Snakes

Never handle a snake. Keep your distance and call local animal control. Then make your garden less inviting: less cover and fewer rodents to hunt.

Read the safety steps See what works
First step
Keep your distance
Then
Call local animal control
Drawn by
Cover, warmth, rodents
Our approach
Habitat changes only

Know what you are dealing with

Do not touch it

Many bites happen when people try to move or kill a snake.

Do not guess

Identification from a distance is hard. Treat every snake as dangerous.

Sound does not work

Snakes barely hear airborne sound. Skip sonic repellers.

If someone is bitten, call emergency services at once. Keep the person still and do not cut, suck or ice the bite.

Signs to look for

  • Shed skins in long grass, walls or sheds.
  • Holes at the base of walls or under slabs.
  • Lots of rodents nearby, which snakes hunt.
  • Warm cover: woodpiles, rubble, dense plants.

The plan

  1. 1

    Keep your distance

    Move people and pets away. Do not try to catch it.

  2. 2

    Call animal control

    Local services or a licensed handler remove it safely.

  3. 3

    Remove cover

    Cut long grass, clear woodpiles and rubble.

  4. 4

    Fewer rodents

    Store feed sealed and block gaps under sheds.

Solutions for snakes

Gap and crack sealant

Closes gaps around pipes and vents where snakes, and the rodents they follow, get in.

Find shops near you (opens a new tab)

Opens Google Maps. Call first to check they have it.

Shoo does not sell these yet. They are standard products sold by other shops; follow the label on the one you buy.

Other animals

Mice and rats Garden visitors Loose dogs All wildlife and dogs

What people worry about

Is the snake in my garden dangerous to my kids?

Treat any snake you cannot identify as dangerous. Keep children and pets away and call local animal control or a licensed handler.

Should I kill it to be safe?

No. Trying to kill or catch a snake is when bites happen, and many species are protected. Keep your distance and call animal control.

Do mothballs keep snakes away?

No, and mothballs are a poisoning risk to children and pets. Plug-in and vibration devices are not reliable either.

How do I make the garden less inviting?

Cut long grass, clear woodpiles and rubble, store feed sealed so there are fewer rodents, and close gaps under sheds.

What if someone is bitten?

Call emergency services at once. Keep the person still and do not cut, suck or ice the bite.

Questions people ask

There's a snake in my garden. Is it dangerous to my kids? Treat any snake you cannot name for certain as dangerous. Read Do mothballs or ultrasonic devices keep snakes away? No. Read How do I make my garden less inviting to snakes? No garden can be made snake-free, but you can make yours a poor place to stay and have a plan for when one shows up. Read