A coral snake is beneficial because it’s a flesh-eater – feeds on other snakes mostly. Yet, it is among the most despised and unwanted guests for the majority of the people. Reason: its brotherhood with cobra and mamba puts people on edge. I would run for the hills if there’s even a 1% chance of coral snake invasion at my place. Luckily, coral snakes prefer dry and tropical lands. So, if you live near such an environment, learn how to get rid of a coral snake.
The most viable and effective solution is to wait out; it might leave on its own. You can also seek help from an expert and use snake repellents and traps. A long-lasting and permanent solution is to target all the hot favourite features of snakes on your land.
These options are discussed below in detail. Snake removal experts vouch for these techniques. Therefore, their effectiveness isn’t doubtful. So, start without further delay because we have a snake problem to solve.
How to Get Rid of a Coral Snake
I am sharing a few snake-removal options to help you rid a coral snake of your property. I learned these from snake removal experts and wildlife services employees.
Option 1: Leave it Alone
An important thing that many snake removal experts agree upon is that a coral snake is a very shy and reclusive reptile. It prefers to stay in an underground den or burrow. So, if you see one moving on your property, a strong possibility is that it might be passing by.
Thus, there’s no need to panic or start plotting its murder. Just leave it alone. It might scurry away upon hearing the loud thumping of your feet.
Option 2: Call a Professional
Most snakebites occur when people get into a snake’s personal space to handle it. Instead of putting yourself in unnecessary danger, search for a professional snake removal company’s number in your contact. Ask for an expert to come and solve this snake trouble for you. He will also give you his expert advice on how you can avoid any future occurrences of the like.
Option 3: Trap it
If you have experience in handling snakes, then using a snake trap is a good option. Set the trap in that spot where the snake is often sighted. Once the snake gets imprisoned in your set trap, release the invader into a habitat where it can survive but cannot find its way back to your place.
People also use hooks and tongs for capturing snakes. That’s also an option if you aren’t comfortable trapping the creature.
Option 3: Take Away its Food
Coral snakes are meat-eating cousins of the cobra and mamba family. Their primary diet is other snakes, e.g. blind snakes and worm snakes. If hungry, it might gulp down a small coral snake too. Lizards and frogs are their secondary food source.
A tested method is to seize the food supply of a snake if you want it gone from your territory.
You can hire pest control services to rein in pest infestation to avoid future snake episodes.
Option 4: Modify Your Property
Do a thorough survey of your property to note potential snake entrances, exits and hideouts. More than one snake sighting is a strong indicator of a snake den somewhere in the house. As I stated above, a coral snake rests in a den or burrow. So, fill all the holes and animal burrows with gravel or dirt. But, you first need to make sure they are deserted.
What else you should do is:
- Seal gaps and crawl spaces around your doors, windows, vents and drains.
- Mend cracks in foundations, windows, pipelines, ventilation ducts, drainages and ceilings.
- Install screens around windows.
- Construct snake-proof fencing around the land.
- Don’t let your grass and shrubbery overgrow.
- Don’t leave a heap of debris, wood, rocks, bricks, stones etc. on the ground.
- Remove standing waterbodies as rodents and other snakes may lounge nearby them.
Option 5: Use Repellents
Not that I am 100% satisfied with their effectiveness, but people use snake repellents to make snakes leave the area. So, why not? I am up for any method that decreases snake appearances. You can seek help from snake-repellent plants and commercial repellent products. Both are popular choices for deterring the reptile.
However, purchase commercial repellents having non-toxic ingredients. Precisely speaking, essential oils as active components in repellents are safe to apply.
Conclusion
A coral snake is more harmful to other reptiles than humans as snakes are its primary meal source. Yet, its appearance in the vicinity makes people edgy. Thus, you have several options to consider to get rid of them. Say, professional help, use of repellents and commercial traps and modification of the land. In short, eliminate snake attractants to compel them to look for another place to invade.
