Jun 19, 2023 | Pest Control
Warm weather means it’s the time of year when snakes are active, emerging in search of food and to bask in the sunlight for warmth. Although most snakes you encounter are nonvenomous, there are a few venomous snakes in Georgia. While many people may not enjoy running into a snake near their home, they can be quite beneficial to have around. Snakes eat other problematic pests that commonly infest your home, such as rodents, making them a natural form of pest control. If the thought of a snake sharing your space still makes you uneasy, try these DIY snake repellent methods to keep your yard snake free.
Napthalene
A frequent ingredient in many commercial snake repellent products is napthalene. It is one of the most widely used repellents. If you don’t want to buy a commercial product, napthalene is the major component of moth balls. The odor of napthalene annoys snakes but does not kill them. Mothballs should be placed in any holes, gaps, or crevices on your property where snakes could be an issue. If moth balls are consumed, they can be toxic and dangerous to children or pets, so use caution or avoid using them if you have pets or children in your home.
Sulfur
Powdered sulfur is an excellent snake repellent. If you sprinkle powdered sulfur around your home and property, snakes will avoid it since it bothers their skin. Because sulfur has a strong odor, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when applying it.
Clove and Cinnamon
Clove and cinnamon essential oils are powerful snake repellents. For best efficacy, combine these ingredients in a spray bottle and spray directly on snakes. Caution is advised because snakes frequently run in the opposite direction of the spray. This mixture can also be used as a fumigant in a diffuser.
Garlic and Onions
Garlic and onions contain sulfonic acid, which repels snakes (the same chemical that makes us cry when we slice onions). For maximum effectiveness, combine this with rock salt and sprinkle around your home and yard. Infuse garlic into any essential oil and use to fumigate rafters, basements, and other difficult-to-reach areas.
Ammonia
Because snakes dislike the odor of ammonia, spraying it over any frequented locations is one alternative. Another approach is to soak a rag in ammonia and place it in an open bag near snake-infested areas to keep them away.
Vinegar
Vinegar repels snakes near bodies of water, particularly swimming pools. For a natural snake deterrent, pour white vinegar around the perimeter of any body of water.
Lime
Mix lime with hot pepper or peppermint and sprinkle it around the perimeter of your home or property as a snake deterrent. Snakes dislike the fragrance of the mixture, and the fumes irritate their skin.
Eliminate Food Sources
Snakes consume rodents, frogs, birds, moles, voles, insects, and even fish. If these food sources are removed, the snakes will move on in search of another source.
Remove Hiding Spots
Inspect the exterior of your home and property carefully and repair any cracks or holes you find. Repair any gutters, plumbing, or ventilation ducts that are damaged. Repair or replace any damaged window and door screens. Snakes will also seek refuge in wood piles and garbage piles. Store firewood in sealed, lockable wood boxes if possible. Remove any heaps of wood chip mulch, straw mulch, leaves, or other debris that may have accumulated on your land.
Maintain Landscaping
Garden on a regular basis to remove any snake attractants such as debris, holes, and overgrowth. Keep the grass short to eliminate snake hiding areas. Install snake-proof fencing consisting of steel mesh, plastic sheeting, or a capture net. If you do put up fencing, make sure it is flush with the ground, oriented outward, and at least 3 feet high and 4 feet deep. You can also use things that snakes find difficult to slither over, such as holly leaves, pine cones, egg shells, and gravel. Planting snake repellent plants, which provide a natural deterrent, is another option. Marigolds, lemongrass, and wormwood are some typical examples.
If these DIY methods aren’t working or you just feel more comfortable with professional help, contact your local pest control company for a quote on snake removal services.
May 25, 2023 | Wildlife
While the majority of snakes found in Georgia are non-venomous, there are a handful of venomous snake species around. Your first instinct when coming across a snake in or around your home might be to panic or to immediately get rid of it, unless it poses a direct threat to you or your family the best thing to do is leave it alone. Here are some benefits of keeping snakes around.
