The last thing you want to see in your garage is probably a snake. I can think of many things you don’t want to see in there, but a snake definitely tops the list.
If you had a snake in your garage recently or heard of a snake in someone’s garage, you may want to start making sure the same doesn’t happen to you.
You need to be especially vigilant if you live in an area where snakes are common.
Fortunately, there are many ways to keep your garage a snake-free zone.
To get rid of snakes in a garage, you can:
- Seal gaps under doors
- Keep doors closed
- Deter rats
- Tidy the floor
- Keep lawn short
- Trim trees
- Remove water
- Use snake repel
- Encourage predators
- Repel insects
- Use inhospitable plants
- Ultrasonic snake repellents
- Snake-proof fence
See? There are plenty of solutions to your slithery problem. Let’s get into it in detail and see what you can do to make sure no snakes enter your garage again.
Why Snakes Are Going Into Your Garage
To stop snakes from going into your garage, you have to think like one of them. So, why are they going into your garage in the first place?
When snakes enter any area, they’re often after one of two things: food or shelter.
Garages are a favorite snake hideout because they’re often cool, cluttered areas. They provide ample shelter and are generally quiet places where items are not moved around frequently.
If there is any source of food inside in the form of rodents or large insects, it’ll be a bonus for the snakes.
If they have both shelter and food, why would they leave?
In that case, it’ll be even harder to get rid of them long-term. Your best bet would be to make your garage inhabitable.
Are Snakes Dangerous to Have in Your Garage?
Snakes are nature’s way of keeping rodents and other critters at bay, so it’s important not to view them as an enemy. They’re simply a valuable part of nature in the wrong place.
However, that doesn’t deny that some snakes are dangerous. Although most varieties aren’t harmful, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you can’t identify different types of snakes.
On top of that, snakes move silently, which means they can go undetected for long periods. That’s one of the most frightening things about them, and it’s the number one reason you don’t want them in your garage.
You should treat any snake that you encounter as potentially venomous, which means you shouldn’t closely interact with it.
When threatened or cornered, a snake may attempt to bite you, or at the very least, it’ll keep hissing to warn you against coming closer. The safest option to avoid this is to encourage the snake to leave and seal all return routes.
How to Get Rid of Snakes in Your Garage
If you suspect some snake activity close to your home or garage, there are some signs and evidence you should look out for.
Shed snakeskin, holes, or slither patterns on the ground are all reasons to be on high alert. If you see any of these, you’ll want to make your garage as inhospitable as possible to snakes.
Let’s go through ways to keep snakes away from your house and garage:
1 – Seal Any Gaps
Snakes are adapted to get in and out of extremely small spaces. They can pass through mouse holes easily, and their flexible bodies can fit through tiny gaps.
When inspecting your garage for possible entry zones, the gap under the door is the most obvious. That’s why weather-sealing the door is the first and most effective step to keeping snakes out of the garage.
Adding a new garage door bottom seal can be a DIY job. Plus, it won’t only keep pesky critters out, but it’ll also prevent sand and grime from blowing in under the door.
However, that’s often not enough. You need to make it difficult for both snakes and their prey to enter your garage, so you’ll want to target smaller holes as well.
Inspect the walls for any cracks in the bricks, and keep in mind that snakes can enter through drainage or ventilation pipes.
Gaps in brick walls should ideally be filled with cement mortar. However, for a quick solution to almost any type of small opening, there are handy expansion foams at most hardware supply stores that can fill these small areas.
2 – Close the Garage Door
Even if your garage has the most effective weather seal, and there are no cracks in any of the walls, a snake may still be able to slip inside undetected when the door is open.
During periods of activity in and around the garage, snakes are less likely to venture close to the area, but they may come close when no one is around. Make sure to always close the garage door when you’re not inside.
3 – Control Rodents
Most snakes venture into buildings to seek prey. Rats and mice are often present in areas where snakes are prevalent.
Making your garage inhospitable to rodents will leave nothing for the snakes to look forward to.
I know you’re probably thinking of using rat poison, but it’s better to leave that as a last resort. Poison can be toxic to every part of the ecosystem and could be ingested by a child or pet, so I don’t recommend using it.
