The Scoop On Snakes!
Here are some easy ways you can help snakes in your community.
Get Involved with your Community!
Getting involved in conservation initiatives with your community can be challenging, as people often do not know where to begin. This page provides some useful tips on how to start conserving your local snake species.
If you don't like snakes there are better ways, rather than killing or harming them, to discourage their presence near your home. (Streit and Desy 2003)
- Close openings around your house, such as openings under porches and walkways. Since Black Rat Snakes can climb, you may also find it helpful to check for openings around the top of your house as well (i.e. roof vents, eaves and soffits, chimneys, etc.).
- Keep the area clear of debris, since they may use it as a refuge. Examples include woodpiles, compost, and leaf piles.
- Keep the grass short, since snakes like areas with taller grasses.
- Relocate bird feeders and bird houses, as they can attract rodents, which snakes eat.
Five ways to reduce threats to snakes on your property: (Streit and Desy 2003)
1) Be aware that they won't hurt you! Being afraid of snakes is not a good reason to harm or kill them! Knowing they will not hurt you is the first step to helping these species survive persecution.
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2) Do not disturb them, and encourage others to follow your example.
3) Keep pets away. Large dogs are capable of killing adult snakes as well as juveniles.
4) Before mowing the lawn, check for snakes. Try to get the snake to move before you cut the lawn by nudging it with a long object like a broom.
5) Don't use nylon mesh in your garden. This mesh can entangle and kill
snakes. Many people use this mesh to deter deer, but a better alternative is using nylon fishing line because you can string it above ground so snakes are not at risk of entanglement. Also, be sure to store nylon mesh in plastic bags, as snakes can still get into it.
On the other hand, if you don't mind snakes, here are some things you can do to help them!
Other ways to help snakes: (Streit and Desy 2003)
- Keep brush piles, rather than burning them.
- Do not remove large hollow logs, stumps, or rotting logs. Snakes use these areas to lay their eggs.
- Avoid removing trees with cavities.
- If you have to move a fallen log or cut down a tree, move it to the edge away from human influence, as snakes use these logs to bask on.
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- Transform your garden into a 'snake friendly' zone. This can be done by adding rock piles for basking and creating garden compost piles.
- Build a snake box (with help from a local biologist).
Traffic mortality is a major threat to these species, so we have also listed ways that you can help reduce traffic mortality in snakes: (Streit and Desy 2003)
- Slow down in areas known to have a lot of snakes. Large adults are usually easy to spot on the road.
- Take note of where you see snakes. Tell friends and neighbours where to drive cautiously.
- You may be able to get your town to put up a snake crossing sign if you have an area with large snake populations that move across roads.
- Avoid paving roads in areas with snakes. Paved roads are attractive basking sites for snakes, which increases snake mortality.
- Physically move snakes off the road, or contact someone who can if you are not comfortable doing so.
Also, do your homework! This site provides SOME ways to help reduce the risks to snakes, but there is a lot of information out there, and on different scales as well (like globally!). Educate yourself with other sources and maybe you can initiate a new type of snake conservation method!