- Natural Pest Control. Snakes are great at keeping other pest populations around your home in check. They commonly feed on small mammals (especially rodents, including those who carry ticks that can be dangerous to humans), insects, birds, amphibians, and even other snakes. Without these wildlife creatures to help keep populations of these pests down, they would reproduce essentially unchecked and be incredibly difficult to keep under control.
- Balancing the ecosystem. Snakes are both predator and prey. Because of this, they play a vital role in maintaining the balance and biodiversity of the ecosystem. As mentioned above, when playing the role of predator, these creatures are great at keeping other pest populations down. When playing the role of prey, they are an important source of food for birds of prey and larger mammals (like foxes). Without snakes, these animals would struggle to find an adequate food source.
Snakes can be great to have around your home. If you can’t abide by the idea of a snake living close by, you can prevent them with these tips.
- Make your home and yard less attractive to snakes who are looking for food and shelter.
- Remove any food sources such as rodents or other pests.
- Keep pet food sealed in containers.
- Don’t leave pet food out overnight.
- Clean up spilled pet food and birdseed from the ground.
- Don’t overwater your lawn as this can attract worms, frogs, and slugs – another food source for snakes.
- Have your home inspected for rodents and other pests and maintain routine pest control treatments.
- Seal any entries into your crawlspace or basement that are larger than 1/4″.
- Make sure doorsweeps and window screens fit tightly.
- Cover vents and drains that come into the house.
- Keep grass mowed – tall grass and weeds provide more coverage from predators.
- Clean up any debris snakes can hide under (scarp metal, wood piles, trash, logs, etc.).
- Check the roof for overhanging vegetation – snakes are good climbers and can access your home from the roof.
If you do have a problem with snakes around your home, contact your local pest control company for a safe snake removal service.
Apr 14, 2023 | Wildlife
Water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, are one of 6 venomous snake species found in Georgia. These snakes are often mistaken for non-venomous water snakes (which are illegal to kill in the state of Georgia). Water moccasins are found in most areas of Georgia with the exception of the northern central region. While they often sunbathe on land, logs, or stumps found near water sources, they will also inhabit swamps, backwaters, and slow-moving streams.
Water moccasins are large, heavy bodied snakes with dull colors and rough scales. They have a single row of these scales under their tails (while water snakes have a double row). They also have elliptical eye pupils and heat sensing pits between their eyes and nostrils. Most have banding on their bodies with wider bands on the sides that narrow and taper near the top. These bands look like hourglasses when looking at them from above. They also have a dark stripe that runs from the back of their eye to the corner of their jaw which distinguishes them from water snakes and other species.
When agitated, water moccasins will vibrate their tails (similar to a rattlesnake rattle) and gape their mouths open, exposing the white coloration inside (hence the name cottonmouth). While these snakes have gotten a reputation for being aggressive, they are actually more likely to flee when encountered.
Water moccasins prefer to lay on logs and tree limbs near the water’s edge but will move into the water, as well. They can open their mouths and bite underwater, often hunting for frogs while swimming. The way they swim is also a distinguishing factor for these snakes. Water moccasins swim with their bodies riding on the surface of the water and their heads elevated above the water. They don’t typically submerge underwater, although they can. Water snakes will dive underwater when fleeing from a disturbance.
If you encounter a water moccasin in the wild, don’t panic. Stop moving towards them and back away slowly. Steer clear of them as you make your way away from them. Don’t ever attempt to kill or move a venomous snake on your own. If one makes its way into your home, call a professional wildlife control company for proper snake removal and relocation.
To keep water moccasins from lurking around your home, minimize stacks of wood near your house, get rid of standing water, bush piles, and any other moisture prone cover they can use. They also love to eat frogs so keep populations of these reduced around your property. They love wet hiding places with decaying plants or wood. Keep your home and yard clear and dry.
If you have a problem with snakes, contact your local pest control company for assistance.
