Does anyone know how to deter a snake...

A plant?...

A barrier of advice.....???

something...

I need to keep this thing from getting in my pond....

seems every year he comes back....


Adreamer2

Oh Adreamer2, I am so sorry!!! Do you know what kind of snake it is? We had a snake last year. It was a Yellow Bellied Water Snake and we had it taken out and relocated. It ate a goldfish that I had for a long time. My husband bought Snake Away and he was going to put it around our backyard. BUT a lady told me not to use it as it is VERY dangerous to animals and humans. So we took it back to Lowe's. Now, I just pray no more come around. It is a scary sight to see its shadow swimming in the pond. Good luck. Maybe Robyn will have a solution for you. Keep us posted, ok?
Ellen

It's important to know which species the snake is. If it's a "water snake" as Ellen had, it certainly will try to eat any fish it can fit in its mouth. If it's say a garter snake or black rat snake (both of which I've had in my ponds), they usually don't eat fish. They come to my pond to drink and bask on the hot rocks for a few days at a time, a few times each summer, and then leave.

Either way, if you want to move the snake, it's a matter of trying to catch it which is easier said than done! It could injure you or the snake in the process. It might be possible with a few nets. The long "koi sock" nets might be easier to chase a snake into and close off the end. Of you're scared of snakes, you're probably not up to catching one, especially if it defends itself. If your pond has a lot of rocks around it, the snakes can probably hide. They are often more interested in the hot rocks and hiding places than the water or fish. They can catch small rodents and birds coming to drink water. I was clearing weeds of my waterfall a few years ago and noticed after the fact that I had put my hand literally one inch from a resting snake hiding in the rocks. The snake hadn't attempted to defend itself luckily.

There aren't any good and safe snake deterrents but fencing of the right diameter may keep out some snakes. Most snakes though can either fit in small homes or are excellent climbers. Rat snakes can go 100 feet up a tree.

If you aren't up to it or sight a poisonous snake like a water mocassin or copperhead, then call a professional animal "nuisance" person to come get the snake. Request that they release the snake elsewhere instead of kill it as some do.

When we were kids, my brother noticed he'd stepped on a snake by accident and squished its head but it was still alive. It was baby copperhead! This was the only one I've seen on our land. My father drove it half a mile away and released it but I think it probably died of the injuries.

In my pond newsletters, you can read stories of my experiences with the black rat, garter, and corn snakes on our land. I've had to literally pull a few of them out of bird nest boxes when they were eating the babies. I wrestled a 6' black rat snake out of a chickadee nest. A baby survived but the parents abandoned it to starve (who can blame them).

:o Geez-oh-man, Robyn!!! Now that is terrible!!!......

So glad I am certain I don't have anything like that!!! :unsure:

No... Mr. Slithers is a common garden snake.....

Last year, I ordered 10 kohaku... 3 of which were ginrin....

He ate them....

I also had 25 baby tads..... He ate them all....

Greedy little pest!!!

I just don't want him to get happy in my pond this year.....


Adreamer2

Garter snakes can eat fish and tadpoles but are not as likely to do so as water snakes. Did you see him eat the fish and tadpoles? How big were the fish, a few inches? He shouldn't be too hard to handle, IF you can catch him! They are very fast!

No... I did not see him eat them... But, he was the only thing out in the pond.... and I know the birds didn't do it.... Because they do not go near my pond, for some reason.... Maybe because of the cat..... But, my cat fears the water, so I know he didn't go in there.....

I know Mr. Slithers did eat because one of my giant taddies was half swallowed.... Nearly choked the daggone thing....... All my baby tadpoles were gone... so, I know it was the snake......

I think they usually come out during the summer.... Probably wont see him till July, huh?.....

I plan on raising the sides of the pond with stones and laying out a layer of netting to keep him out.... He shouldn't be able to squeeze through the holes... I don't think......


adreamer2

I was surprised by a garter snake at my pond yesterday!

adreamer2 did the snake leave?