How to scare a snake. How to get rid of snakes: an unequal battle with asps

It is very difficult to understand the peaceful struggle with the invasion of snakes. Everyone has long understood that killing reptiles is not the best way out. But 100% effective repellents and barriers are clearly not enough for a person. There are many rumors and myths about the same repellents since the time of our grandmothers. But scientists argue that these traditions cannot be relied upon: they are often completely useless.

Our review is based on the advice of scientists and government experts. However, in the opinion experienced farmers and we also paid attention to hunters. What both scientists and amateurs exactly agree on is the inadmissibility of living together with creeping reptiles. Therefore, it is worth learning how to scare away a snake.

4 rules for those who want to protect their yard from snakes

We are surrounded by dozens of species of creeping reptiles: poisonous and harmless to humans, aquatic and terrestrial, small and huge... Some prefer to live in tall grass, others build their nests in basements, others hide in forests. The types of snakes that live in the north and south of the country differ greatly.

What follows from this? First rule of snake fighting! Before you start buying repellents and traps, you need to determine what specific type of reptiles annoys you. Everything depends on it. First, the degree of danger that animals bring to you. Secondly, methods of preventive protection against snakes. Thirdly, specific ways to deal with them.

scientists give step by step instructions on this account. It's best to take pictures of all the snakes you see around your home. Then, study them carefully. appearance and compare with the official snake classifier for your region. After all, the differences between species can be quite small. Don't have a camera handy? Then you have to rely on memory! If the meeting with the snake took place at home, before trying to take it out of the room, it is better to catch the predator in any container. Then - it is good to consider and act according to the rules.

The typologies of snakes living in different types of terrain may differ depending on the geographic location. Perhaps poisonous ones are not found in your area at all! But since snakes are still potential sources of harm, trust only official sources information, do not trust amateur data on this matter.

The second rule of dealing with snakes is not to rely on poisons and harsh repellant chemicals.. Firstly, 99% of snakes hunt only live game and are very difficult to lure. Secondly, such funds harm nature, pets and even people. It is not for nothing that many pesticides against snakes are banned for use by law.

Third rule: don't kill snakes unnecessarily. American scientists say that only every tenth species of snake on the planet is poisonous. All other creatures bring only indirect harm to humans and are an important part of the ecosystem. About the benefits of snakes for Agriculture and wildlife written many articles. So it's better to deal with them peacefully, and not turn into flayers.

The fourth and final rule: the use of traps and repellents does not exempt you from preventive measures. All of them work on simple principle: you just need to deprive the snakes of space for life and reproduction. However, we will talk about prevention at the end of this material. And now let's talk about the tools that will be useful to people whose house snakes have already managed to show up.

10 Important Facts About Poisonous And Non-Venomous Snakes That Will Help Keep Them Away From Your Home

Let's take a closer look at the habits of these strange creatures. Our selection interesting facts about snakes will help many people stop hating them. It will also be useful to those people who are not at all afraid of snakes. Still, even the most harmless snake is best treated with caution and respect.

1. Snakes are dangerous for your pets. They eat ornamental fish, frogs, and even small kittens.
2. Don't lean towards the snake. Theoretically, a snake cannot jump to the head of a person standing in full growth. But it is a bite in the face that is most dangerous in poisonous and even non-venomous species of snakes (they can leave a scar). So when "hunting" for them, do not bend down and keep your distance.
3. Snakes are useful for the garden and orchard. They eat mice, slugs and harmful insects. As a rule, this benefits your mini-farm.
4. These are seasonal animals. Despite their love of warmth, many snakes become lethargic in the heat. They even go into "summer hibernation". A similar picture occurs in the cold season. The snakes are most active during the breeding season (spring - early summer) and just in the warm season. Another one interesting feature: in the warm season, snakes crawl into the shade, and after the cold, on the contrary, crawl out into the sun. Therefore, they can often be found "basking" on asphalt roads.
5. Snakes are kings of the hunger strike. Snakes can easily survive several weeks of starvation. And even the smallest prey is enough for them for a long time. These are not the most greedy animals.
6. They smell with their tongue. Hence the low effectiveness of "aromatic repellents", which we have already spoken about.
7. The snake has different "maternity hospitals". Snakes reproduce in different ways. Some lay eggs in a damp, protected area and wait 2-2.5 months to hatch. Others, such as copperhead, water or rattlesnakes, are viviparous reptiles. Still others generally hatch eggs in themselves.
8. They are driven to people by urbanization. The snakes themselves are not happy with the neighborhood with people. They are afraid of lawn mowers and dogs, cars and the vibration of the earth. But man cuts down forests and other habitats. So the reptiles have to look for food and shelter in other places.
9. The snakes don't hear anything. They perceive sounds through the vibration of the earth. So the reptiles still feel the steps of a person walking next to them.
10. Snakes are travelers. If there is no snake infestation in your area, this does not mean that they will not come here in a year. Reptiles travel long distances in search of food, water and "friends".

