Asked on Jun 23, 2017

How to keep black snakes away from our yard/house?

Georgia hays
by Georgia hays
I know snakes can be beneficial but I'm terrified of them. A large black snake met an untimely death in our neighbors air conditioning unit last week. Do moth balls work?

  7 answers
  • Amber White Amber White on Jun 23, 2017

    I usr moth balls in my yard. I have e done this for years and have not seen a snake since I've started doing this. Learned this from my grandma

  • Carole Triplett Brooks Carole Triplett Brooks on Jun 23, 2017

    About Black Rat Snakes and Black Racers

    If you’ve got black snakes around your house, chances are they’re either black rat snakes or black racers. Both are nonvenomous black colored snakes with white or grayish bellies that eat mostly rodents and other small animals, and neither are out to hurt you. They’re only around because there’s food nearby, and that food isn’t you.


    Black Rat Snakes: These snakes are fairly slow moving, and often freeze when confronted. If they get really upset, they might rattle their tail in the leaves as a warning. Some rat snakes are laid back, but others will strike if handled, so it’s best not to mess with them.


    Black Racers: Black racers, on the other hand, are much faster-moving and prefer escape over conversation. They’re more likely to panic, flail around, and bite if disturbed.


    Facts About Black Snakes


    Diet: Black snakes mostly eat rodents, lizards, birds, and bird eggs. Rat snakes are constrictors while black racers generally aren’t. They can climb trees; and, if you don’t protect your bird houses with baffles, will break your heart by invading the nests.


    Smell: Rat snakes emit a musky smell when threatened.


    Habitat: Black snakes live in grasses, forests, marshes, and buildings. Wherever there’s food and dark shelter, there might be black snakes.


    Benefits: Black snakes eat large quantities of rodents. If you can get over your fears, they’re good to have around your garage or barn to keep the mice at bay.


    Common Black Snake Myths

    Myth #1: Black snakes keep poisonous snakes away.

    Having a black snake doesn’t guarantee that there are no other snakes around. Black racers do occasionally kill and eat other snakes. Black rat snakes, however, aren’t known for snake killing. In fact, they sometimes will even hibernate with other species of snakes, including copperheads and rattlesnakes.


    Myth #2: Black snakes mate with copperheads.

    There’s a common myth that black snakes have interbred with copperheads to create a venomous black snake. That’s not true. Baby black snakes have colored markings that are easily mistaken for copperhead markings; but as they grow, those markings fade to black.


    Myth #3: Black snakes are completely harmless.

    Just because I think black snakes are good to have around doesn’t mean I want to be bitten by one, any more than I’d want to be bitten by a raccoon, a rat, or a stray dog. Any snake bite – even a nonvenomous one – is likely to be painful and full of bacteria which can lead to infection. So it’s best to treat all snakes respectfully, keep your distance, and avoid being bitten.


    Maybe this will work:


    Mothballs Rids House of Snakes

    Place mothballs in your attic. Not only does the smell keep moths from eating clothing, but it also repels snakes. Just make sure that small children and pets do not have access to the mothballs.


    Snake Advice from Pest Control

    There are two things that we recommend. One is a product called SnakeAway.

    It can be bought at home improvement stores like Lowe's. The other is less expensive. Throw around some mothballs. The snakes cannot breathe around them and they will stay away.


  • 13526476 13526476 on Jun 23, 2017

    A good site to learn more about ridding your yard or house of snakes: http://blog.nwf.org/2014/07/eliminating-snakes-in-your-yard/

  • Sandy Sandy on Jun 23, 2017

    they may work but they are also very toxic to pets and animals

  • Afa10328575 Afa10328575 on Jun 23, 2017

    I too an terrified of snakes, any kind. I buy a product called Snake-Away. Easy to use. Not sure if it has any effect on other animals. It doesn't kill them, they just stay away from my house. I'm in a wooded area.

  • Bob Phillips Bob Phillips on May 23, 2021

    I worked in a chemical plant that produced mothball crystals and even 50 years ago it was widely believed that these mothball crystals would not only snake away, but also small rodents(their food source)

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Apr 05, 2023

    The mothballs are not a good choice as children and pets may be attracted to them. Not only that, but they are carcinogenic.