How to Get Rid of Black Snakes

This page is an expert guide on getting rid of Black Snakes from your yard using the products and methods suggested by our experienced pest control specialists. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and you will eliminate Black Snake activity around your yard.

Snakes are among the most startling discoveries to encounter in your home or place of business. They are especially a problem when the snake is aggressive and carries poisonous venom. There are many different varieties of snakes but some of the most frightening to find snakes are ones that are colored black.

Black snakes are the common name for a number of different snake species found primarily in the southeastern part of the United States. While most of these species prefer habitats out in the wild, while they are searching for food they can venture upon residential areas. 

If you have found a black snake in your home or yard, don't panic! The following DIY guide can help you to safely eliminate the threat of a snake on your property the way a professional would.

Identification

Despite "black snakes" being a common term to describe snakes found in the southeastern US, snakes that are black are not exclusive to any one species. Among the snakes in the region that can be black or have a pattern on their skin that include the color black are the Black Swampsnake, Black Rat Snake, the ring-necked snake, Black Pinesnake, Eastern Indigo Snake and the Southern Black Racer.

Eastern Indigo Snakes have a thick body and can grow up to 8 feet in length, making them the largest snake native to North America. Their skin and belly is bluish-black colored but some may have a chin and throat that can vary in color from cream to orange or maroon.

The Southern Black Racer ranges between 4 to 6 feet long and is jet black to dark gray in color with chins and throats that are light or white-colored.

Inspection

Where to Inspect

Black Snakes thrive in a variety of habitats, but in residential areas and urban settings they will mostly frequent woody areas and tall grass for cover. You can also find them in garden areas or along the exterior walls of a home. They even have the ability to climb trees, so you should check trees and shrubs as well. 

What To Look For

Look around for the presence of a live black snake or any of their shed skins.  If there is a black snake staying around your property and is not just "passing through", then it's likely that your yard is a favorable environment to them with plenty of areas for shelter and food sources, like rodents, frogs and lizards.

Treatment

Once you have detected where the snake is active, you can move forward with treatment. An important part of controlling snakes is environmental modifications to make your yard less appealing to the black snake. Some of these modifications would include mowing your grass short, clearing up leaf litter and getting rid of food sources.

If you personally encounter a black snake, do not try to take matters into your own hands and kill the snake because you may get bitten by the snake during your attempt. If you do not see the snake but know they are around, they can be deterred from your yard with the help of a snake repellent such as Snake Out.

Step 1 - Remove Food Sources

If you black snake is staying on or around your property for an extended period of time, it is likely there are ample food sources nearby. It is crucial for both control and prevention of snake invasions to remove any food source that may attract snakes. Snakes like to eat small rodents, birds, insects and lizards, so first remove all of these food sources to help you to ward off Black Snakes.

Rodent Control

To control rodents in your yard, use Eratication Rodent Bait inside tamper-resistant Solutions Rodent Bait Stations. Eratication is a powerful multi-feed rodenticide bait used to control rats and mice. It also is peanut-butter scented to attract rodents to the bait.

Wear gloves when handling bait and stations. Gloves are important both for safety and to keep human scent off the stations, which deters rodents and makes them shy to try bait. Place 2 to 3 Eratication bait blocks into your station. Each bait block has a pre-drilled hole which allows you to easily slide it onto the supplied metal rods in the bait station's interior.

Place your rodent bait stations along perimeter walls or fence rows. These are areas that rats and mice will typically travel. You will want to place each station about 10 to 15 feet apart to ensure thorough coverage of your area. Check the stations frequently to see if there is any rodent activity.

Reclaim IT Insecticide

Reclaim IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide that is labeled for treating over 70 different labeled insect pests. It also has a long residual effect that continues to kill for up to 90 days after application.

To apply Reclaim IT, simply mix water in a hand pump or hose-end sprayer then add Reclaim IT at a rate of 1 oz per gallon to cover 1,000 sq. ft. To accomplish uniform control when applying to dense grass foliage, use volumes of up to 10 gallons per 1.000 sq. ft. Measure the square footage of your lawn to determine how much Reclaim IT you need to cover the entire area. Shake well and pump your sprayer.

Broadcast the Reclaim IT mixture and spray your entire yard and garden as opposed to spot treating. Use a fan spray setting to get nice uniform coverage.

Next, you should spray a perimeter treatment of Reclaim around the outside of your home and structure to create a barrier that will keep beetles out. Spray around doors and windows, around the foundation going up 2 or 3 feet then spray any other possible points of entry.

Step 2 - Apply Snake Out Repellent

Once you have removed all the sources of food in the proximity of your home and garden, the next step is to utilize a snake repellant like Snake Out. Snake Out will not kill the snake but will instead disturb the snake with its special blend of natural ingredients that irritate the snake's sense of smell to the point where the snake will leave your property.

First, determine the size of your yard by measuring and multiply the length times the width. It's recommended to apply Snake Out in bands 8 inches wide by 50 feet in length or 1 lb. per 100 sq. ft. Once you calculate the square footage, lightly sprinkle out a band 6 to 8 inches wide around, into, or next to the area you wish to protect. You can also apply into voids, holes, and cracks around your home and in your garage, sheds and other areas where you suspect they may travel.

Prevention

Once you have removed the threat of a black snake on your property, you don't want them coming back. Consider the following preventative measures to ensure you don't experience a snake slithering onto your property again.

• Trim branches of your trees to deter snakes from climbing them.

• Remove weeds and cut your lawn short to discourage snakes from hiding in tall grass.

• Seal all of the entry points to your home with caulk and Stuf-Fit Copper Mesh

• Contact a professional if you find a snake nest or eggs

Key Takeaways

• Black Snakes is the common term for a variety of snake species that are prevalent in the southeastern United States.
• Black snakes trespassing on your property is usually an indicator that you have a rodent problem. Removing them with rodenticides will take away a snake's food supply.
• Use a snake repellent such as Snake Out around your yard and perimeter to ward off Black Snakes and deter them from the area.