Opening your garage just to catch the sight of a snake can be alarming, to say the least. You may be wondering how the snake got in there in the first place and, more importantly, how you will get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of snakes in the garage?
You can get rid of snakes in the garage by removing their food source, using snake repellents, hiring a professional, and other ways. But snakes majorly enter garages in search of food, so they’re less likely to come into it if you eliminate their food source.
While to some are pets, to others, snakes are pests. Now, if they fall into the latter category for you, you’ll find this article to be of help. Expect to know more about how you can get rid of snakes in the garage by the time you reach the end.
What Attracts Snakes To The Garage?
Snakes usually get attracted to the garage because it serves as a favorite home for other pests. Mice, rats, and other small animals often take shelter in the garage, and that can eventually attract snakes.
If you have a garage, you have encountered other pests like mice, roaches, rats, and ants. These pests can attract snakes to your garage. So, if you thought the consequences of having such in your garage end with chewed-up stuff, you thought wrong.
Most of the common garage pests often become the food source of snakes. Hence, if you have these animals in your garage, then you’re essentially providing a buffet for any snake that comes along.
But again, it’s not all about the food. Sometimes snakes will find themselves in the garage if it’s close to areas with dense vegetation.
Long grass, bushes, and trees often serve as an attraction for snakes. If such areas surround your garage, then it’s likely that a snake can slither into your garage.
Sometimes the legless creatures will get into your space for habitat. Garages typically offer the ideal environment for snakes. It’s usually dark, humid, and has lots of hiding spots.
Where Would a Snake Hide in The Garage?
It all depends on the design of the garage and what’s in there. Snakes can hide in many places inside the garage. They often prefer corners, behind boxes, in cracks and crevices, along walls, and under appliances.
Snakes won’t just hide anywhere in the garage. As much as many people fear them, snakes tend to be quite shy animals. They’d rather slither away and hide than be out in the open where they can be seen.
That’s why it’s essential to check all the possible hiding spots in your garage if you suspect that there’s a snake inside. Ensure that you check all the nooks and crannies and under and behind things.
Cluttered garages usually offer more hiding spots for snakes. After all, clutter makes it hard for you to spot a snake, and it also provides the snake with more places to hide.
Can Snakes Come Through The Toilet?
Snakes can come through the toilet, but that’s not common. It’s more likely that a snake will enter your home through an opening in the foundation, cracks in the walls, or holes in the screens.
Most snakes are expert swimmers. They’ll swim up through the pipes and into your toilet if they can. But that’s likely to happen if they were flushed down from another home. It’s not a common occurrence, but it can happen.
If you have snakes in your toilet, they likely entered through open windows, ventilation holes, or doors. That’s why you live in areas with a high snake population, always ensure that these openings are adequately sealed.
11 Amazing Ways To Keep Snakes Out Of The Garage
Here are 11 amazing ways to keep snakes out of the garage:
- Remove any source of food
- Seal cracks and holes in the foundation, walls, and screens
- Declutter the garage
- Keep the garage door closed
- Use a snake-proof fence
- Make use of snake repellents
- Bring in natural predators
- Use Ultrasonic Devices
- Trim trees
- Keep your lawn short
- Use inhospitable plants
With these methods, it’s possible to keep your garage snake-free. Let’s take a look at each of the suggested ways;
1. Remove Any Source Of Food
Snakes more often come into your home for the same reason spiders do – they’re looking for food. If you have any food source in your garage, you’re indirectly sending an invitation to snakes.
Snakes will pursue their prey into the garage if they can smell food. It’s one of their primary motivators. So, if you have a snake problem in your garage, the first thing you need to do is remove any possible food source.
You may need to first get rid of the rats, mice, and other rodents in your garage. These animals are usually the snakes’ main source of food. Fortunately, you can use traps and commercial products to eliminate these pests. Once you do that, the snakes will have no reason to stay in your garage.
2. Seal Cracks And Holes In The Foundation, Walls, And Screens
As we’ve mentioned, snakes can enter your garage through cracks and holes in the foundation, walls, or screens. So, it’s important to seal up these openings to prevent snakes from getting in.
You can use caulk or another type of sealant to fill in the cracks and holes. Make sure that you do a thorough job so that the snakes cannot find any way to enter.
3. Declutter The Garage
We said that snakes love to hide in clutter. If you have to get rid of them, remove any mess or debris from your DIY projects. This will make it harder for them to find a place to hide and make it easier for you to spot them.
Decluttering your garage will benefit you more than just preventing snakes. It will make it easier for you to find things and make your space more organized and safe.
4. Keep The Garage Door Closed
A snake won’t magically appear in your garage. It will slither in through an open door or window. So, to prevent snakes from getting in, keep the garage door closed unless necessary.
You should also check for any cracks or holes in the door. If there are any, seal them up so that the snakes cannot enter. Just don’t leave any food lying around as this will attract snakes even if the door is closed.
5. Use a Snake-Proof Fence
If you live in an area with a high snake population, you may want to consider erecting a snake-proof fence around your property. This will prevent snakes from getting into your yard and, as a result, your garage.
Snake-proof fences are usually made of galvanized steel mesh with small enough openings to keep snakes out but large enough to allow a few other animals to enter.
6. Make Use of Snake Repellents
Another way to keep snakes out of your garage is to use snake repellents. These are usually available in granular or liquid form and can be found in most hardware stores.
When using a snake repellent, make sure to follow the instructions on the label. Some repellents need to be reapplied after it rains, while others last for a few months.
7. Bring in Natural Predators
One of the best ways to prevent snakes from coming into your garage is by bringing in their natural predators. Guinea hens, turkeys, cats, raccoons, pigs, and opossums are all known to eat snakes.
So, the next time you spot a raccoon in your home, know that it isn’t there to just make a mess – it may help you get rid of the snakes! Snakes make a favorite delicacy for most of these animals.
8. Use Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic devices emit high-pitched sounds and are outside the range of human hearing. These sounds are known to be effective in repelling snakes.
This modern method offers a more long-lasting solution to the snake problem than sprays, pellets, and other repellents. But if you have to use it, we recommend that you consider going for the solar-powered versions. They don’t require batteries and are environmentally friendly.
9. Trim Trees
Trees are a common hiding place for snakes. So, if you have any trees in your yard, make sure to trim them regularly. This will remove any potential hiding spots for snakes and make it easier to spot them.
Keep in mind that any branches hanging closer to the windows or ventilation holes in the garage are potential entry points for snakes. So, make sure to trim these as well.
10. Keep Your Lawn Short
We all love a well-manicured lawn. But did you know that long grass is a perfect hiding place for snakes? So, if you want to keep them away, keep your lawn short.
You can consider mowing your lawn from time to time or using a weed whacker to keep the grass short. Just make sure not to leave any clippings lying around as these can attract snakes.
11. Use Inhospitable Plants
As much as snakes love trees and grassy areas, some plantations will keep them at bay. These include marigolds, garlic, and certain herbs. Plants so much hate the smell of these plants and will do all it takes to avoid coming closer to these plants.
So, if you want to keep snakes away, Plant these around your garage or in the yard. They will help keep the snakes away and make your home look beautiful.
Final Verdict
Garages tend to offer a favorable environment for snakes. They are usually dark and humid and offer plenty of hiding places. So, it’s no surprise that snakes often find their way into garages.
Fortunately, it’s easy to get rid of snakes. You may need to combine several methods to get the best results. If you find one, it’s best to call animal control. But you can also use the methods listed above to keep them away for good.