Whether you are someone who likes to keep snakes as pets or you consider seeing a snake as one of your greatest fears, finding one in and around your home when it’s not supposed to be there is an alarming situation. Depending on where you live, there can be a high rate of snakes in your outside area. Some of these breeds, like garter snakes and rat snakes, are relatively harmless, but others, including rattlesnakes and cobras, have venom that can make them fatal. One of the best ways to keep snakes out of your home is by using snake repellent.
There Are Two Types of Snake Repellents
Homeowners will find they have a choice between two types of snake repellents. One is odor-based and uses odors that are repulsive to snakes to repel them from an area. These repellents are easy to use and affect the snake’s ability to detect their prey, forcing them to move on to other areas where their sense of smell has not been obstructed. There are also ultrasonic frequency snake repellent products. These repellents can be plugged into an outlet or are solar-powered and emit a high-frequency sound that repels snakes but is inaudible to the human ear. These types of repellents have a smaller range and are more appropriate for indoor use, although there has been a new trend to create outdoor-friendly ultrasonic frequency snake pellets that are solar-powered and have stakes that make them easy to set into a lawn.
What to Look for in Snake Repellent
A snake repellent with a strong odor is one of the most effective ways to keep snakes at bay. It’s also a good idea to purchase a snake repellent that is long-lasting so that homeowners don’t have to continuously reapply snake repellent. Most repellents will be washed away by heavy rain, but snake repellents with higher concentrations of active ingredients and ones that are in granular formations are more resistant to rain.
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Is Snake Repellent Dangerous to Humans and Pets?
The good news about snake repellent is that snakes are repulsed by smells that are typically enjoyed by humans, including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic and lime. Most snake repellents do not have an unpleasant smell for humans, but it’s still important to exercise caution when using them. It’s crucial homeowners follow the instructions that come with each individual snake repellent to ensure it is used in a safe manner.
Take Steps to Decrease the Chance of a Snake Infestation
In addition to using snake repellent, there are also other steps homeowners can take to decrease the chance of an infestation. Avoid debris and rock piles where snakes can hide and keep firewood storage away from the house. Keep your grass short and don’t overwater it since moisture can attract snakes. Mulch also attracts snakes, as do rodents, which are a major food source for snakes. If you have a snake issue it’s important to ensure you also don’t have a rodent issue.
Protect Your Home from Snakes
In addition to using snake repellent, homeowners who are dealing with a snake infestation should also ensure that their foundation is sealed, door sweeps and window screens are correctly fitted and vents and drains are protected with metal mesh covers.
Now that we have covered the basics of snake repellents, it’s time to explore your best options. We compiled a list of the top-rated snake repellents that will help you get rid of any unwanted visitors.
1. Ortho Snake B Gon Snake Repellent
BEST OVERALL
Ortho Snake B Gon Snake Repellent is a long-lasting snake repellent that doesn’t have an obtrusive odor that could bother users, making it our top pick. Ortho uses granules instead of spray to create a snake repellent that is long-lasting and rain resistant. Made with essential oils that —when used correctly — are not harmful to humans or pets, Ortho’s snake repellent provides an easy way for homeowners to stop snakes from entering their property and creating a nest. Using cinnamon oil, geraniol, castor oil, peppermint oil, clove oil, Ortho combines a variety of scents that are repulsive to snakes. When used together, the scents overwhelm the snake’s sense of smell and make it impossible for them to search for prey. As a result, snakes will move on to areas with more ‘fresh air.’
2. Snake Defense Natural Snake Repellent
EASY TO USE
For a snake repellent that is easy to use and fast-acting, we like the spray by Snake Defense. Made with natural ingredients, including essential oils like clove oil and peppermint oil, the spray works to repel snakes by combining scents they dislike. The scent overwhelms snakes, making it impossible to sniff out their prey, forcing the snakes to look elsewhere for their food. Designed to repel venomous and non-venomous snakes, including copperheads, rattlesnakes, grass snakes, water moccasins, the spray is safe for use in areas where pets and children play.
