Citrus Vs. Snakes: Will This Fruity Solution Deter The Serpents? Here's What We Know

You might have heard that citrus oil or powder can repel snakes. But before you go tossing lime peels into your yard and crossing your fingers, let's dig into the claim and go through the evidence. First, know that there's limited research on this topic, but it's not likely to be very effective when applied in your yard.

It might be easier to figure out what they like than what they don't. In fact, there might be several plants that are luring snakes into your yard right now. Some components of citrus may annoy them — one theory is that they don't care for the scent. The reptiles do have an excellent sense of smell, even though they don't use noses like we do. They depend on their tongues and the roof of their mouths to "smell" the air. 

It's true that a study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture did find that citral, a common ingredient in lemons and other citrus fruit, irritate brown tree snakes. (Which, we should note, mostly live in Oceania and aren't in the United States at all.) That same study found that other essential oils, like rosemary, cinnamon, and sage bothered the animals more — and made them leave the area in a hurry. It's worth noting that in the study, researchers sprayed concentrated oils very close to or even on the snakes. The study didn't examine how the oils would work as a deterrent when, say, applied to a tree beforehand. That's why the USDA recommends spraying any repellents directly on a reptile's head for best results, rather than trying anything preventatively.

Another study from the Vellore Institute of Technology, School of Biosciences and Technology did find some promising uses for limonene, a chemical found in citrus rinds. They used it (along with other ingredients) to make a repellent spray. In both this study and the USDA one, the citrus they used was concentrated. So even if the animals do hate citral or limonene, a single citrus fruit or peel lying on the ground is probably not enough to make a difference. 

In some cases, citrus seems to attract rather than repel the reptiles. Not only that, but in California, there are some types of rattlesnakes that live in citrus orchards. Cleary, this variety doesn't mind sharing close quarters with citrus. These cold-blooded creatures follow where prey goes, and that includes near fruit trees or even in hostas, the popular garden plant snakes love to hide in. 

That means if you really want to encourage the critters to leave, it might be a better idea to concentrate on methods other than citrus oils or sprays. You can keep your yard a snake-free zone by mowing regularly and removing places for the reptiles to hide. Prune bushes and trees, so snakes feel more exposed. Keep yards clean of trash and pet food inside, since it can attract rats or mice, some snakes' favorite meal. And if you really have a bad snake problem, you might want to contact professionals instead of dealing with them yourself.