Garter snakes may be one of the most common types of snake in North America, but they’re also one of the most beneficial. While their diet consists mostly of small rodents, slugs, and earthworms, they are still considered predators.
This means they help keep rodent populations down by eating them, so your yard and garden can thank a garter snake for keeping things tidy! However, garter snakes aren’t always welcome in gardens because some people find them scary or simply don’t like them.
If you’re wondering how to get rid of garter snakes from your yard or house without causing harm to this helpful critter or yourself, then read on!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Garter snakes can be beneficial to your garden ecosystem. |
| They help control pest populations, such as rodents, insects, and slugs. |
| Garter snakes are not venomous and pose no significant threat to humans or pets. |
| Understanding their behavior and role in natural pest control can help dispel common myths. |
| Creating suitable habitat elements can attract garter snakes to your garden. |
Are Garter Snakes Bad For Your Garden
Let’s start with the basics. Garter snakes are indeed predators, but they do not pose a threat to your garden or your pets. They will eat mice and rats, if you have them in your backyard, which is good for their population control.
Snakes are not poisonous; even if you were to be bitten by one of these snakes, it would only hurt for a few seconds (no more than 15 minutes).
The garter snake is not aggressive and does not attack humans unless provoked or threatened; most often when this happens it is because someone has stepped on them by accident.
If you have been harmed by a garter snake bite before, please understand that many factors could contribute including: what part of the body was bitten (hand vs face); how close were you to being bitten? Was there any alcohol involved?
How old were you at the time? Did someone else see what happened prior?
And lastly…did they get away safely after being bitten by this particular person who may have been intoxicated with alcohol consumption earlier in day while walking through yard holding glass bottle filled with spirits…
When considering the impact of snakes in your garden, it’s important to understand the role of different species. Find out more about how garden snakes can contribute positively to your garden ecosystem in our comprehensive guide on are garden snakes good.
How Do You Get Rid Of Garter Snakes In Your Yard?
As you’ve probably noticed, garter snakes are extremely common in the North American landscape. They’re found across Canada, the United States and Mexico, so they’ll be a familiar sight in your yard if it’s near one of those regions.
If you live in an area where garter snakes are prevalent and you’ve been noticing them more than usual lately, there are some things you can do to get rid of them for good.
One effective way to keep garter snakes out of your garden is with a snake trap. These traps catch the reptiles as they enter your yard, making it easy for you to remove them without having to go hunting through bushes or climbing trees.
Another option is using repellent products like spray or powder; these substances create an unpleasant odor that will keep garter snakes away from areas where they don’t want to go like your vegetable garden!
| Methods | Description |
|---|---|
| Natural Predators | Encouraging the presence of natural predators like owls, hawks, or cats can help control garter snake populations. |
| Habitat Modification | Making your yard less appealing to garter snakes by removing potential hiding spots such as tall grass, debris, and woodpiles. |
| Exclusion | Sealing off entry points and gaps in your yard’s perimeter can prevent garter snakes from entering or nesting in your yard. |
| Repellents | Using snake repellents or natural deterrents, like essential oils or ammonia, may discourage garter snakes from residing in your yard. |
| Professional Assistance | Contacting a pest control or wildlife removal service that specializes in snake removal for safe and effective removal methods. |
How Do You Keep Snakes Away From Your House?
There are several ways you can keep snakes away from your house. Here’s a list:
Use snake repellent. There are several commercial products available to help deter snakes from entering your home, including liquid repellents and granules that are spread around the perimeter of your house or garden.
These products work by emitting strong scents that snakes don’t like; however, some studies indicate that these methods may not be as effective on garter snakes as they are for other types of snakes.
It’s important to note that repellants containing toxic chemicals should never be used around children or pets because they could cause harm if ingested or touched directly by humans or animals alike
Are garter snakes bad for your garden? It’s a common question among gardeners. To explore the potential effects of garter snakes on your garden and gain a deeper understanding of their behavior, take a look at our detailed article on are garter snakes bad.
What Is The Best Thing To Keep Snakes Away?
There are a lot of repellents and other snake control methods that will work, but there are some things you should know before deciding which method is right for you.