Are there effective snake repellants?

We are used to buying repellents to control rodents, insects and other pests. After all, it's great when you have the opportunity to create a liquid or dry barrier that will repel, but not cripple. creature. I would like to know how to scare away a snake, but everything is not so simple. Even official government sources contradict each other when it comes to the effectiveness of repellents. However, they all agree on one thing: there is no universal repellent against all types of snakes. What does science say about those remedies that still remain in people's memory and on store shelves?

Let's start with history. In the 1950s, one could come across recommendations for the use poisonous chemicals(from DDT and mercaptans to nicotine sulfate) against snakes, but all of them did not confirm 100% effectiveness. And later, most of the funds based on them were banned. The same mercaptans in high concentration, for example, have a bad effect on nervous system man! Although their impact on non-venomous snakes has been proven.

best ultrasonic snake repeller

Ultrasonic repeller REXANT 71-0007 - helps keep snakes out of your area. The range of one such installation reaches 30 meters. The device creates vibrations that are unpleasant for most poisonous snakes living in Russia, thereby keeping them out of the range of the device. The repeller has a built-in battery and is charged by the sun.

Chemical repellents from snakes with mothballs and sulfur

Naphthalene

First, these balls contain a very strong neurotoxin. If it gets into the mouth of a child or a dog, all this can end badly. Secondly, science has not been able to prove its effectiveness against snakes. Scholars explicitly state: “Naphthalene is not a snake repellant”. Don't believe the scientists - just watch the MythBusters series. Adam Savage and company also destroyed this legend. Yes, and laboratory work with pure naphthalene showed that it is not a hindrance to snakes. Scientists Gary J. San Julian and David C. Woodward conducted an experiment to prove this: they placed a snake in a closed box, placed repellent in front of it, followed by bait, and almost always the animal ignored the mothball barrier.

Sulfur

Sulfur is not often used against snakes in pure form. More often it is mixed with the same naphthalene. We can confidently write one thing about this mixture: it stinks strongly and is easily washed off by rain. Perhaps a certain concentration of the two ingredients could affect the snakes. There is evidence of "limited effectiveness" of a number of registered drugs based on naphthalene and sulfur. This is confirmed by the fact that a number of repellents "sulfur + naphthalene" still received a state license. They work best with rattlesnakes and checkered garter snakes, but... with caveats.

Means Snake-A-Way from 7% naphthalene and 28% sulfur, for example, laboratory testing failed. Rex E. Marsh of the University of California spread a strip of repellent on the floor of a room and took turns launching snakes into it. According to statistics, every second snake has repeatedly crossed the barrier. And Snake-a-Way's competitors have not earned the reputation of "universal repellents."

Homemade and Natural Snake Repellents

You can scare away the snake with the help of folk repellents, which include fox urine, smoke from smoking, diesel fuel and a mixture of naphthalene with cat litter, lime and pepper-based sprays. But some scientists argue that all these remedies are ineffective. And experts also call diesel fuel very harmful to environment: your green spaces and beneficial insects in the garden will not be happy with it. Although some researchers from America speak of its restrictive effect on rattlesnakes.

Let's start with the facts: some scientists are making the radical claim that all chemical repellants are ineffective against snakes. Perhaps this is due to the olfactory system of reptiles, because snakes smell with the help of a forked tongue. So, at a distance, aromas do not scare them away! Yes, and with physical contact, she will feel it only if she touches the ground with her tongue.

