Is there such a thing as an effective snake repellent?
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Years ago I lived in Malaysia in a home near a rubber plantation. Frequently we found cobra's (black not king) in our yard. The Indian guard (Hindu) we employed would not kill them since he was concerned they may be relatives re-incarnated. I cut down all the oil palms in the yard to discourage frogs which the cobras were eating. Upon advice of the old Malaysia hands, I sprinkled powdered sulfur around the yard. This seemed to help the problem. However, before sprinkling sulfur it was necessary to insure all the snakes were out of the yard since they would not cross the sulfur to get out of the yard. Knew an older English man there who came into Burma during WW II and he told me they used sulfur to repel snakes in the Burma jungle.
The Last Standing Knight
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I really wouldn't want to find out the answer to that one. A copperhead came close to biting my youngest son, who is autistic and didn't know the danger he was in with the snake in striking position less than a foot away.
No, I didn't kill the snake...I just got a long stick and moved it off the trail. I won't kill ANY dangerous animal unless I have to...(Scorpions are the only exception to this, though)
smith revolver cop
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Have you considered getting the little guy his own pet mongoose???
There are no known "snake repellents" in the sense of "insect repellents". There are effective mechanical barriers, such as woven-wire screening, to prevent entry of snakes, but no spray/sprinkle on repellents. I think it best to caution kids to avoid (not hate) and "respect" snakes and other potentially dangerous wildlife. There's a balance to be struck between engendering irrational fear, and careless indifference. Kids are careless, incautious, unobservant, so they're vulnerable. I don't know how to suggest keeping them snakeproof, but it won't be done with potions...
Capt Steve
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Lots of good info here. I deal with a lot of rattlesnakes as I work on three Arizona golf courses. Mature rattlesnakes, and I presume other venomous species, are capable of controlling their venom output. They will only put out venom in direct proportion to the threat they perceive. People often get a dry strike, a simple puncture wound with little if any venom injected. The snake sees you as something they cannot eat and thus save their venom for the next meal. The problem is if you really startle/scare them you may very well get a full shot. Baby rattlesnakes have not achieved this level of control and you will usually get a full shot of whatever they are packing.
In our neighborhood you just don't go out at night without a flashlight and shoes. I will only kill a a rattlesnake as a last resort. If after being moved (like porcupines make love...carefully), away from golfers, family or pets they return repeatedly, then and only then will I dispatch them to rattlesnake heaven (boy, that's a scary sounding place). I'm not crazy about snakes but I HATE rats and other related vermin.
In our neighborhood you just don't go out at night without a flashlight and shoes. I will only kill a a rattlesnake as a last resort. If after being moved (like porcupines make love...carefully), away from golfers, family or pets they return repeatedly, then and only then will I dispatch them to rattlesnake heaven (boy, that's a scary sounding place). I'm not crazy about snakes but I HATE rats and other related vermin.
drfunk
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Very interesting thread.
When I was younger, we caught water snakes all the time. Occasionally we would get lucky and get a moccasin (in a minnow trap). They were usually seemingly aggressive, but rarely would strike. On the other hand, all of the copperheads I have run across have been very aggressive and strike repeatedly. Bear in mind, I don't handle them, just move them along out of my way with a long stick.
I was lucky enough to find a rather large copperhead in my driveway tonight. The biggest one I've seen in Georgia. I hope he gets along with the two baby rat snakes I relocated from my job last year. No rodents for me!
Vernon
When I was younger, we caught water snakes all the time. Occasionally we would get lucky and get a moccasin (in a minnow trap). They were usually seemingly aggressive, but rarely would strike. On the other hand, all of the copperheads I have run across have been very aggressive and strike repeatedly. Bear in mind, I don't handle them, just move them along out of my way with a long stick.
I was lucky enough to find a rather large copperhead in my driveway tonight. The biggest one I've seen in Georgia. I hope he gets along with the two baby rat snakes I relocated from my job last year. No rodents for me!
Vernon
CAJUNLAWYER
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Nothing like reviving a good coppermouth water rattler thread 
I bring my bil.Dont't know if he repels them ,but his rattle snake dance is very entertaining 
kozmic
Member
I am a big fan of snakes and have bred them for years. As a general rule I come down hard on those who needlessly kill them. That said, in my area there aren't any venomous snakes to speak of.
I have seen folks use gas in snake holes and to border an area. Raises hell with the grass, etc. though.
In your case, I wouldn't trust only using a "repellant" with children around. Sadly, the snakes in your area must be captured and relocated or dispatched accordingly.
I have seen folks use gas in snake holes and to border an area. Raises hell with the grass, etc. though.
In your case, I wouldn't trust only using a "repellant" with children around. Sadly, the snakes in your area must be captured and relocated or dispatched accordingly.
COL Jagdog
Member
Mothballs will repell snakes -- they do not like the smell of camphor.
If you have no mothballs, less than attractive coeds from Tulane will do the trick -- I have seen them scare snakes out of bars for 20 years.
Failing that, pray to St Patrick -- he did drive the snakes out of Ireland -
If you have no mothballs, less than attractive coeds from Tulane will do the trick -- I have seen them scare snakes out of bars for 20 years.
Failing that, pray to St Patrick -- he did drive the snakes out of Ireland -
deadin
US Veteran
Horsehair rope around the perimeter?? (I also heard that a perimeter of broken egg shells works about the same.)
+1+100
I agree Copperheads are a sneaky ***...I collected snakes for years and handeled them....Don't ever trust a Copperhead....
That's FACT...
JIM........................
bobelk99
Member
Nope.
I have been bitten on the hands more than once by one I did not see in beds.
Like Cajun said, get a dog. I prefer a long hair Jack Russell.
foxeye
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First off, there is nothing you can buy to put down, be it sulphur or lime or the so called snake repellent that will keep em away. Its all a false sense of security, and that will get somone hurt. Keep the grass low, and do not allow any junk to accumulate. You do not necessarily need to have water right there for cottonmouths to be around, but the water willl be fairly close. Copperheads like lumber and log piles or anyhting like that, and rattlers like to do a lot of sunbathing. I kill many rattlers, cotton mouths and copperhrads on my place every year. I have a huge swamp in the back 40, a stream and a pond. Lots of squirrels and field mice. Yes, I am paranoid with them as so far I have had 2 of my mini doxies bitten 2x each and another bitten once and then another bitten 2x and it did him in. I have some Diamondbacks but mainly Timber rattlers. They say activity will keep them away, but do not buy into it. With 10 mini doxies running around in a fenced in yard, I still shoot my fair share that is inside the yard or on the front porch sucking up the heat from the concrete. Once the weather is nice at my place you do not walk around early or late night without a flashlight. In the south snakes do not really go into deep hibernation like they do up in the more northern states, so on a nice warm day in January its not unusual to find them outside a burrow warming up. I live in south central Alabama, and the entire Gulf Coast area is prime snake heaven even in towns. I normally carry an old RG .38 spec with 6" barrel loaded with snake shot when outside, and it comes in handy fairly often. Last year I killed 13 rattlers, 3 cotton mouths and 7 copperheads. This year already I have 2 rattlers. Lots of luck and work on that youngin to make sure he stays away and gets ahold of an adult if he sees a snake.
I lived in the Sierra Nevada foothills for about 36 years & we had rattlers. There is no repellent except for a .22 S&W revolver loaded with snake shot. Worked every time for me.
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