The first thing to consider is what kind of snake problem you have in your garden or around the perimeter of your house.
Many people who live in warmer climates have copperhead snakes as their primary concern, while those living closer to large bodies of water face problems from large constrictor snakes such as rattlesnakes and water moccasins.
If your main concern is with preventing unwanted visits from copperheads or racers (smaller varieties), then you may want to try something like Critter Ridder Ready-To-Use Snake Repellent Granules from Amazon ($30).
These granules can be used indoors or outdoors and contain peppermint oil, which acts as both a deterrent against harmful pests and an attractant for beneficial insects like ladybugs.
This product has received mostly positive reviews on Amazon because it’s easy to use and effective at keeping snakes out of gardens without requiring any maintenance after initial application.
On the other hand if your main concern lies within areas where larger species reside such as garter snakes then it might be worthwhile investing in something more effective like Snake Away Snake Repellent Spray ($20).
This spray uses hot peppers mixed with garlic juice (alongside citronella) that mimics natural scents produced by reptiles when under attack by predators;
These odors tend not only repel but also confuse so that they’re less likely to rebound if disturbed again later on their journey through one’s property!
What Is The Best Snake Repellent On The Market?
To make sure you’re buying the best snake repellent, keep these things in mind:
Is it safe for pets and kids? Don’t buy a product that contains ingredients that are harmful to your little ones. Avoid mothballs, as they can cause health problems.
Also, avoid human-grade peppermint oil because it can irritate mucous membranes and inflame the eyes of animals who come into contact with it. If you have a pet rabbit, be careful rabbits are especially sensitive to minty scents!
Is it safe for the environment? It should be biodegradable so that it doesn’t pollute soil or waterways.
It should be non-toxic so that wildlife won’t eat it or become sick from exposure; if you’re using an organic product, make sure that there aren’t any pesticides involved in its manufacturing process (e.g., beekeepers often use neonicotinoids to protect their hives).
Does this product work? Are there any reviews from other users who say good things about its effectiveness? Make sure not only does your chosen option keep snakes away but also doesn’t harm any other wildlife nearby or your plants either!
If you’re a beginner looking for a pet snake, you may have considered corn snakes. Discover the qualities that make them suitable for beginners and learn how to care for them properly in our informative guide on are corn snakes good for beginners.
Are Garter Snakes Aggressive?
Garter snakes are not aggressive, but they will bite when cornered. A snake that is in your garden eating the pests you don’t want may seem like a good thing at first glance, but garter snakes can be destructive to your garden if they start eating plants and vegetables.
If the snake has found its way into your yard because of natural causes such as flooding or rain, it’s possible to encourage them to move on by moving some of their food sources away from where they are living.
| Behaviors | Description |
|---|---|
| Defensive Display | Garter snakes exhibit defensive behaviors when threatened, such as flattening their bodies and hissing to appear larger and more intimidating. |
| Non-Aggressive Nature | Garter snakes are generally non-aggressive and prefer to avoid confrontation. They typically flee or hide when encountered by humans or larger animals. |
| Nervousness | Garter snakes may display nervous behavior, such as rapid movements or vibrating their tails, as a defensive mechanism. |
| Feeding Behavior | Garter snakes are primarily carnivorous and hunt small prey, such as insects, worms, and amphibians. They are not known to be aggressive toward humans or larger animals for food. |
| Defensive Bites | While garter snakes may bite if provoked or mishandled, their bites are generally harmless and rarely result in serious injury. |
What Smells Do Snakes Hate?
We asked our readers to share their favorite tips and tricks for keeping snakes away from their gardens. We heard from a lot of people who said that snakes don’t like the smell of vinegar, citrus fruit, peppermint, soap and coffee grounds.
If you want to protect your garden from snakes without harming them or yourself try using these methods instead:
Spray down your plants with vinegar or citrus fruit juice once a week. The scent is unpleasant for them, so it will help deter them from entering your yard.
Leave out bowls of peppermint oil around the perimeter of your property in order to keep snakes at bay (you can also put this on rags throughout the garden as well). Snakes are not fond of its scent either!
