Holes in a garden or backyard more often than not lead people to assume that snakes are sharing their premises. You can confirm your doubts by identifying the snake holes. Afterward, getting rid of these holes to curb snakes’ growth is the best policy.
Below, we have shared some information to teach you how to get rid of snake holes. If the thought of a snake encounter unsettles you, then the knowledge shared below will help deal with the nuisance to get yourself peace of mind.
How Can You Identify Snake Holes
Holes in your lawn or yard don’t necessarily mean they exclusively belong to snakes. There’s a fat chance that they might be created by gophers or rodents. Moreover, kids also like to dig holes while playing. Else, they might also be from irrigation issues, flooding, rotten food and animals.
Check the size of the hole before jumping to conclusions. Rodents, gophers and other insects live in smaller holes. You can be 100% sure only if you catch a snake entering or leaving that hole. That could be crucial because you don’t know when a snake decides to enter or leave its abode.
There are other ways through which you can confirm your suspicions.
Look for Shed Snake Skin
Snakes are famous for shedding skin. It’s a natural process for them while they’re growing. Shed skin is a dead giveaway that a snake is inhabiting your property. Shed snakeskin can also tell you about the creature’s body shape and eyes. However, locating a shed skin can be crucial as it’s a favourite meal of rodents and insects.
Look for Snakes’ Feces
All animals excrete waste, and snakes are no exception. Looking for the faecal matter of snakes is another way to determine whether you have snakes on the premises or not. Identifying a snake’s faeces is easy. Snakes generally feed on rats, mice and insects. You might find traces of their diet in the waste. Snake excretion appears thick and pasty with a chalky deposit on one end.
The size of the waste tells about the size and the length of the snake. If you see such waste matter in your house, it confirms that snakes have taken shelter on your territory.
But, you should know that snake faeces also biodegrade quickly, like its shed skin.
Surrounding Condition of the Holes
Yet, another method to identify whether the holes really are snake holes is to observe their surrounding conditions. If the entrance is covered with spider webs, debris or fallen leaves, then it’s likely unoccupied.
Alternatively, if the entrance is free of any such covering, you have a problem at hand; a snake might be living there.
How to Get Rid of Snake Holes
Once you have confirmed that the holes in your yard are occupied by snakes, what then? The most logical and safest thing would be to force the occupants out of your property. But, how would you get rid of the holes and their inhabitants? You cannot just roll your sleeves and barge out there to tackle the issue; things could go south if you aren’t careful.
However, there’s a thing or two you could do to protect yourself and your family from the nuisance.
Let It Be
If you locate a hole in your garden/yard that you suspect to be a snake hole, it will be smart to leave it alone. There is a 90% chance that the snake occupying it might be a harmless, non-venomous garter snake. That type is shy and prefers to stay away from a human’s path.
They are likely to slither away if they see or hear you coming.
You may not like them but their importance in the ecosystem is undeniable. They feed on frogs, insects, rats and mice, keep their population under control. So, if the critter isn’t causing any problem for you, leaving it undisturbed is the best course of action.
However, this policy isn’t safe if you’ve got hyperactive kids or pets around.
Cover the Hole
Snakes like to burrow in holes because they are cool, dark and hidden from prying eyes. Another method to deal with snake holes is to seal them. Blocking these holes disturbs snakes’ habitat. This prevents them from returning, forcing them to migrate somewhere else.
Generally, homeowners use burlap, board or wire fencing for covering these holes. But, you should proceed carefully as piling too much stuff might create a new place for these serpents to burrow themselves. Yeah, that wouldn’t be cool.
Make sure the snake is out of the hole before you start messing with it. Besides, don’t poke sticks in the hole to force the snake out. The creature can easily get irritated when disturbed. Man, you don’t want to come face-to-face with a pissed off snake. It will attack you.
Also, don’t ever put your hand inside a snake hole. Even when you are wearing protective gloves, still don’t do it. It is wise to wear protective apparel when you decide to inspect your property for possible snake infestation.
Contact a Professional Exterminator
You should call a professional exterminator if the thought of having snakes as unwanted tenants gives you the heebie-jeebies. They would assess your property and offer you all the possible solutions.
You can also use repellents or snake traps, but many people aren’t comfortable with the idea of doing the job on their own.
Note: If you trap a snake, release it at least 10 miles away from the trapping site to ensure it doesn’t return. Moreover, use only human- and pet-friendly repellents. Avoid using a fumigant as it is illegal.
If you’re unsure of the snake’s type or size, or it’s becoming more daring —coming out more often whenever you visit outdoors— then contacting animal control is the wisest decision. Not to mention, it is your best bet.
Conclusion
Having holes in your garden or backyard doesn’t always mean you’ve got snakes within the premises. Nonetheless, it is an indicator of their might-be presence, a strong one at that. It is wise to confirm your suspicions before you take decisive action.
We shared several methods for identifying snake holes and how to get rid of them. Now that you’ve gone through them, you will know what course of action to take.