11 Sneaky Things That Are Attracting Snakes To Your Garden

While snakes can be beneficial to the environment, they also cause quite the scare if you stumble upon one when you're weeding in your flower beds. And you'll be surprised at the unexpected things in your yard that might be attracting these slithering reptiles. We've collected a list of sneaky things that might be bringing these invaders to your garden.

Since they're cold-blooded, snakes need help to regulate their body temperature, so they'll seek out shady spots in the heat of summer and warm, sunny spots in cooler weather. Often, they'll pick places we don't even think about. Any place they can hide, even under toddler toys left outside, they will. In fact, you might even have common backyard features that attract snakes in your garden right now.

These sneaky cold-blooded animals also like a steady stream of food, such as mice. So anything that attracts mice, such as bird feeders or compost, is likely to attract the predators hunting them as well. They need water, too, so that means bird baths might also be on their list to visit. While snakes can be scary, it's important to remember that many of them are not venomous. They're also an important part of the food chain. Still, if you want to reduce the number of them in your yard, here are 11 sneaky things you should watch out for.

Your kids won't be the only ones playing with toys in the yard if you leave them outside. Snakes love to curl up beneath wagons or plastic tricycles in the heat of the day for a little shade. So you may just be making a cozy hiding spot for a snake if you don't put kids' toys away in a shed or garage behind a closed door. Similarly, be aware that sandboxes can also be a magnet for the slithering reptiles. 

Fruit trees can attract snakes, and not because they want to take a bite out of the actual fruit. The fruit that falls from the tree tends to attract rodents or other prey the snake is far more interested in. If you want to make sure to keep critters away from fruit trees, then clean up any fallen fruit as soon as you can. Don't let it rot on the ground, which is a waste anyway.

That sweet little bird bath might be attracting more than birds to your yard. Snakes might also stop by for a drink or to cool themselves off. Snakes need water just like birds do, but they sometimes hunt birds that are distracted at the bath. These uninvited reptiles might be one surprising downside to consider before adding a bird bath to your yard. 

We've got more bad news for you about bird accessories and snakes. Bird feeders also attract them, too. They'll hunt the birds or they'll eat whatever else comes around to eat the birdseed, including mice. If you want to discourage rodents, and therefore snakes, from coming around your bird feeder, make sure to use a feeder that catches any seed bits. The fewer seeds that drop to the ground for rats or mice, the fewer serpents you're likely to see. 

If you thought the only slithering creatures in your compost pile were worms, think again. You might be surprised to know that snakes love compost. As your compost decomposes, it gives off heat, which they seek out when the weather is cooler. Warm compost is also a magnet for rodents, the perfect snack. If you're worried about snakes in the compost pile, try adding fewer kitchen scraps to make it less attractive to mice. You may need a solid container to combat the heat issue though.

If you've got stacks of firewood in the yard, you might as well put out a welcome sign for snakes. They love to hide in wood piles, because there are plenty of hiding spaces. The best way to discourage them from crawling into your wood pile is to keep it at least a foot off the ground. It's also a good idea not to leave piles of wood outdoors except in cold winter months, when snakes are less likely to be active.

While a crack in your foundation or sidewalk might be bad enough, imagine how you'll feel if a snake moves in. Snakes love to squirm into tight spaces, and that includes cracks in concrete. These are places a snake can feel safe. In colder climates, they can even spend the winter in a warm crack in your home's foundation. The best way to prevent them from moving in is to seal any cracks in concrete around your property. 

Sometimes, snakes can gravitate to retaining walls made of loose bricks or limestone. If they can squeeze between the rocks or bricks, they will, for the same reason they'll seek out cracks in the sidewalk or your foundation. Also, the warm and safe space might even attract a snack of a small lizard, bug, or even small rodent. The best way to make your retaining wall snake-proof is to ensure it's properly sealed and that no bricks are cracked or broken. 

A leaky garden hose might be costing you more than just an expensive water bill. Snakes might be drawn to the easy water, which they need to drink. This is especially true on hot and dry summer days. The water might also attract lizards or frogs that might like to spend some time in a garden hose puddle — perfect for snacking. To best protect your yard, replace worn hoses, or make sure fixtures attach properly to faucets.

Plants love mulch because it can suppress weeds and help regulate ground temperature, but snakes also love it. Piles of damp mulch can offer snakes a nice, cool place to hide in on a hot summer's day. They can slither into deep layers of mulch and hide there, so try using thinner layers. Don't pile it up in the corners of your yard either, especially where there might be shade.

While sometimes gardening is a messy job, leaving garden tools, tarps, or any other clutter out in the yard quickly can turn into a snake's new favorite hiding spot. Tools, tarps, and rolls of wire don't just provide shade, but they can also trap moisture, too. To avoid having a snake take up residence beneath a fallen rake, just make sure to clean the yard of anything that might offer a snake shelter.