what do snakes hate?

Question

I hate snakes and I want to know if they hate anything... a spice, or scent, or an herb...like the way fleas hate eucalyptus. Help!!?

I want them to hate me.

Answer 1

Many snakes are protected by state and/or federal laws. It is illegal to kill a protected species or harm it in any way.

"Snakes are attracted to habitats by a food source and
cover from predators. Removing the food and cover
decreases the likelihood of seeing a snake in the vicinity
of your home. Eliminating rodent habitat discourages
mice and their predators from living in the area. Removing
debris and weeds and keeping the grass mowed
around buildings reduces protective cover for snakes and
rodents. Stack wood away from buildings and, if possible,
stack it at least 12 inches above the ground.

You can contact local wildlife pest control operators to
remove snakes and other nuisance wildlife. These
persons have experience in removing animals, allowing
the homeowner to alleviate the problem without coming
into contact with the animal. Contact your county
extension office or the yellow pages for information
regarding these companies and industries.
Exclusion
Snakes enter dwellings through torn screens, open
basement windows, or cracks in foundations. Although
snakes can climb, they rarely enter buildings from any
appreciable height. Sealing cracks and closing windows
excludes snakes from homes. If there are openings
where wires or pipes enter the building, fill the holes
with wire mesh. Fill any cracks in the foundation with
mortar.
Snakeproof fences can be built to keep snakes from a
small area, but they are expensive to construct. They
may be a worthwhile investment for families with young
children in areas with venomous snakes. The fence
should be made of heavy galvanized hardware cloth, 36
inches wide with a 1/4-inch mesh. The lower edge
should be buried 6 inches in the ground, and the fence
should be slanted outward from the bottom to the top at
a 30-degree angle. Place supporting stakes inside the
fence and make sure any gates are fitted tightly. Gates
should be hinged to swing inward because of the slope
of the fence. Vegetation near the fence should be kept
short because snakes can use it to crawl over the fence.

http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uh124.pdf



There are many people who will say to use mothballs or a product called "Snake away" but there is no positive proof (other than the marketing claims of the product) that they work to deter snakes, and the chemicals in these products poison the environment, can harm other animals and can get into your water supply.

I know that snakes are creepy and many people fear them/hate them. However, they eat a lit of rats and other rodents that carry diseases. About the only thing that you can catch from a snake is salmonellosis, and that is extremely rare, and you have to have direct contact with the snake (hold it).

I don't know about you, but I think I prefer snakes to rats and mice any day of the week!

Answer 2

There was a neat study done some decades back, checking the story that a snake will not cross a horsehair rope (they will). The conclusion was that snakes dislike the smell of humans. So, if you are a human and a real stinker, you should be safe.

Answer 3

I don't think that snakes have emotions, so you're not going to get them to hate you. Perhaps they only have instincts for survival, and so they will avoid predators. They will approach potential prey to investigate. (Were you wearing some mouse scented perfume? Just kidding.)

It seems that birds like to eat snakes, so snakes avoid birds, but I have know idea how you can make a snake think that you are a bird. (Eagle or hawk scent? Big, smelly, I-like-to-eat-snakes-for-breakfast predator scent? Perhaps ammonia?)

I am guessing that snakes have limited perceptions of the world. Snakes flick their tongues a lot because they are "tasting" the scents around them. Some snakes, i.e. rattlesnakes, have specialized infra-red detectors to locate potential prey.

To the best of my limited knowlege snakes don't have an aversion response to any plants. But, they do seem to avoid noxious, and potentially hazardous, chemicals. The problem is that you want to avoid them to for your own health.

Answer 4

If you mean you want them to avoid you, they already do. If they see you coming, their first choice is to escape. Their second choice is to freeze so you won't notice them.
They'll do their part as far as staying away from you is concerned.
To be safe, you need to do your part too. If you are in snake country, don't put your hand or foot anywhere that you can't see. And remember, snakes are camouflaged and can hold dead still: this can make them hard to noticed, especially if you aren't experienced.

Answer 5

Hate them, hate them, hate them. The very thought of a snake - any snake, not just the large or venomous ones - makes my toes curl up in fear.

Answer 6

snakes hate

Answer 7

Also lemon - there are plants that can be put in they dislike. Don't use mothballs they are very bad in many ways not to mention it's a felony in several states...

Answer 8

Forget the music - snakes are deaf. Their sense of smell is very sensitive, but I don't know offhand what smells they dislike. Commercial snake repellents use napthalene, available in the form of mothballs; but it's for area treatment, you don't want it on your skin.

Answer 9

i think snakes hate the mongoose(ferret-like animal) because they are the snakes mortal enemy
but dont kill snakes, just avoid them

Answer 10

Smell of Garlic and Onion.