Snakes have been fascinating people for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans worshipped snakes as gods, but today many cultures see them as devils. In the US alone, thousands of people are bitten by poisonous snakes every year. It doesn’t help matters when television nature shows broadcast images of snakes devouring helpless animals. Sorry, you’re not here for a history lesson. Let’s get into ‘does vinegar keep snakes away’?
Snakes are an essential part of the ecosystem. Some scientists believe they will play a vital role in controlling the exploding insect populations that may overwhelm us in the coming years.
It seems many people have snake phobias and are looking for ways to help keep snakes out of their yard and home. Let’s look at why vinegar does not keep snakes away.
Does Vinegar Keep Snakes Away?
Although it may seem logical to think that vinegar might keep snakes away because of the strong smell, research shows that there isn’t any scientific evidence that snakes don’t like vinegar. Some snake species avoid strong smells, and as vinegar is acidic, it may cause the snake’s skin to become irritated.
Snakes rely heavily on their sense of smell to hunt and find food. They will spend hours tracking a scent and will avoid strong odors that are unfamiliar. It may be worth trying vinegar-based products to repel snakes, but, likely, this will only work for a short time.
It’s best to take steps to clear up your yard and use non-vinegar-based organic products that have been designed specifically for repelling snakes.
Effective Ways to Repel Snakes?
If you want to keep snakes away from your yard and home, it is best to use multiple methods. Here are some of the most effective snake repellents:
Human Presence
Snakes are rarely aggressive towards humans, but they are more likely to slither away if you are present. If possible, be outside in your yard when snakes are most active at dawn and dusk.
Sound
Sounds can repel snakes because they do not like the vibrations they create. You can achieve this by turning on a radio near the areas where you are working in your yard. You can also hang wind chimes from trees or the eaves of your home to create vibrations and sounds that will repel snakes. You can also turn these into snake repelling devices by placing them near doors and windows so snakes will be scared off.
If you are worried that snakes are living in your home or attic space, you can buy a snake repelling device. These devices plug into the power outlet and emit a high frequency that can be detected by the human ear to repel snakes, insects, and small rodents.
Snake Repellent
While vinegar does not keep snakes away, there are some effective things you can spray to reduce the presence of snakes.
All-natural snake repellent sprays can be sprayed around your yard and home to effectively deter snakes from the area. It is vital to use only natural products that do not kill the snakes or affect the environment. If you try to poison the snakes, they may be eaten by birds or other reptiles, and the toxic compounds will get into the food chain, killing or harming other wildlife.
Remove Food Sources
Getting rid of mice and other small mammals will help reduce snake activity since they are their food source. You can stop feeding birds as this will attract mice at night or use traps to remove these animals from your yard and home successfully.
Trim Bushes
Snakes love hiding in overgrown bushes, so trim them away from your home and yard to make it more difficult for them to hide.
Plant Citrus or strong-smelling herbs
Snakes and most other reptiles hate the smell of citrus, so planting lemon or any other types of citrus tree in your yard can help keep snakes away. Grow peppermint, rosemary, and other strong-smelling herbs in your yard because these plants naturally repel snakes. Planting these as borders around your yard can help keep snakes out. You can also use all-natural essential oils to repel snakes as well
Conclusion
Vinegar may help to repel some snakes but isn’t the best solution. Keep your yard clean and free of debris, trash, bird feeders, and anything else that may attract snakes to your yard. Trim back bushes away from your home, so they do not offer hiding places for snakes or other reptiles. Turn on an outdoor radio near your yard to create vibrations that repel snakes.
Vinegar may not be good at repelling snakes, but it is great at killing weeds.