What you definitely don’t need to buy are products that position themselves as universal: they are like spiders, snakes, and rats ... Many biologists are sure that these drugs are the worst. And do not consider options with ultrasonic repellers. Because snakes don't have ears!

But still, popular snake repellers - powders and granules based on sulfur and naphthalene - aroused some interest in us. Expert opinion is divided on them, so let's consider them as potential snake repellers! And a little later we will find out what ordinary users think about such repellents.

How to protect yourself from snakes: snake traps and homemade fencing

Measures of physical restraint on snakes may be more effective. They say that the best remedy protection against creeping reptiles is a solid fence dug into the ground. In addition, various types of traps for reptiles are popular. It's not that hard to get them.

• Fence against snakes

We subtracted a universal recipe for making a fence:

“Make a fence of galvanized mesh (mesh cell is 6 mm), the height of the fence should be about 80 cm. You can build this fence alone or add it to an existing fence. All gates must be tightly closed and without gaps. Inspect the fence regularly to make sure that there are no passages under it and that there are no foreign objects on the outside. Mow the grass and weeds around the fence and remember that the snake fence should be tilted outward at a 30 degree angle”.

• Homemade snake trap

Experts favor the use of sticky traps to contain snakes. They do not kill the animal, but simply deprive it of the ability to move. These traps are commercially available. And the recipe for a homemade trap is described by zoologists from Washington:

« Place a sticky glue trap along an interior wall or foundation (depending on the amount of sticky "area" needed to catch a rat). Use plywood as the basis for it. To avoid close contact with a frightened snake, you'd better have a special tool with a wooden handle and a hook at the end. To free a trapped snake, pour some vegetable oil directly on it - the oil will make the glue less sticky and allow the snake to crawl away.»

• Pets

They can also be attributed to the methods of physical influence. Pigs, dogs, and hedgehogs are believed to eat certain types of creeping reptiles. But only the hedgehog does it with sufficient regularity. The rest, if they try the snake, then only if they are very hungry. You don't want to starve your pets, do you? And from the battle with poisonous snakes, these pets do not always come out victorious. Therefore, we immediately discard this method.

3 best snake repellants

Dr. T's 4-Pound Nature Products Snake Repelling Granules

As experts wrote, the mixture repels only rattlesnakes. In a pack there are almost 2 kg of granules (7% naphthalene and 28% sulfur). It should be enough for high-quality cultivation of 2 hectares of land. The developers do not hide the fact that the snake will crawl away from the repellent only if the chemical gets on her “Jacobson's organ”. If the sensory receptors are not affected, it will crawl further.

Scatter Dr. T "s Snake Repelling Granules is needed in special gloves and strips 10-12 cm wide (for garden snakes) and 20-30 cm wide (for rattlesnakes). Even after a light rain, these strips will have to be updated. And, of course, you can’t use such a fragrant mixture indoors.

In product reviews, people write that it is stupid to spray the product near snake holes (for example, in a basement or woodpile). Otherwise, the snakes will be locked in them and will not leave your house until they die. Most dog owners have admitted that their dogs don't care about the chemical at all. But all snake fighters keep the drug away from children. From adequate complaints, we found only grumblings about the bad aroma of the product. So you can try it.

Havahart 6400 Snake Shield Snake Repellent

This product causes us more doubts, despite the high rating among buyers. Sulfur remained here, but new ingredients were added from among essential oils. Their effectiveness has not been proven and not really refuted, so Havahart still got into our review. Here is what is included in its composition: sulfur, cedar oil, cinnamon oil and clove oil. It seems like these pungent odors should also drive away snakes with a direct hit on sensory receptors.

The instructions say that a 20 cm Havahart Repellent barrier can be placed around the entire piece of land and its specific objects: a garage, a trash can, a house ... On the plus side, the disappearance of a bad smell interrupted by the artificial aroma of the forest. Of the minuses - the lack of a description of the types of snakes against which it definitely works. We have already spoken about the weakness of such "universal means". However, 90% of users called Havahart a useful product. People complained about short term the action of the chemical. As for us, we still cannot give an unambiguous recommendation to this bestseller. You can test these pellets - but at your own peril and risk.

