Jul 21, 2025 | Snake Control
Tennessee’s picturesque landscapes are a joy to live in, filled with rolling hills, lush greenery, and thriving wildlife. But with all this natural beauty comes one thing every homeowner dreads encountering too close to home: snakes. While most snakes you’ll find here are harmless and even beneficial as natural pest controllers, you probably don’t want them turning your home into their habitat. Fortunately, there are simple, effective ways to keep snakes out of your living spaces. Follow these practical tips to snake-proof your Tennessee home and enjoy peace of mind.
How To Snake-Proof Your Tennessee Home
Seal the Gaps
Snakes are experts at finding their way inside through even the smallest openings. Cracks as narrow as a quarter inch can become their point of entry, so it’s crucial to inspect your home and seal gaps thoroughly.
How to Snake-Proof Your Home’s Exterior
- Inspect Exterior Walls and Foundations: Conduct a detailed walk-around, looking closely at cracks in the foundation, walls, and even utility line entry points.
- Use Caulk or Weatherproof Sealants: For small gaps and cracks, seal them up with caulk or silicone-based products to create a pest-proof seal.
- Install Door Sweeps: If light shines through beneath your doors, that’s likely a big enough space for a snake. Install rubber door sweeps under exterior doors to block their path.
- Cover Vents with Screens: Many homes have attic vents and crawlspace openings. Use fine-mesh wire screens to cover these areas while keeping ventilation intact.
Securing these entry points doesn’t just deter snakes; it also prevents insects and rodents from getting inside.
Tidy Up the Yard
Your yard can unintentionally invite snakes if it offers prime hiding spots. Snakes are drawn to areas where they can safely rest and hunt prey. Keeping your outdoor space tidy goes a long way toward making your property unappealing to these slithering creatures.
Yard Maintenance Tips
- Keep Grass Trimmed: Tall grass gives snakes plenty of cover to move around unseen. Mow your lawn frequently, especially near your home’s foundation and fences.
- Clear Woodpiles and Debris: Firewood and leaf piles are warm, sheltered spots snakes love to hide in. Store firewood at least 12 inches off the ground and keep it far from the house. Remove leaves, rocks, and other debris regularly.
- Trim Plants and Bushes: Dense shrubbery close to your home can create a perfect hiding place. Maintain a well-trimmed yard and ensure there’s a clear gap between plants and your home’s walls.
- Avoid Ground-Level Clutter: Tarps, discarded materials, or even outdoor toys lying around make for inviting snake shelters. Stow items neatly in sheds or off the ground.
A clutter-free and well-maintained yard sends a clear message to snakes that they won’t find a cozy home here.
Steps to Deter Prey
- Rodent Control: Snakes love to feast on mice and rats. Look for signs of rodent activity (gnaw marks, droppings) and eliminate infestations promptly using traps or professional rodent control services.
- Secure Trash Bins: Rats and other pests scavenging through open garbage can attract snakes. Use tightly sealed lids on trash bins.
- Avoid Leaving Pet Food Outdoors: Pet kibble left outside overnight can attract both rodents and snakes. Feed pets indoors or pick up food bowls promptly.
- Eliminate Standing Water: Stagnant water in gutters, flowerpots, or birdbaths attracts both insects and amphibians, which snakes prey on. Regularly empty or fix areas where water collects.
Reducing the food supply makes your property far less appealing for hungry snakes.
Secure Sheds, Garages, and Crawlspaces
Cool, dark spaces like garages, sheds, and crawlspaces are highly attractive to snakes. Without proper precautions, these areas can become their go-to hideaways.
Tips to Snake-Proof Storage Areas
- Close Gaps Around Doors: Like your home’s main doors, garage and shed doors can have gaps underneath. Install new weather-sealing strips to block them.
- Screen Openings: Cover crawlspace vents, attic openings, and other access points with durable wire mesh screens to keep larger pests out while retaining airflow.
- Declutter Storage Areas: Avoid clutter in sheds and garages. If items are stored on the floor, consider using shelves to keep them elevated and reduce hiding places.
- Keep Doors Shut: Make it a habit to close garage or shed doors when not in use. Leaving them open, even briefly, can invite snakes to slip inside unnoticed.
Regular inspections of these areas can help catch any issues before they escalate.