A far more long-term solution to rat issues is to keep the garage area clean and neat. You should also ensure that there are no food or nesting areas available for the rats.
Garages are often the household storage areas for items that aren’t used frequently, like boxes of decorations, lawn equipment that only gets used for a few months of the year, and long-forgotten hobby items. We all have special projects that we plan to get back to someday!
Instead of storing garage items in cardboard boxes that rodents can easily chew through, invest in sturdy plastic containers with tightly fitting lids. This will provide fewer places for rats to nest.
You should also eliminate any sources of food from the garage area. Dog food or birdseed are frequently stored in the garage, and these can be a magnet for rodents.
Keep your animal feeds inside tight-sealing plastic drums, or invest in a livestock feed bin from your nearest animal supply store. The container lids should fit tightly and be either screw-on or locked in place after use.
4 – Clear the Floor Area
Snakes will walk right out if they don’t find suitable hiding places in your garage. They can’t lay out in the open and be detected, so the lack of hiding areas will keep them out.
We all use garages as dumping areas for unused items like old magazines or bags of garden fertilizer. While keeping all of these things in your garage is perfectly fine, it’s better to keep the floor area completely clear.
As soon as there is clutter, there is an opportunity for snakes to conceal themselves.
Keep boxes of less frequently used items above ground level on storage shelves. On top of that, pay special attention to the back corners of your garage space and ensure that nothing is standing on the floor where a snake could hide.
Leaves that blow into the garage tend to pile up in corners, and this can provide a perfect snake habitat because the slithering folk will be perfectly camouflaged.
Rolled-up garden hoses on the garage floor are also an especially attractive option for snakes. It’s always better to keep your coiled hose on a hook on the wall.
Aside from keeping snakes out, keeping the floor space clear will make cleaning and sweeping much easier. Not to mention, it’ll make sure you never encounter rats or other rodents in your garage.
5 – Keep the Lawn Outside of the Garage Short
Keeping the area outside the garage door completely clear is an excellent way to deter snakes. Snakes like to stay concealed, so if you have a large lawn, keep it neatly trimmed.
Besides being more exposed while moving around on short grass, snakes don’t like the loud sound of a lawnmower. They’re likely to move away from areas that are mowed regularly.
If you have a lot of snakes in your area, you might also consider laying a patch of gravel or paving outside your garage. Snakes can’t conceal themselves easily on hard surfaces, so they’ll avoid them altogether.
6 – Trim Trees and Bushes Near the Garage
If there are low-growing bushy plants or clusters of plant containers near your garage entrance, snakes may use them to hide. It’s better to get rid of them altogether.
Tree branches should also never touch any part of the garage’s outer walls or roof. Snakes like to scale trees in search of birds’ nests and other prey. They could find a gap in the roof or through a drainage pipe to go into your garage.
7 – Move Water Sources Away from the Garage Area
Ponds and water features are attractive elements in any yard, but unfortunately, they also attract birds, animals, and slithery reptiles like snakes.
Damp locations can be convenient drinking and hiding places for snakes. They’re also good habitat areas for frogs, which are a favorite snake meal.
Consider moving garden water sources like bee drinking stations or birdbaths away from the garage.
You should also take care of pet water bowls, leaking taps, and waterlogged soil under drainpipes. The presence of any of these around your garage can attract snakes and prey.
8 – Use Snake Repellent Spray
Snake repellents are available at most garden supply stores. They often come in spray or granular forms.
You can choose any type you prefer, but a natural oil-based snake repellant is far more environmentally friendly than other options.
After you buy it, you can apply the repellent around the outside perimeter of the garage and in the corners inside. Once they catch its smell, the snakes won’t come closer.
9 – Encourage Snake Predators
If there’s a sudden proliferation of snakes in your area, the balance of predators and prey may be out of sync.
Remember that snakes also have natural enemies, and making them your allies can keep the snake numbers at bay.
Raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, mongooses, and many other animals feast on snakes. Before you get annoyed by your local opossum, keep in mind that it may be keeping you safe by eliminating venomous snakes before they can get to your home.