3. RUNADI Mole Repellent
BEST FOR OVERCAST AREAS
For a snake repellent that is safe for plants, pets and small children and requires zero upkeep, we recommend the chemical-free RUNADI Mole Repellent. The eco-friendly and solar-powered repellent works by being staked into the ground and sending out sonic pulses every 30 seconds that scare away snakes and other rodents. The sonic waves pulsate through the ground and deliver a sound and vibration that is unpleasant for pests. The waterproof solar panels only need four hours of sunshine to last for five to seven days. Designed with long-lasting, flame retardant material, the Runadi stakes have an impressive 7,000 square foot range.
4. Nature’s MACE Snake Repellent
WATER RESISTANT
If you have a snake issue, constantly spreading snake repellent to keep snakes away is a scary prospect. You don’t want to spend time where the snakes are gathering! That’s why we like Nature’s MACE Snake Repellent, a natural and long-lasting snake repellent that doesn’t need to be reapplied frequently. The biodegradable, dustless and chemical-free snake repellent uses sulfur and other organic ingredients to create a snake repellent that has a pleasant, minty smell. The non-toxic snake repellent is safe for use in areas with pets and children and is water-resistant, helping to extend its use once it has been spread outdoors.
5. Snake Shield Snake Repellent Granules
SAFE FOR PETS
For pet owners, making a safe outdoor space for their beloved animals is important, so if a snake repellent works to keep snakes out of the backyard but is also dangerous to pets, it’s not a great fix. That’s why we like the snake repellent granules from Snake Shield. Using a mixture of essential oils and sulfur, Snake Shield disturbs the snake’s sensory system and sends them into flight mode. Snake Shield is safe for use in areas that are shared by pets and children and can be sprinkled on lawns, playgrounds and flowerbeds. We like that the repellent starts working immediately, which means more time enjoying your outdoor space without the threat of an uninvited guest.
6. Liquid Fence Snake Repellent
SAFE FOR USE NEAR PLANTS
If you enjoy unwinding by spending hours tending your garden, an appearance by a snake is a surefire way to send you running back into the house and away from your happy place. For a snake repellent that will keep snakes away without ruining your garden, we recommend Liquid Fence. The snake repellent is made with scent and taste deterring ingredients that obstruct a snake’s ability to use their senses to hunt for prey. The snake repellent is naphthalene-free, which makes it safe to use around plants, pets and children. One container holds enough snake repellent to cover 1,000 square feet and will last for weeks.
7. Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
BEST FOR INDOOR USE
One of the best ways to get rid of a snake infestation is to eliminate its food source and that may mean dealing with a rodent issue first. The Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller can work with snakes but is more specifically designed to repel pests, including mice and rats. The wall plug-in unit is appropriate for indoor use and has three levels of ultrasonic frequencies depending on the severity of the infestation. Powerful enough to cover a room up to 120 square feet, the ultrasonic frequencies begin to take effect after a few weeks and help drive out pests that can attract snakes.
8. Dartwood Outdoor Solar Sonic Mole Repellent
WATERPROOF
If you live in an area that is prone to regular rainfalls, liquid and granular snake repellent options may prove to be too time-consuming since they frequently need to be reapplied after a heavy downpour. Instead, try the Dartwood Outdoor Solar Sonic Mole Repellent, which has a vibrator generator that emits sound waves of approx, 400 Hz – 1000 Hz, which scares away moles, mice and snakes without causing harm. An environmentally-friendly snake solution that is safe for pets and children, the spikes are easy to install in the ground and can be moved, making them an excellent option to take on camping trips. The solar-powered units emit a soundwave undetectable to the human ear every 17 seconds. The low maintenance and waterproof repellents need only four hours of sunlight to last up to five days and have a 49 ft./15 m range.
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