Keep Snakes Out—and Peace of Mind In
Snake-proofing your Tennessee home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Simple steps like sealing entry points, clearing yard clutter, removing food sources, and securing storage areas can make a big difference. And if snakes keep showing up, calling a wildlife services or pest control company near you can give you the expert support—and peace of mind—you need.
May 28, 2024 | DIY Pest Control, Florida Pest Control
Living in Florida, we have to deal with our fair share of bugs invading our home throughout the year. Whether mosquitoes are invading your yard, ants are taking over your kitchen, or rats are raiding your trash cans, household pests can surely become a major issue. Unfortunately, humans can have a lot to do with pest infestations by our habits, often leading bugs right into our home. We break down the common reasons you could have a bug problem into your Florida home.
What Leads To Bug Problems In Your Home
Trash
Our leftover trash is dinnertime for pests! Pests, such as rats and ants, are all looking for a food source for survival and will often look to our trash cans for available food, creating a huge mess in the process. It’s important to secure your outside and inside trashcan with a tightly sealed lid and ensure your trash bags are sealed without rips or tears.
Excessive Moisture
Several pests prefer a damp environment and need water to survive too. Unfortunately, we also need water, and certain factors throughout our homes can provide pests with a water source, often leading to a bug problem. A leaky faucet can attract pests, like mice, who will return to areas if they have access to water or food. Make sure to check throughout your home for any leaky pipes, faucets, or AC units and repair them as soon as possible. Likewise, your basement and crawlspace can often create excess moisture that can lead to fungus, bad air quality, and pest infestations. Utilize a dehumidifier to dry any wet areas and consider crawlspace enclosure to ensure no moisture is found.
Unnecessary Clutter
Clutter, such as old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes can provide several pests with the perfect environment. Decluttering and cleaning items out to eliminate hiding places will help prevent pests overall. Consider utilizing plastic storage containers with lids to store any items and elevating them off the ground. Additionally, avoid having clothes piled on the floor, as bugs like spiders are known to hide out in them.
Dirty Kitchen
Dirty dishes, food crumbs, and drink spills can attract pests like flies, ants, roaches, and more right into your home! After each meal, wash and put away your dishes to avoid these pests. Likewise, clean up any leftover spills and food crumbs off your floors, dining room table, and counter tops. Don’t forget to clean behind and under your kitchen appliances too as pests like to hide behind stoves and refrigerators to find a food source.
If you’ve noticed an increase of bugs throughout your Florida home, it’s best to call a pest control company near you. These professionals will provide you with a comprehensive pest control and prevention plan.
May 15, 2024 | Commercial
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) might sound like something that’s reserved for large agricultural operations or sprawling industrial complexes, but IPM can be just as vital for small businesses like yours. But why does it matter for small businesses and how can you implement a strategy that works for you? Let’s find out!
Understanding Integrated Pest Management
Unlike traditional pest control methods, IPM focuses on prevention, monitoring, and control with an emphasis on the use of multiple strategies to minimize pest populations. While minimizing risks to human health and the environment, key components of an IPM strategy include:
- Identification: Accurately identifying pests and understanding their behavior is crucial to effectively manage pests
- Prevention: Implementing measures to prevent infestations before they start, such as sealing entry points, maintaining cleanliness, and eliminating sources of food and water
- Monitoring: Regularly monitoring for signs of activity allows for early detection and intervention, stopping minor issues from escalating
- Control: When necessary, methods of control may be used such as traps and targeted applications
Why IPM Matters for Small Businesses
The consequences of ignoring pest problems can be just as severe for small businesses compared to large-scale operations. It’s just as essential to have an IPM strategy ready to protect your reputation and preserve the health and safety of your customers and employees. While the upfront investment of an IPM program can seem daunting, it can save you money in the long run by reducing the need for costly pest control treatments and potential damage to your property or inventory.
How to Prevent Pests in My Small Business
It doesn’t have to be complicated or costly to get an IPM strategy in place or begin prevention:
- Identify potential pest vulnerabilities, such as entry points, food storage areas, and landscaping features.
- Train your employees on the importance of pest prevention and how to spot early signs
- Implement good business hygiene protocols, proper waste management, and routine maintenance to limit pest attractants
- Consider partnering with a pest management company near you to receive a free, no-obligation inspection and a personalized strategy tailored to your business’s needs.