Sweeney's 5200 All Out Snake Repellent, Granular, 4-Pound

Here, sulfur also disappears from the list of active ingredients, leaving only oils: clove oil, cinnamon oil and cedar oil. We wrote above that experiments on testing the effectiveness of oil mixtures are still ongoing. And the Sweeney company decided to get ahead of the scientists and has already released a similar batch - All Out Snake Repellent. People rated this product below the two competitors we reviewed above: only 71% of buyers found it useful.

In the reviews, we found information about the successful repelling of black snakes, copperhead snakes and garden snakes. However, thanks and negativity in the comments alternate "50/50". We've never seen so many disappointing reviews anywhere, so this product gets the lowest trust rating from us!

The three best snake traps

Easy Gift ® 5 Pcs Butter Scented Humane Trap

The size of the trap is larger than usual. It can be laid out in the form of a square rug with a side of 32 centimeters. And you can roll it into a sticky tube that will pull a rat or mouse into it. The trap is made of simple materials: non-toxic glue and cardboard. It's just a shame that the instructions do not indicate the types of snakes against which the trap works.

Catchmaster 402 Baited Rat, Mouse and Snake Glue Traps Professional Strength

Two traps for mice, snakes and rats are hidden in a small box. There is no poison here, just a sticky surface. But there is one problem: it is designed only for small snakes. Users write that they caught reptiles weighing 900-1800 g, but definitely not larger.

In addition, with such a trap, it is necessary to calculate the possible ways of movement of reptiles. To bet at random means to risk that the snake may simply not crawl into the trap. After all, there are no normal baits for them (unless you stick a grasshopper on glue!). In general, this a good option, but only for creeping little things.

Another trap - Humane Snake Trap by Snake Trap. This thing has a more impressive size. It is a full-fledged plastic trap, inside of which there is an adhesive tape. However, judging by the reviews, its effectiveness is lower than that of competitors. This is understandable: inexpensive adhesive sheets can be scattered throughout the site, and it will be expensive to buy several of these traps. But, thanks to the closed format, a puppy or kitten will not get into the Humane Snake Trap. We have already met a couple of similar complaints about other traps.

However, in some reviews, we found a recommendation not to turn to branded “Velcro” against snakes, but to look for the most inexpensive adhesive tapes against insects or mice. Or even make them from scrap materials! It is a pity that these options certainly have not been tested by science!

7 tips to keep snakes out of your yard and home

So we got to the basics of the basics. We bring to your attention 7 tips for those who want to prevent the appearance of snakes near and inside their home.

1. Clear the land around your home. Snakes love to hide in bushes, garbage heaps, piles of leaves, and tall grass. Remove them, and the reptile will feel uncomfortable on bare ground. And professionals recommend regularly clearing attics and basements in their homes. There snakes can also hide.
2. Put snakes on a strict diet. Be aware of animal preferences in nutrition. Some snakes eat frogs, others eat sick fish, others eat insects and rodents. If they are swarming in your area, then you can expect the appearance of reptiles there. For example, an ordinary fish pond may attract several types of water snakes. Gray climbing snakes adore all rats and chipmunks. king snakes can encroach on birds and their eggs. Some small snakes, like the keeled grass snake, eat insects, and toads are the favorite food of hook-nosed snakes.
3. o Check your home for holes. Cracks and crevices, wiring and ventilation can turn into open doors for snakes. Isolate them as much as possible so that these creatures do not settle with you! Even a gap of 6 mm is potentially dangerous.
4. Raise everything on piles. On any site there are shelters that cannot be got rid of. For example, a lumberjack. Experts advise raising it above the ground with piles and other similar things.
5. Be careful with chimneys and windows. Some snakes crawl into buildings through chimneys and even through open windows. Be careful!
6. Feed your pets carefully. If you have dogs, cats and other pets living on the street, then their food points should be well organized. Theoretically, your pet's food and drink can attract snakes. So the remains of their food should be hidden from the direct access of crawlers.
7. Pay attention to cool, damp and dark areas. Snakes love the sun, but prefer to live in gloomy places. Hence - the eternal craving of reptiles for wine cellars, barns and cellars. They need to be checked more often and more carefully than other territories.