Don’t forget birds of prey when controlling snakes near your home and garage. Hawks, eagles, and owls can all keep the snakes at bay. You can help by providing an owl nesting box and avoiding the use of any rodent poison.
10 – Avoid Attracting Insects Around the Garage Door
Snakes often get a bad rap because we tend to think of them as deadly predators, but a large part of their diet actually relies on insects. Your key to keeping snakes out of your garage is keeping insects out.
I know lighting outside of garage areas is essential, but try not to position the lights directly over the door. During the evening, insects naturally fly towards lights, and they fall on the ground around the door, which may attract small snakes.
A far bigger problem is that the area may attract insect-eaters like frogs. This could bring snakes closer as the natural cycle continues.
So, make sure to position your lights so that they aren’t attracting too many insects around.
11 – Plant Snake Deterring Plants
If you have existing beds or planters, try planting plants that repel snakes.
Marigolds, herbs, and garlic all have strong scents that snakes prefer to avoid. Showy, sharp, pointed plants like yucca and mother-in-law’s tongue are also hard for snakes to hide inside. They’re better than bushy plants where snakes can go undetected.
Such plants don’t have leaves that can fall onto the ground. Therefore, the area below the plant can stay completely clear of leaves and debris, leaving no place for the snakes to hide.
12 – Use Ultrasonic Snake Repellent Devices
Luckily, the modern era has brought some ultra-modern solutions to your snake problem.
For example, solar-powered snake-repelling devices are long-term solutions. Their effects last longer than sprays or pellets, and they’re poison-free. As a bonus, they don’t need any batteries.
However, there has been some controversy over whether or not these devices can effectively deter snakes from an area. Snakes rely primarily on sight and movement when hunting, so some experts believe that sound or vibration-emitting devices might not be the best method to deter them.
While it’s probably best not to rely entirely on these devices to deter critters, they’re still worth trying.
13 – Install Snake-Proof Fencing Around the Garage Area
If you live in a region with a lot of snakes, you might want to consider installing snake-proof fencing around the yard or free-standing buildings like garages or sheds.
A snake-proof fence is often anchored below the ground and is at least 30 inches in height.
These fences, usually made of fine mesh, should surround the perimeter of the area you want to safeguard. They should be impenetrable for even the smallest snakes.
What to Do If You Do Find a Snake in the Garage
Finding a snake in your garage is never a pleasant experience. Even non-venomous snakes usually react defensively when disturbed, which can be frightening.
Although your first reaction might be to panic if you see a snake, you can leave the encounter unharmed by remaining calm and following a few steps.
Firstly, always assume that all snakes are venomous. Although most snakes don’t pose a danger to humans, this is not an error you can afford to make, so always treat them with extreme caution.
The Humane Society of the USA recommends following these steps if you find a snake in the garage or any part of your home:
- If you haven’t disturbed the snake and it seems calm, quietly move and create an escape route for it.
- Avoid agitating the snake. If it seems like a small, non-aggressive snake, you can gently encourage it to move towards the escape route using a long stick or broom. However, don’t do this unless you’re wearing closed shoes and are calm and confident.
- In all other cases, or if the snake is unwilling to move, try to box it in while you call a snake removal specialist. Create a wide barrier around the snake so that when the snake handler arrives, the snake will be easy to locate. Boxes or pieces of cardboard can provide an effective temporary barrier.
- While you are working to create a barrier, keep track of where the snake is to keep it from slipping away and concealing itself in another area inside the garage.
In all cases, try not to harm the snake, even if it’s inside your garage. A snake simply follows its instincts in search of food or shelter, so there’s no reason to hurt it if there are other ways to get rid of it.
Trained snake catchers are available in almost all areas, and they’re specifically trained to remove and relocate snakes.
Final Thoughts
The best way to get rid of snakes from the garage is to make the environment as unpleasant as possible for them. Remove all sources of food and water and seal all entry points.
There are also many snake-repellent products available, including sprays, granules, and ultrasonic frequency emitting devices.
As a last resort, becoming allies with snake predators like hawks, possums, and raccoons and allowing them to frequent your property can help keep snakes away from your garage.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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