May 7, 2024 | DIY Pest Control, Florida Pest Control
House mice, roof rats, Norway rats, and other rodents seek our homes as a place for shelter to breed and search for an available food source to survive. These creatures are known to contaminate our environments and spread diseases such as plague, tularemia, and hantavirus. Rodents will often chew through insulation and electrical wiring, creating the risk of a fire. Placing do-it-yourself rodent-proofing measures throughout your home will protect your property and family from these pests.
Do-it-Yourself Rodent Proofing Tips
Rats and mice seek out food, water, and shelter in homes, so it’s important to eliminate these factors from your property to avoid an infestation. Let’s review our DIY rodent-proofing tips for your Florida property:
- Rodents can enter through the smallest opening, so inspect your home’s doors and windows for holes, gaps, and loose or broken seals, repairing where necessary.
- Remove any clutter from your home, including old newspapers, books, magazines, and cardboard boxes you don’t utilize anymore.
- Always keep your yard well-maintained by mowing on a regular basis, keeping shrubs and trees trimmed, and removing yard debris.
- If you store lumber or firewood, place it at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground.
- Check for any excess moisture throughout your home; repair any leaky pipes and eliminate excess moisture in your crawlspace through crawlspace encapsulation.
If you’ve noticed signs of rodents or would like extra help with rodent-proofing, call a pest control company near you! Professionals will provide you with a free analysis and a recommended rodent control treatment and prevention plan!
Mar 1, 2024 | Wildlife
As the weather warms up in Georgia, so does the activity of one of the area’s most misunderstood creatures: snakes. With snake season approaching, it’s essential to take proactive steps to ensure your yard is prepared for these slithery visitors. Whether you’re concerned about encountering venomous species or simply want to minimize their presence around your home, proper preparation and understanding are key. Here’s everything you need to know to get your yard ready for snake season:
When is Snake Season in North Georgia?
Snake season in Georgia typically begins in the spring, around March or April, and extends through the summer months until around September or October. During this time, snakes become more active as they emerge from hibernation and seek food, mates, and suitable habitats.
Common Snakes Found in North Georgia
Georgia is home to a variety of snake species, both venomous and non-venomous. Some of the most common snakes you may encounter include:
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Copperhead
- Eastern Coral Snake
- Eastern Rat Snake
- Black Racer
- Eastern Garter Snake
While most snakes in the region are harmless and play a vital role in controlling rodent populations, it’s essential to be able to identify venomous species and exercise caution when encountering any snake.
Snake Safety Tips for Outdoor Activities
Whether you’re gardening, hiking, or simply enjoying time outdoors, it’s crucial to practice snake safety to minimize the risk of encounters. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Wear sturdy shoes and long pants when walking in areas where snakes may be present.
- Stay on designated trails and avoid tall grass, brush piles, and rocky outcroppings where snakes may hide.
- Be cautious when reaching into dark, secluded areas such as woodpiles, rock crevices, or garden beds.
- Keep pets on a leash and supervise them while outdoors to prevent snake encounters.
- If you encounter a snake, maintain a safe distance and allow it to move away on its own. Avoid startling or antagonizing the snake.
Tips to Deter Snakes from Your Yard
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate snakes from your property, there are steps you can take to make your yard less attractive to them:
- Keep grass and vegetation trimmed short to reduce hiding places for snakes and their prey.
- Remove debris, such as logs, brush piles, and rock piles, where snakes may seek shelter.
- Seal any gaps or cracks in buildings, foundations, and fencing to prevent snakes from entering your yard.
- Install snake-proof fencing around gardens, play areas, and other high-traffic areas to keep snakes out.
- Consider natural deterrents such as certain plants (e.g., marigolds, wormwood) or commercial repellents.
If you’re concerned about snakes or other wildlife on your property, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional pest control company near you for assistance. Our team of experts specializes in humane snake relocation, snake control, and wildlife management services tailored to your specific needs. Request a free wildlife control quote today and enjoy peace of mind knowing your yard is in good hands.
As snake season approaches, taking proactive steps to prepare your yard can help minimize encounters and ensure a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for you and your family. By understanding common snake species, practicing snake safety, and implementing effective deterrents, you can create a snake-friendly environment that strikes a balance between coexistence and control.
