Enjoying the great outdoors during the hiking and camping season can be a rewarding experience. Exploring nature and all of earth's creatures is an effective way to become one with your surroundings, and also get to know the other living things that share your world. That is not to say that you will be comfortable coming in contact with everything that walks, crawls, and slithers along your path. Two very common snakes that a nature traveler may come face to face with are Copperheads and Water Moccasins. While the copperhead is considered a poisonous snake, its venom is nothing in comparison to that of the Water Moccasin, one of the most poisonous snakes in North America. Outside adventure is fun, but sometimes it finds its way to your own back door, and if you find that your home is being invaded by either one of these dangerous creatures, there are ways to repel them.
Items you will need
Mothballs
Lawn maintenance tools
Neighborhood cat community
Owl nesting box
Try mothballs! Mothballs are a popular repellent used by campers and homeowners trying to rid snakes from their yards. The mothballs contain naphtalene, which is a known snake repellent. Drop some mothballs into your garden, or along your tree lines, and the snakes won't visit.
Maintain your property! Keep your grass mowed and your bushes trimmed, to prevent snakes from visiting. Since Copperheads and Water Moccasins love to hide in tall grass and shrubbery, keeping them neat and trimmed, will give them less of a reason to hang around.
Get rid of the wood pile! Snakes love wood piles, because they are usually dark and damp and a great place to hide. Removing it from your property will keep the snakes away.
Enlist the help of your neighborhood cats! Feeding the neighborhood cats, and giving them a reason to hang around will help lessen the chances of snakes coming to visit. The cats will eat the rodents in your yard, leaving the snakes with nothing to feast on. They will have to make dinner plans elsewhere!
Build and owl nesting box! Owls love to eat mice, which is a delicacy for copperheads and water moccasins. If the mice aren't around, the snakes won't be either.
Warnings
- Never approach one of these snakes by trying to pick it up to remove it yourself. Call a professional!
- If you have been bitten by a Copperhead or Water Moccasin, seek medical attention immediately!
Warnings
- Never approach one of these snakes by trying to pick it up to remove it yourself. Call a professional!
- If you have been bitten by a Copperhead or Water Moccasin, seek medical attention immediately!
Writer Bio
Jonae Fredericks started writing in 2007. She also has a background as a licensed cosmetologist and certified skin-care specialist. Jonae Fredericks is a certified paraeducator, presently working in the public education system.
