Snakes: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them
If it is about terrifying animals, snakes occupy perhaps the first place in the list of many.
And it is that these animals so exotic and captivating have become one of the greatest fears of many people throughout the world.
The main reason could be said to be the savage and aggressive behavior that some of them, by instinct, tend to demonstrate.
Therefore, it does not matter if they are poisonous species, large or small, few want to have them near.
However, in order to keep snakes on the sidelines, it is important to know more about them and understand their nature.
So, for this, we have devised the definitive guide of snakes and how to eliminate them, a great segment of information that will help you learn more about these animals and how to prevent them from becoming a real problem.
What are snakes?
When we speak of snakes, we refer to reptiles characterized by their elongated shape and the absence of limbs.
Some species usually measure a few centimeters, while others reach 25 feet in length.
These reptiles can live on trees, on land or in water, even in underground burrows.
They are characterized by their carnivorous nature and by their violent nature when it comes to looking for food.
Usually, snakes tend to hide and wait for some unsuspecting prey to which they can attack and devour.
For this, they can inject poison into their prey or squeeze it with their body until they suffocate it, immobilizing it to be able to swallow it.
This method of hunting depends on the type of snake in question, since some are poisonous and others are constrictors.
Regarding their distribution, these animals have preference for areas with tropical and subtropical climates.
However, they have developed such an amazing adaptive capacity, which today can be found in almost all parts of the world.
Thus, with the exception of Antarctica, all continents have the presence of these magnificent but frightening reptiles.
Why do snakes appear?
Now that you know what snakes are, you’re probably wondering, why do these animals appear?
Well, to get rid of doubts, here we tell you what are the causes of its appearance.
Stacks of rubble
To get food, the snakes usually hunt in ambush, that is to say that they attack their prey in a surprising way.
To do so, they prefer to hide in relatively dark places, where they can go unnoticed.
Some of the perfect hiding places for these animals are piles of rubble, mounds of leaves and straw.
However, they also like to hide between the piles of firewood and the piles of pruned grass.
In this way, if you have such elements at home, it is likely that the vipers will wander through there.
Very tall grass and leafy shrubs
If you have a garden and forget to prune it frequently, you may be inviting snakes to stay in it.
And is that, as we mentioned, these animals like to remain undercover, so they resort to very tall grass or leafy plants as a hiding place.
Presence of food sources
Snakes usually stay in those places where they find a safe source of food.
So, if you have insect pests, such as cockroaches or grasshoppers, these animals may appear in your house.
Also, if you have rats or mice that tend to hang around, it is very likely that the vipers will lurk.
Snakes types and species
There are about 3,000 species of snakes around the world, of which 375 are considered poisonous.
Since there are so many species of vipers that have been discovered, here we will name only some of the most common.
Black mamba
This snake has been classified as the longest adder in Africa and has one of the most lethal poisons.
King cobra
It is a powerful predator and the most poisonous snake on the planet.
Rattlesnake
It is famous for the rattle that it has at the end of its body, which has to sound in warning signal.
It is divided into 30 subspecies, which possess a not-so-deadly poison.
Corn snake
Also called a red rat, this snake is an innate constrictor, meaning that it strangles its prey before swallowing it.
Boa constrictor
Although it is not the largest snake in the world, it is known for the large size and thickness of its body.
This animal tends to curl around the body of its victim, suffocating it and breaking its bones to then devour it.
Eastern coral snake
Is one of the most dangerous species, due to its powerful poison.
Black rat snake
Considered one of the largest species in the world, it can reach up to 8 feet in length.
Ball python
It is one of the most friendly species for people, since it has no poison and is usually some withdrawn.
Water moccasin or cottonmouth
This snake is to be feared, because its bite tends to be quite painful and can even cause death.
Sea snakes
There are five kinds of sea vipers, to which they are closely linked with the cobras.
Snake sting or bite
As you already know, snakes tend to bite their prey to dominate them and then gobble them up.
However, not only do they do it when they want to eat, they can also attack if they feel threatened.
For human beings, the bite of a snake can become mortal if it is not treated in time, especially if it is a poisonous snake.
Regarding the symptoms experienced by a person who has been bitten by a snake, these may vary.
If it is a poisonous snake bite, it may present:
- Hemorrhage.
- Fang marks on the skin.
- Inflammation of the area.
- Intense and localized pain
- Burning in the bite area.