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Mar 17, 2023 | Wildlife
As the weather warms up, snakes will emerge to take advantage of the warm weather and kick start their mating season. One of the snakes you’ll start to see this spring is the water moccasin. This venomous snake, also known as the cottonmouth, is a semi-aquatic snake found throughout the southeastern United States. The water moccasin is often mistaken for other snakes, so recognizing this snake in the wild is critical.
Water moccasins have large, triangular shaped heads with large jowls (due to their venom glands). Their eyes have a dark line through them and elliptical-shaped pupils. These snakes are large in size, ranging from 24″ to 48″. They have thick, heavy bodies when compared to their length. Their coloration can vary. These snakes can be completely brown or black (usually adults) or brown or yellow with dark crossbands. Adults tend to be darker while juveniles tend to be more brightly colored. They also have dark brown or yellow blotches on their bellies and black on the underside of their tails.
Water moccasins have facial pits they use to sense heat from predators and prey. They got their cottonmouth alias because the inside of their mouths are white in color. They will gape when they feel threatened, exposing this white color in an attempt to scare the threat away.
These snakes are found throughout the southeast, as far north as Virginia. They can be found in almost any freshwater habitat. They are active both during the day and at night, but will commonly hunt at night, especially during the hotter seasons of the year. They eat a variety of prey, including lizards, amphibians, other snakes, small turtles, birds, fish, mammals, and even baby alligators. They mate in the early summer.
Water moccasins are often mistaken for other nonvenomous water snakes. While the water moccasin has a thick body and short, thick tail, nonvenomous water snakes have more slender bodies and thinner tails. The shape of the head is also important. Water moccasins have large, blocky heads with pronounced necks that are much more narrow than the head. Water snakes, on the other hand, have more slender heads with necks that are more comparable in width to their heads.
While it can be tempting to run away or grab the closest thing you can to kill a snake when you come across it, the best practice is to leave it alone and slowly back away. In the case of a venomous snake, contact your local pest control company who can implement safe snake removal and relocation techniques.
Feb 3, 2023 | Pest Control
Despite popular belief, not all snakes are harmful to humans. In fact, most snakes will go out of their way to avoid humans when they encounter them. Only a handful of venomous snakes reside in Georgia. One of the most common of these is the water moccasin.
Water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, is a venomous snake found throughout the southeastern United States. They are known as the cottonmouth because of the white coloring on the inside of their mouths that show when they are threatened. These snakes are usually a banded brown or yellow color. They range in size anywhere from 2 to 4 feet and can swim in the water and slither on land.
The bite of a water moccasin is very dangerous to humans. If you are bitten by a water moccasin, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms following a water moccasin bite include pain, swelling, discoloration, weakness, fatigue, difficulty breathing, nausea, and decreased blood pressure.
Adult water moccasins have control over their venom. Because they have a limited supply, they have learned to conserve it, sometimes biting with a “dry bite” where no venom is released. Although painful, these bites aren’t as dangerous as a venom-filled bite. This is also what makes baby and juvenile water moccasins so dangerous. These young snakes haven’t learned control over their venom yet, therefore injecting their full supply when they bite.
If you encounter a water moccasin or any other snake you can’t positively identify in the wild, steer clear of it and don’t enter it’s personal space. Don’t attempt to move it or kill it. If you come across one of these snakes in your home, contact a professional for safe removal and relocation.
Although most snakes are actually beneficial to have around your home, you can prevent snakes with the following tips:
- Minimize wood stacks around your home. Store firewood away from your house and elevate it off the ground.
- Eliminate standing water around your home.
- Clean up your yard by getting rid of brush piles, logs, rocks, etc. Keep your lawn mowed and shrubbery trimmed back to help reduce hiding places.
- Make your yard less attractive to frogs and other food sources for snakes.
If you encounter a snake, contact a local pest control company who can implement safe and humane snake removal protocols.
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