have been observed eating frogs, birds, moles, voles, insects, and even fish. If you have a problem with any of these animals, you should first address the pest problem.
Make Use of Natural Predators
Snakes are commonly preyed upon by foxes and raccoons. Snakes can also be deterred by guinea fowl, turkeys, pigs, and cats. If foxes are native to your region, spreading fox urine about your home is an excellent natural snake deterrent.
Smoke it Out
Snakes have heightened senses of smell and are extremely sensitive to smells and fumes. Smoke is a very repulsive odor for them. Digging a fire pit and letting it burn for many days is one cure – covering the embers with moss and leaves might have the most impact.
Remove Hiding Spots
Snakes like dark, moist environments and have been observed living and hiding in cracks, crevices, and holes. Getting rid of these hiding spots will help keep snakes away from your property. Inspect the exterior of your home and property carefully and fix any cracks or holes you notice.
Plant some Lemongrass
It is unknown how lemongrass repels snakes, but it does. As a snake deterrent, plant some around the perimeter of your home or garage. Lemongrass bunches may get very huge, so keep an eye on them.
Interesting Facts About Snakes
They Smell Through their Tongues
Have you ever thought about why snakes stick out their tongues? They are most likely trying to sniff their environment with their tongue. The odor then travels from the tongue to an organ in their mouth.
They can Sense Heat
Have you ever thought about how a snake may attack its victim in the dark? The two pits in their face allow them to detect the heat of their prey. This makes it extremely difficult to conceal from a snake.
They Shed Skin
Snakes lose their skin four to twelve times every year. This is due to the fact that snakes are always expanding, yet their skin does not. Their previous skin covering becomes too tight for them, and they must shed it.
They Have Hundreds of Ribs
Snakes may grow to be quite long, implying that they have hundreds of ribs. That is far more than people. There are just 24 ribs available. They, like us, require them to safeguard their organs.
They hear by vibrating their jawbones.
Snakes do not have the ability to perceive noises in the same way that humans do. They employ a quadrate bone that is connected to their jaw. Isn’t it fascinating how this is utilized to detect vibrations and therefore hear sounds?
While many people consider snakes to be pests, they are an important element of any ecosystem. Snakes control rodent populations, including mice and rats. When snake numbers decline, rodent populations tend to increase.
Snakes also assist human scientists and researchers in exploring and comprehending the world around us. Let us investigate some of the ways snakes are propelling the scientific world forward.
Snakes are a great topic for medical study in a variety of fields. For example, the venom of a snake is frequently used to treat the bite of the same snake.
Source of Food
While this might sound strange to people in many parts of the United States, snakes serve as a source of food in many parts of the world.
Snakes move their bodies in a completely different way than humans since they lack legs. They can even climb on walls, which piques biologists’ curiosity about snake features.
Tips for Keeping Snakes Away from Your Tent
When camping and being one with nature, the last thing you want to wake up to is a snake laying next to you. Here are some simple methods to keep snakes out of your tent and campground.
Keep the Tent Away from Snake Nesting Areas
Snakes like to hang out behind fallen trees, so make sure you pitch your tent in a relatively clean location, away from snake-friendly hiding areas.
Examine your Tent for any Holes
In addition to keeping your tent as tightly zipped as possible, it is critical to inspect your tent for any gaps that a snake may utilize to slip in. You don’t want to leave a “back door” open for snakes or other creatures to enter.
Spray Chemical Repellent
There are snake repellents available for purchase if you have a severe fear of snakes. Snakes are afraid of the toxins in these items.
Check your Tent before Getting in
Snakes also like to hide in the shade, particularly under tents. Leave your tent zipped shut if you leave it up during the day. When you return to the campsite, look under the tent to make sure you don’t have any new pals hanging out beneath it.
Keep snake ‘food’ out of the site
To deter unwelcome guests, it’s always a good idea to keep food (including leftover food scraps) in sealed, airtight containers. This will not immediately prevent snakes from entering your tent because they are not interested in our food.
Clever Hacks when Relaxing Outdoors
Here are several great tricks to keep you snake-free this weekend. These ideas and methods are not only creative but also incredibly simple to execute. What’s more, many of them will save you room, time, weight, and money.
Keep your Contents Dry
When you’re outside, the weather is everything, and a wise camper understands that you can never be too prepared for Mother Nature’s mood swings. There’s nothing to worry about once you’re warm and dry inside your tent – unless, of course, you can’t get warm or dry because your backpack and all of its contents were drenched in the rain.
Bring Bread Tags to use as Clothing Pins.
Bread tags are one of the most undervalued goods on the market. They carefully seal bread bags but seldom see any other purpose before being discarded. So, the next time you finish a loaf of bread, carry it along with you on your next vacation to keep snakes and other insects at bay.
Burn Sage on your Site
Mosquitoes, snakes, and other insects may ruin an otherwise enjoyable camping trip. Knowing how to repel them without slathering oneself with toxic insect repellant is a valuable skill to know when camping.
Keep a Pair of Clean Socks for Sleeping
It’s difficult to put into words the mental and emotional relief provided by a clean pair of socks. Putting one on may do wonders for your morale. If you like to sleep in socks, keep one pair on hand solely for sleeping. They don’t have to be heavy hiking socks; lightweight ankle socks would suffice.
Chips for Starting a Fire
There are times when excellent kindling is difficult to come by, and we are forced to consider the poor, unworthy objects in our camping armory as flammable options. However, there is some good news: a handful of Doritos will do an excellent job of starting a fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are snakes dangerous?
A: Despite widespread fear of snakes, the vast majority of the world’s 3,000 species are completely harmless. When you come into touch with a snake, it is unlikely that you will be harmed.
Q: Are snakes attracted to water in a yard?
A: Water attracts the food that snakes prefer to consume, they are likely to seek it out in your yard’s water features. Snakes frequently consume insects, amphibians, and other reptiles, so keeping them at away is critical.
Q: Are there DIY snake repellents?
A: There are several do-it-yourself snake repellent options available, such as growing lemongrass and garlic or sprinkling essential oils. Other do-it-yourself preventative methods include keeping your grass maintained, weeding your garden, and pruning shrubs and trees.
Q: What scents do snakes dislike?
A: Snakes dislike a variety of smells, including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You may utilize these perfumes in oils or sprays, or you can cultivate plants with these aromas.
Q: Are snakes needed?
A: This is arguably the most obvious and frequently stated reason for our reliance on snakes, but it is also the most crucial. Snakes, as predators, regulate a wide range of animal populations, most notably rodents such as mice and rats.
Q: Why do snakes scare me?
A: Why? It’s likely that it’s hardwired, a survival benefit granted to individuals who avoided hazardous creatures during evolution.
Q: Do snakes come back to the same place?
A: Unfortunately, moving snakes is not a viable option. Every snake has a well-defined home range – a location where they know where to hide, where to get food, and how to navigate the terrain. Short-distance relocation of snakes is unsuccessful since they will most likely find their way back to their home region.
It is vital to be prepared and be aware of the precautions that are needed to make before eliminating the snake or act based on your instinct. Although, it is important to protect yourself but not in all cases snakes are harmful. Always conduct thorough research in order to act smart and not be injured. Have you ever encountered a snake while laying on the ground on a regular day? Did you do any of the actions above? Share your experiences in the comment section.