If you’ve noticed holes in your yard, there could be myriad reasons that could be causing them including animals, children, and pests such as snakes.
Even though most snakes aren’t a threat to humans or pets, a few venomous species like black mambas and cobras can show up in your yard. Did you know that black mamba is billed as Africa’s longest venomous snake?
Here’s what to do about snake holes in your yard:
- Determine whether it is indeed a snake hole.
- Determine if the hole is empty
- Do not disturb the snake hole.
- Cover the hole.
- Check regulations.
Read on to find out how to preform these tasks properly.
What Does a Snake Hole Look Like in a Yard?
If you encounter an unusual hole in your yard, the first thing to do is determine whether it’s a snake hole or any other type of hole.
Although snakes often hide in holes, they do not dig these holes themselves. The holes are mostly constructed by rodents, turtles, and frogs.
Snakes have the ability to dig through leaf debris and very loose soil, but there aren’t many snakes that can dig into packed earth.
Snakes prefer cozy accommodations that make them feel safe and are most comfortable when their backs touch the ceiling of their burrow or retreat.
So what exactly does a snake hole look like? Snake holes are round holes that are typically found embedded in the grass. They can also be located in trees and larger concrete cracks and around the foundation of your property.
The easiest way to ascertain a snake hole is by actually spotting the snake (s) slithering in your yard. Without seeing the reptile, it’s a bit more complex to gauge which pest has taken over the holes in your property.
Signs of Snakes in Your Yard
There are a few telltale signs of snakes in your yard. Some of the most common signs you have snakes in your yard include:
- Snake droppings – snake waste is a mixture of feces and urine and looks white. Snake droppings are more of a liquid than solid, similar to bird droppings. Snake waste may contain hair, scales, bones, and other ingestible materials left over from meals. Read about how snakes shed their skin.
- Shed snakeskin – shed snakeskin is another good sign of wildlife activity in your yard. The term “sheds” refers to the outer layer of skin that the snake releases during the shedding process called ecdysis.
- Strange smell in enclosed spaces – certain species of snakes can emit an odor akin to cucumbers. Contrary to popular belief, snakes don’t smell like rotten eggs, fish, or skunks unless they musk in self-defense.
- Tracks in your dust or dirt from slithering – snakes can leave sinuous lines in your yard and debris piles. Lines made by these creatures including prairie rattlesnakes often lead to holes in yards. There are 5 common types of snake lines – side winding, lateral undulations, concertina, rectilinear, and slide-pushing.
- Unexpected noises coming from your yard – snakes hiss, which is a sound these reptiles make when they’re breathing.
What Kind of Snakes Digs Holes in My Yard?
Garter Snakes & Northern Water Snakes
If you live near a creek, lake, or marshy area, garter snakes and north water snakes can stroll into your yard. The good news is that both species are non-venomous and don’t present any danger to you or your family.
- Garter snakes eat pests that create havoc in your lawn such as rodents, making them a natural way of eliminating a rodent issue. Garter snakes are a common sight for North American gardeners, and while some types are all black, others can range from brown, tan, and olive to red and orange.
- Even though north water snakes aren’t poisonous or dangerous, they have a reputation for being aggressive and may turn hostile when approached.
Other Common Types of Snakes and Their Locations
These are certain species of venomous snakes that can appear in your yard.
- Copperhead snakes are large and feature large, triangular heads. With regards to habitats, copperhead snakes can be found during the day and night but prefer to prey after dark during the hotter parts of the season.
- Coral snakes are medium-sized slender creatures with smooth scales and a divided anal plate. The most noteworthy feature of coral snakes is their bright body pattern or red, yellow, and black rings. Coral snakes are venomous so back away from them if you see one and call a professional pest control company, animal control, or wildlife control.
What To Do About Snake Holes In Yard
1. Confirm The Presence Of A Snake
Check for any indications of snake presence, such as shed skins or feces, in the area.
The first thing to do is confirm the presence of snakes whether prairie rattlesnake pygmy rattlesnake, Mojave rattlesnake, midget faded western rattlesnake, or northern pacific rattlesnake in your yard.
Look out for snake feces, black scales, and belly scales around the snake holes, flower beds, and near bodies of water. Even if you’re an avid gardener, it’s important to wear protective gear such as gloves when looking for snakes or any other pests in your lawn and garden.
2. Determine If The Hole Is Empty
Determine if the snake holes in your yard are currently being used.
There are plenty of signs of whether the holes are empty or being used. If there is debris and/or spiderwebs nearby, the holes are probably empty.
If you want to spot the snake, you’re going to have to be patient because there aren’t a lot of tips to lure snakes out of holes.
3. Do Not Disturb The Snake Hole
If you know there’s a snake in the hole, do not disturb the area because you don’t what type of snake it is. Snakes are shy reptiles and will not attack until provoked. Call a pest control specialist in your area to safely eliminate the snake (s) from your yard.
4. Cover The Hole
Use materials such as dirt, netting, wire, or burlap to cover the snake hole.
Until the help arrives, cover the snake holes with material such as dirt, netting, wire, or burlap. When covering or filling the snake hole, avoid piling up material as doing so will create the perfect space for snakes to call the hole home again.
5. Check Regulations
Exercise caution when working near snake holes and be aware of any local regulations.
