How to Keep Snakes Away from the Campsite?

How to keep snakes away from the campsiteThe phobia of snakes is among the most common fears in the world.

Recent studies suggest that this could possibly be a natural fear instinctively inbuilt in some humans from birth.

Keeping this in mind, it would not be wrong to say that a snake probably would not be the most welcome visitor to your campsite.

Well, if the campsite area is near to any natural habitat of snakes, an encounter with them is always possible.

Therefore, it would be best to be well-prepared, should this ever happen.

This article will help you to learn how to deal with snakes on the campsite, this would help you in keeping snakes out of your campsite. It is also very important to handle them if you have an encounter with one along the way.

Find the best area for a snake-free campsite

Before you learn about how to deal with snakes in the camp areas, you must know the areas which are snake-free.

The best spot to camp without your snake friends is a cost of land with massive open space and short grass where snakes find it difficult to hide. It’s also true that snakes are secretive and usually avoid being exposed out in the open.

It would also be better to choose an area that is well-lit at night. This condition is important to ensure you can avoid stepping on snakes when they are passing through in their travels.

If you can confirm whether the campsite permits lighting a fire, it is also considered good practice to keep snakes at bay.

It is strongly recommended to be extra careful while handling firewood as the chances are quite high that they might have become a hiding spot for a snake.

Areas that you should avoid

  • Areas that are close to rock piles or outcrops
  • Areas that are full of deadfall and heavy brush. As snakes are often found in such hiding spots.
  • Areas that are directly adjacent to water sources.

5 effective ways to keep snakes away from campsites

If you fear snakes the last thing that you would probably want is to find one of these in your tent. Obviously, you would not be comfortable and your instinct will make you hit it with a stick. Be careful because snakes can see such movement as threatening and can strike back. If you are a camper, you should know ways on how to keep them away.

Make the use of home remedies

The use of home remedies to repel is quite a common practice in keeping snakes away from the campsite. The best thing is that they don’t really cost much and you will be safe.

You can use powdered sulfur to keep them away. So even if the snake tries to go through it, the skin irritated will make him avoid it. Don’t forget to wear a mask while applying it has a strong odor.

Further, you can also use naphthalene as it is a common ingredient for most snake repellents. It is also found in moult balls.

The smell of it irritates reptiles and therefore they will avoid them. Just place them around the camping area. Please note that naphthalene is very toxic so avoid using them if you are with small children or pets while camping.

Be careful about storing your food

Whether you do or don’t care about your food storage will determine if you will attract snakes to the campsite or not. Don’t get confused reptiles are not interested in your food but the rodents that snake like to eat on are. They will not hesitate to come to visit your tent to eat rodents if the food is not stored properly.

You should make sure that your food is store in air-tight bags to seal in the smell. You should only keep properly packed food in a sealed container and don’t put the container near your sleeping area. Try not to be lazy or careless while handling your trash as you could attract rodents. Always keep trash in a trash bag and seal it tightly before taking it trash area.

Leaving your trash outside the tent is not a good practice even if you have sealed it properly. Because it will still attract rodents eventually snakes. Bears and bugs can also ruin your camping trip therefore you must also know how to repel bears and bugs.

Make sure that there are no holes in your tent

Seal holes in your tent if you don’t want the snakes to enter your living area. They will miss the opportunity to get inside if there are any openings in your tent. Check properly to make sure that there are none of them.

Before going to the campsite, spread the tent on the floor to check if there are holes. Seal immediately if you find any holes, you can use a duct tape or repair kit to do that. Also, close the openings on your zipper area.

It is always considered wise to have a repair kit while camping as it can help repair minor damages that may occur when you are out there. So if you have on with you it’s better to replace any damaged zipper. A tree branch can also fall on your tent and tear the canvas hence it would be better to fix your tent using the repair kit and boost your protection

Don’t camp near snake zones

Though it sounds obvious still many people don’t really care whether they camp in snake zones areas or not. It’s always safe to make sure to choose a campsite that is far away from their living zone. Snakes are usually found under rocks and thick vegetation. So avoid such areas while choosing a pitching area for your tent.

Rock piles are the worst places for camping from the snake’s perspective and also avoid areas with plenty of deadfalls as these are also one of the prime snake hiding areas. Avoid setting it close to water sources as many serpents use such areas for hunting.

Well, the question that makes sense here is that what is the best area to set? just find an open place with short grass. As serpents stay away from open and expansive lands. To be more cautious you can bring a machete to clean the area out for setting up the tent.

About the author

Clinton Newman

Clinton Newman is a herpetologist and part-time blogger who loves to study snakes and their behavior. He is always called by neighbors to help them catch or get rid of snakes in their houses. . He's a passionate traveler and does a lot of Hiking and Hunting Adventures. His favorite places are Forests, Deserts, and Mountains. Now, he's guiding other Hikers to hike safely through this blog by reviewing the top best picks gears for safety and also guiding on Snakes and ways to deal with them.