How To Avoid Attracting Snakes To Your Yard This Fall

If you've been seeing more snakes in the yard this fall, you're not alone. Snakes love the cooler weather of autumn. And there could be things, like piles of fallen wet leaves, empty animal burrows, or rotten logs or branches that might be attracting the reptiles. So make sure you're not inadvertently rolling out the welcome mat to neighborhood snakes, and remove any debris or potential shelters from your yard.

Fall can be a busy time for animals. Some snakes in warmer, Southern states use autumn to breed, including venomous snakes like diamondbacks and rattlesnakes. Others use fall as a time to hunt and bulk up for winter. In the summer, cold-blooded snakes have to take shelter in the shade and hunt at night. But cooler fall weather means they can hunt nearly nonstop.  Also on a snake's to-do list this fall? Finding a good shelter to use to keep warm over the winter. Often that means digging in the ground or finding a nice, warm pile of leaves. 

While there are certain garden plants snakes love to hide in, in the fall, leaves might be their top choice. Leaf piles also can be good hunting ground for mice or other prey taking shelter there. Many snakes also can hide easily in fallen leaves, making it harder for hawks or other predators to spot them. Both harmless and poisonous snakes love leaves, so keep kids and grandkids from jumping in those older yard piles. To be safe, rake and bag leaves to cut down on the temptation for snakes.

Piles of discarded leaves aren't the only thing to be wary of in your yard this fall. Snakes also love to hide in stacks of logs or fallen branches or hibernate in abandoned burrows left over from other animals. If you want to make sure you're not rolling out the red carpet for snakes, then fill in any abandoned holes in your yard so that snakes don't move in. Make sure to clear branches and other debris as well. You can also try some snake repellents, though keep in mind that some of them might work better than others. For instance, chili peppers might not be an effective snake repellent. 

Remember that snakes can be an important part of our garden's ecosystem, and absolutely help control garden pests like small rodents. They even cut down on the diseases mice pass on. And when winter arrives, many of these reptiles will go into snake hibernation – something called brumation. This means they lower their heart rates and rarely eat, but do drink. You probably won't see them much after fall until weather warms in the spring.

If you're still committed to keeping snakes out of the garden, then fall might be a good time to evaluate the kinds of plants you're growing. There are at least 14 plants that could be luring garden snakes into your yard. Avoid these snakes in your yard by making sure you're not providing them good shelter or offering up their favorite prey.