Spray down plants with soapy water every few days; this may repel small snakes from entering into the area too much but will not harm them if they do get sprayed by accident!
| Odor | Effectiveness |
|---|---|
| Naphthalene (Mothballs) | Limited effectiveness, as snakes may tolerate or ignore the odor. |
| Ammonia | Limited effectiveness, as snakes may acclimate to the scent over time. |
| Cinnamon | Limited effectiveness, as snakes may not find the scent strong enough to deter them. |
| Sulfur | Limited effectiveness, as snakes may not be significantly deterred by the scent. |
| Cedar Oil | Some effectiveness, as the strong scent of cedar oil may repel snakes to some extent. |
Do Moth Balls Repel Snakes?
Moth balls are toxic to snakes, but they’re not a good option for repelling them. Unfortunately, mothballs can be harmful to children and pets if they ingest them.
In addition, many people have reported that moth balls don’t even work as an effective deterrent against snakes.
They claim that the smell of the mothballs doesn’t last long enough around their property to keep snakes away and even when they do smell strong enough to deter snakes from coming near them, other things in your yard may also attract these unwanted visitors (like your pet).
Birds can play a significant role in maintaining a balanced garden ecosystem. To explore the positive impact of avian visitors, check out our article on are birds good for your garden and learn how to attract and support these feathered friends.
Do Coffee Grounds Keep Snakes Away?
Coffee grounds aren’t toxic to snakes, which means they don’t repel them. They also don’t work as a repellent because they’re not effective in keeping away snakes.
In fact, if you have a garter snake problem in your garden and are looking for ways to get rid of them, coffee grounds won’t help at all they’re just not an effective method of snake control.
So if you’ve been trying to keep your garden free of unwanted visitors by scattering coffee grounds around it, we recommend switching up your methods and giving other tactics a shot instead.
Coffee ground piles may be more aesthetically pleasing than those made from other materials like cayenne pepper or hot pepper flakes (which can be messy), but there’s no evidence that these piles will help keep snakes out of your yard!
When it comes to choosing a pet for your garden or home, considering the needs of beginners is crucial. Explore the world of axolotls and find out why they are often recommended as great pets for beginners in our comprehensive guide on are axolotls good pets for beginners.
Conclusion
So, are garter snakes bad for your garden? It depends. If you live in a temperate climate and want to keep your yard aesthetically pleasing, then they can be a problem.
However, if you live in the country or have an abundance of wildlife around your house then garter snakes may actually help to keep some other pests away from your house!
Further Reading
Garter Snakes: A Gardener’s Friend: Discover why garter snakes are beneficial to have in your garden and learn about their role in natural pest control.
Why Garter Snakes and Other Garden Snakes Are a Good Sign: Find out why the presence of garter snakes and other garden snakes can indicate a healthy ecosystem and learn about their positive contributions.
Are Garter Snakes Bad to Have Around?: Explore the topic of garter snakes and their potential impact on your garden. This article provides insights into their behavior and dispels common myths.
And here’s the FAQs section with five questions and answers in Markdown format:
FAQs
Can garter snakes harm my garden plants?
Garter snakes are generally harmless to garden plants. They primarily feed on small animals, insects, and slugs, which can actually benefit your garden by controlling pests.
Are garter snakes venomous?
No, garter snakes are not venomous. They are non-venomous and pose no significant threat to humans or pets. However, it’s always advisable to give them space and avoid handling them.
How do garter snakes contribute to garden ecosystems?
Garter snakes play a crucial role in garden ecosystems by controlling populations of rodents, insects, and slugs. Their presence can help maintain a natural balance and reduce pest-related issues.
Should I be concerned if I find garter snakes in my compost pile?
Finding garter snakes in your compost pile is actually a positive sign. They are likely attracted to the abundance of insects and small animals that thrive in compost. Their presence can aid in decomposition and nutrient recycling.
How can I encourage garter snakes to inhabit my garden?
To attract garter snakes to your garden, provide suitable habitat elements such as rock piles, log piles, or areas with dense vegetation. These features offer shelter and attract their prey, making your garden an inviting environment for garter snakes.
I am Dr Hellen James a veterinarian, pet lover, and writer. I have many years of experience caring for pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and fish (and even axolotls!). I love spending time with the animals in my life, especially when they are sick or need love.