- 1). Put on work gloves and a long-sleeved top before working on potential snake hiding places. Stamp heavily as you approach each area, to warn away snakes. Venomous snakes prefer to make their escape, rather than bite, if they have the choice.
- 2). Cut back vegetation from around your house. This provides shelter both for snakes and for their prey.
- 3). Clear away any piles of wood, rocks, bricks or general trash, which look like cozy snake homes to a snake. If you need to store firewood, do so at a distance from your house. Also, move compost heaps as far away from your house as possible.
- 4). Stop feeding pets outside. Dog kibble or cat food attracts rodents, which in turn attract snakes.
- 5). Move bird feeders away from your house or replace them with spill-proof feeders. Spilled birdseed and nuts also attract rodents.
- 6). Fill in any gaps around windows, hatches and doors with the appropriate building materials for your property. Cement or plaster is often fine. This stops snakes actually getting inside.
- 7). Install a snake-proof fence around your backyard, especially if there are numerous venomous snakes in the area and you have small children or pets. The University of Colorado recommends a simple fence of ¼-inch mesh galvanized hardware cloth. Sink the fence at least 6 inches into the ground, to prevent snakes crawling underneath. Angle it outward at about 30 degrees to make it difficult for snakes to climb over.
Source...