Snakes Can't Help But Slither Up To This Perfect Hiding Spot In Your Yard

Even if you don't live in an area where venomous snakes are common, it can still be an unwelcome surprise to discover a serpent slithering through your yard or garden. There are a variety of common backyard features that could be attracting snakes, but one of the biggest snake magnets could be your wood pile. Whether it's firewood, some rotting logs that need to be disposed of, or lumber for a construction project you haven't gotten around to, these piles are a huge hit with snakes. And who can blame them for enjoying such a perfect hiding spot? 

Wood piles and stacks of firewood aren't just ideal spots for snakes to hide from predators, though. They're also often teeming with insects, spiders, and rodents like mice and rats, which are favorite foods of many snakes. Some snake species even consider rotting wood an ideal hibernation spot. Dismantling or cleaning up your wood pile can help encourage snakes and their prey to move on and find a different spot to hide, further away from your yard and garden.

While disposing of old or rotting wood is a great way to limit visits by snakes, you don't necessarily have to give up on storing firewood or having a woodpile if you're trying to avoid attracting them. Instead, take simple steps like moving your woodpile further away from your house or to an area where you don't mind snakes visiting. After all, wood piles that attract rodents aren't ideal against your house anyway. 

Elevating the woodpile off the ground is also helpful. Use a rack that keeps the wood at least a foot off the lawn or floor, as this will make it far less appealing to snakes. Otherwise, if you've been storing lumber for an extended period of time, consider finding a fun outdoor project to use it for.

Of course, woodpiles aren't necessarily the only snake magnet in your yard. If you're still having issues with serpents even after elevating or disposing of the wood, check if there are other features that are attracting snakes. A messy bird feeder can quickly attract rodents, which, by extension, encourage snakes to visit. The same is true of outdoor pet food.