Local regulations regarding wildlife vary from state to state or even municipalities, so check your local regulations before shooting or hitting snakes.
Some areas also prohibit the use of fumigation and the use of certain repellants. Speaking of repellants, make sure they are safe for humans and pets and ensure they are legal to use in your area. Laying a snake trap is another great way of getting rid of snakes without hurting them.
- READY TO USE: Rat, Mouse and Snake glue traps are pre-scented and are intended for use without additional rat bait. For best use, leave the mouse trap with paper on so pests can acclimate to the trap, then place glue boards along known or suspected rodent pathways. The mouse and rat traps are scented with a special formula to attract insects and rodents.
- YEAR-ROUND PROTECTION: The disposable large mouse pad is sticky, pre-baited, and ready to use. Our adhesive formula is designed to prevent hardening that can limit the effectiveness of the rodent and snake trap. When placed in an area with normal conditions, glue mice traps can last up to one full year. The mouse and rat trap can be used as an alternative to glue boards that may not hold up as well in damp or humid areas like basements or bathrooms.
- HOME & FAMILY SAFE: Designed to help you keep your family protected and safe from unwanted pests in your home, Catchmaster glue traps are intuitive, secure and effective. If using in an area with dust or other debris, fold the trap into a tunnel to protect the glue of the sticky traps for mice and rats. Our products are tested under the harshest field conditions to ensure maximum reliability for any level of pest control expert.
Affiliate links and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 2024-09-16
Regardless of whether you’re spraying a repellant or laying a snake trap, always use caution when working around holes in yards.
6. Make Your Yard Less Attractive to Snakes
Remove potential hiding spots and sources of food to make your yard less attractive to snakes.
If you trap a snake, make sure you release the creature far away from your property to ensure it doesn’t end up back in your yard.
There are a plethora of ways to make your property less snake-friendly. Snakes love to dwell in tall grassy areas, and places with dirt and debris.
These areas serve as food sources (small rodents and insects) for snakes, so the snakes will linger around as long as the food is readily available for them to eat.
Rake up any fallen leaves in your yard and clean out piles of dirt and debris. Next, eliminate any rodent nests and rodent burrows as these are attractive foods for snakes.
7. Call The Professionals
Consider hiring a professional pest control service to prevent snake infestations.
You shouldn’t ideally be messing with snakes in your yard. They can be harmful to people and pests, therefore it is recommended that you call professional animal control or wildlife control to take control of the situation.
Professional services can assess the risks and the best and safest solution to getting rid of snakes in your lawn.
How Do I Know if a Snake Hole is Empty?
If you notice dark brown smears with a white end, then that’s a good sign of snakes present in your yard. Adding to this, skins or scat are good evidence of snake activity in your yard.
If you determine that you have snakes in your yard, it may be worth finding out what type of snake it is because non-venomous snakes are indeed beneficial for your yard.
What to Pour Down a Snake Hole?
If you’re sure it’s a snake hole, there are several products you can pour in it such as Ortho Snake B Gon1. These granules are easy to apply by simply sprinkling them around and in snake holes and other areas where you feel snakes may be present.
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This formula is safe for pets and people and reapplication may be needed until the snake is gone. You can also pour compacted soil into an empty snake hole because snakes aren’t good diggers and won’t dig through compacted soil.
Steel wool is another good product to put in a snake hole because snakes can’t chew and get through it. If you want to take the humane route, flushing the snake hole with water is a pretty effective method of getting the snake out of the hole.
Watch this video to see how to put water down a snake hole:
How to Keep Snakes Out of My Yard?
The best way to keep snakes out of your yard is by getting rid of their food sources such as rodents. Further, clean up any leaves, debris, and dirt and mow tall grasses.
FAQs
Q. How Deep are Snake Holes?
A. Snakes do not create holes but use holes by other creatures like chipmunks or rodent burrows. Snakes can only travel a few inches into the hole but must travel below the frost line during winter dormancy.
Q. What Time of Day is Snakes Most Active?
A. Snakes prefer holes and are most active whenever the temperatures are 80 degrees to 90 degrees F. These reptiles are active during the early mornings and late afternoons throughout the summer.
Q. What Attracts Snakes to Your Yard?
A. Dirt, debris, tall grass, and pests attract snakes to your yard.
Q. How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Snake Hole and a Mole Hole?
A. Since snakes don’t dig holes, the only way to differentiate between a snake hole and a mole hole is by looking for snake feces and snake skins. Mole holes are a mound of earth and not visible holes.
Q. Should you Cover Snake Holes in the Yard?
A. After you identify snake holes, covering snake holes with burlap, netting, or wiring will prevent the snakes from returning to the nests.
Final Thoughts
A snake in the yard can be anxiety-inducing for most people, causing you to look for ways to get rid of snakes and holes in the yard.
Non-venomous snakes prey on other pests so they are beneficial for the yard. However, there are several ways to eliminate snakes such as using snake repellants and closing snake holes.
If you haven’t dealt with snakes before, call a professional or a natural pest control service to remove the creatures.
Professional pest control services have a wealth of expertise in exterminating snakes and other pests on your property. They can also remove snakes safely from your yard and implement strategies to prevent them from returning.
Hi, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up I remember that my family had one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Richly green and lush. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring and tending for not only my family’s lawn but also my neighbors. I can say I have years of experience, and I am here to share it with you.