- Diarrhea.
- Dizziness
- Convulsions
- Exhaustion.
- Excessive sweating
- Fever.
- Difficulty to focus.
- Increase in thirst
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Tachycardia.
- Numbness of the body.
If you are the victim of a snake bite, it is important to see an emergency medical specialist.
In this way, you can receive the appropriate antidote and avoid further complications regarding the health condition.
Are snakes dangerous?
Most people are terrified of snakes, although not all of them are a real threat.
In fact, these animals prefer to stay away from humans, so they move away as soon as they have the opportunity.
However, some of them tend to get scared or feel threatened, so they do not hesitate to attack.
Usually, snake bites tend to be very painful, although they are not always deadly.
Its severity often depends on the type of snake and whether or not it has poison.
Either way, a snake bite can be dangerous if it is not treated well in time.
This can produce an infection and lead to the affected person losing even one limb or eventually dying.
To give you an idea, about 125,000 deaths per year are caused by poisonous snake bites.
The largest number of these deaths usually correspond to the regions of Africa, India, Brazil and Southeast Asia.
Also, we should consider that snakes can pose a risk to pets at home.
Dogs and other animals can easily become their victims, and their bite can kill them.
In conclusion, snakes can become quite dangerous if they feel attacked or intimidated.
So we must act with caution if we come across any of them, avoiding to scare or bother them.
How to eliminate snakes?
If you are experiencing a problem with snakes at home and do not know how to eliminate them, put the following into practice.
Get rid of debris and clutter
As we mentioned, the vipers love to hide among piles of wood, mounds of leaves and all that mound of rubble.
Therefore, if you want to keep them away from your home, you must eliminate the clutter you have in your yard or garden.
Keep grass and bushes trimmed
Another of the favorite hiding places of these reptiles are the very high grass and the thick and leafy bushes.
If you have these in your garden, it is best that you prune them and avoid them reaching a great height.
Eliminate snake food sources
If you have small insects or rodents lurking around, it is likely that the snakes make an appearance.
Ideally, you control the presence of these pests, placing traps or repellents to keep them away.
Repari holes and crevices
If you want to prevent these vermin from entering your house, you must make sure to seal the holes that may be in it.
Thus, snakes will not have a place to go to enter your home and everything will be under control.
Place fences against snakes
Installing special fences against snakes is a good preventative measure.
You must make sure that when they are installed, they stick to the surface and at an outward angle.
In this way, snakes can not pass under or over the fence and will stay away.
Install snake traps
If you think there may be a snake in your garden, you can put a metal or glue trap.
However, you should have consulted with a specialist in animal control in order to install it properly.
Home remedies to eradicate snakes
When it comes to repelling snakes, there are some pretty useful home remedies that you can do yourself.
Dry repellent
Start by mixing 2 cups of sulfur, 1 cup of naphthalene balls and ½ cup of ground red pepper.
Disperse the preparation around your patio or garden and repeat the procedure every 30 days.
Liquid repellent
Another quite effective option is to mix 4 cups of ammonia and 1 cup of lemon dishwasher.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it where you do not want to see these reptiles.
Repeat the procedure every 2 weeks or after rainy days and you will not have these vermin roaming around.
More tricks to kill snakes
If all the above has not convinced you or has not given good results, maybe you should try these tricks.
Prepare a homemade trap
This is another example of a simple and very effective homemade trap.
To make it you will need: a coffee can and some balls of naphthalene and cinnamon.
Take a can of coffee and pierce it in the sides. Stuffed with mothballs and cinnamon chips.
Place the can in your yard or garden and you will see that the snakes will not appear there.
This is a good alternative for those who have children or pets at home, because it does not expose them to naphthalene.
Use your cat
It may sound strange but the felines are great hunters and are especially attracted to the movement of the snakes.
If you have a cat, you can leave it in the garden as a watchman and let it catch the vipers.
Use a hose to spray with water
If you see a snake loitering in your garden and you want it to move away, take the hose and spray it with water.
The snake will start to move away and thus you will have gotten rid of it in a more than certain way.
Now that you know everything about snakes and how to eliminate them, you can keep them away from you and your home.
However, do not hesitate to contact an animal control expert if you run into one of them.
Remember that they can attack you if they feel threatened and the consequences can be quite serious.
A specialist in the field can remove the vipers that are invading your space safely and effectively.
