Repel Snakes Naturally: 9 Scents With Expert Help

Preventing Repel snakes from entering your home and leaving your property is an ongoing, proactive effort. Taking care of your grass and staying away from certain decorations can be very beneficial. Additionally, if you take care of any rodent problems and make sure your foundation has no openings or gaps that could allow reptiles to enter, you can often keep snakes out of your home. However, if you really want to go all out, you can include the scent that snakes find most repulsive.

A.H. According to David, a snake expert and creator of Pest Control Weekly, “Snakes do not have a traditional sense of smell like mammals, but they detect chemicals in the environment through a process called chemoreception.” “They sample with their tongues.” particles in the air, which they then analyze with an organ in their mouth called Jacobson’s organ (also known as the vomeronasal organ).”

9 Scents That Repel Snakes, According to Experts

1 Cinnamon and clove oil

When people like the smell of fresh cinnamon or cloves, it means something delicious is about to happen. However, experts claim that snakes react differently to certain spices.

“The reality is that snakes can detect scent very well, and they use this ability to find readily available food sources,” says Rosenbloom, owner of Rosenbloom Pest Control. “You can take advantage of this feature by using offensive scents such as clove oil and cinnamon. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recommends these scents only to repel snakes.”

2 Vinegar

Apart from being an excellent natural cleaner, vinegar is also said to have anti-snake properties.

“Vinegar is one of the most effective ways to repel snakes. According to snake expert and blogger Jennifer Meacham of The Reptile Blog, the primary reason for this is that vinegar is an acidic substance. There are other explanations. “Stay away from anything that is somewhat acidic because snakes are very sensitive to acidic substances. stay Sometimes it helps to pour it on the floor so they don’t crawl on it.”

READ THIS NEXT: 8 Plants That Will Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard, According to Pest Experts.

3 Citrus

As for snakes that hate the scent of acidic foods, citrus fruits are the best example.

“One of the most commonly used snake repellent scents is a citrus scent,” explains Meacham. Lemons, oranges, and grapes are examples of citrus fruits that naturally repel snakes because they contain limonene. Just scatter citrus peels around your house, or simply wipe the peel off the outside of your doors and windows.”

4 Mothballs

Mothballs work wonders, as anyone who has ever had to protect their precious clothing from a moth infestation will attest. But the distinct scent of those pills bothers more people than just flying insects.

According to Roger Dickens, wildlife technical services manager for Ehrlich Pest Control, “Naphthalene—or the chemical in mothballs—has shown some repulsive tendencies for snakes,” Best Life informs. “It evaporates and dissolves very quickly, so regular reapplication is necessary.”

Additionally, Georgina Ushi Phillips, DVM, author of The Reptile Room and consulting veterinarian, advises caution when handling naphthalene because it “can be toxic to humans and pets if ingested.” She adds that it is the primary ingredient in many snake-repellent products, such as Snake-Away.

5 Garlic

Some people consider garlic to be an essential ingredient in cooking. Some consider it a way of life. No matter how passionate you are about essential allium, you’re no doubt more than a snake about it.

“Garlic is a natural snake repellent because snakes don’t like the smell of it,” explains Meacham. “But few people realize that it’s also good to keep them away because it’s a natural pesticide.”

“This will kill any insects in the area, including those that snakes eat,” she says. “This will make your property less attractive to snakes and make them less likely to find food.”

Phillips suggests smashing garlic bulbs and distributing them around your home or anywhere else garden.

6 Smoke

In addition to any small amount leaking from the fireplace, large amounts of smoke in the air can make breathing difficult. As it happens, snakes experience the same.

“Smoke is another great snake repellent scent, and any strong smell will keep snakes away,” explains Meacham.

Smoke can be useful in drawing a snake out of its hiding place, although it is not necessarily inhaled by a human.

It works well for campsites, she suggests, noting that “put a piece of wood or a smoke bomb where you’re afraid and see if it doesn’t pack them off.”

7 Peppermint oil

Using essential oils in your home can be an easy way to incorporate aromatherapy. Although it calms you down, one oil in particular helps repel snakes.

“An effective natural snake repellent is peppermint oil. According to Mecum, it hinders their ability to locate prey by masking the scent they use for orientation and hunting. In addition, peppermint’s overpowering, peppermint-like scent is disliked by many people. So, it can be. Keep snakes out of your home, A safe, all-natural method to keep it out of the yard, garden or campsite.”

8 Basil

Granger McCullough, founder and CEO of Elite Patio Direct, once told Best Life that snakes “can’t stand the smell of basil.”

Of course, depending on the location of your snake problem, you can use essential oils scented with basil or grow basil indoors or outdoors. Basil also has an anti-mosquito scent, according to Lake Norman Pest Control.

9 Marigolds

Apart from their well-known ability to ward off insects, marigolds also repel snakes with their strong scent.

“Marigolds release alpha-terthienyl, which most snakes find very unpleasant,” Phillips says. “Consider planting marigolds around any entrance to your home or your yard to keep snakes away from key areas.”

The New York Botanical Garden claims that the “sweet lemon scent” of cygnet marigolds is particularly repulsive to snakes. They admit that this scent can often be overwhelming for many, in which case they suggest the “Gem Series” of marigolds, which have an “inviting scent.”

READ | How to prevent squirrels from entering your yard

READ | 6 Jaw-Dropping Rattlesnake Facts That Command Attention