Summing up

We haven't waited for the perfect snake repellant to hit the market yet, but we've provided you with an overview of the best snake repellants available today. In the meantime, the choice of such a product is always a certain risk. Fortunately, it can be compensated by competent preventive measures, the purchase of traps and keeping the house clean and tidy. Well, the best thing is to build a competent fence around your site and forget about snakes forever. And to lethal means should only be used in extreme situations.

The main thing to remember when dealing with snakes is that quick physical contact with them is a bad idea anyway. It is better to study your creeping neighbor well, determine its biological species, and then only proceed to confrontation.

The dominance of snakes is not the most common problem, but if it arose, these reptiles can become a real disaster. After all, basking in the grass, knowing that somewhere nearby a poisonous and dangerous reptile can lurk is a pleasure, frankly, so-so! How and with what means can you get rid of snakes and what to do in order not to suffer from their bite?

Where do snakes come from in personal plots

The main problem of the appearance of reptiles in human habitats is the people themselves.

Exploring new territories, building up wild areas of nature yesterday, cutting down forest plantations for these purposes, we step on the natural habitat, including snakes, and leave them no other choice but to look for a new place. Often they find it on under the shade of the garden. Sometimes, oddly enough, we personally bring snakes to our own site along with building materials.

Such a possibility is quite exotic, but it should not be discounted either, especially since, having forcibly fallen into new conditions, snakes can behave especially aggressively.

Important! Most favorite place reptiles in our country house may turn out to be garbage or, because decaying organic matter releases heat and moisture. In addition, inside such heaps it is quite quiet and calm, which is especially important for creeping eggs during laying and breeding. But you also need to be careful in a dark and cool place where snakes can comfortably equip a nest.

In the roots of a garden tree or a fairly mature, loose and shady shrub, a snake can also settle down.
It is worth recognizing that the sight of a reptile in its own area can cause horror in most owners and especially housewives, but in fact, not in all cases it is worth fearing for your health.

The most common in our latitudes snakes, snakes, copperheads are not at all poisonous.

But there is an exception: the viper. The bite of this snake can really be fatal, and although it is believed that the snake itself does not attack a person, so as not to risk it, such neighbors should definitely be expelled decisively and mercilessly.

How to drive snakes out of your yard

In order to understand how to expel snakes from the site, you need to know what snakes do not like or fear in order to create the most uncomfortable conditions for them. Killing snakes is not the most effective way to fight with them, it is much better to help the animals take independent solution leave you forever.

Regular cleaning

If a snake accidentally crawls into your area, most likely it will not stay here for long if it does not find a suitable place to build a nest.

We have already mentioned what these places are, but if eliminating a compost pit is hardly a successful way for a farmer to get rid of reptiles, then it is advisable to get rid of deposits of building materials (especially wood) in time.
Of course, anything can come in handy in the summer cottage, but if the problem of snakes arose, all the garbage is out!

As for the compost pit, it is at least desirable to place it in a place where you and your children walk the least, and also make sure that there are no tall thickets around such a pit in which you can not notice the lurking viper.

Carefully inspect the roots of old trees and for possible voids where reptiles can make a lair.

Old trees with naked, as well as stumps need to be removed in time – this will save you not only from snakes, but also from various -

Important! The first way to drive the snakes off the site is to deprive them of shelter, the second is to deprive them of food (snakes feed on toads and small rodents).

After you have taken out the garbage, do not forget to carefully level the area where it was located. If you have settled on the site - do not forget to mow the grass regularly. A reptile is unlikely to arrange a nest in it, but it may well get out to bask in the sun.
It is in the tall grass with the maximum probability that you may not notice such a guest and get a fatal bite.

The sound of a running lawn mower is the best snake repeller, these reptiles hate noise and will try to get away from its source as quickly as possible.

hunter animals

It is logical to ask who else, besides the mongooses from Rudyard Kipling's fairy tale "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", eats snakes and, accordingly, which of the animals can be won over to their side in the fight against these unwanted neighbors.
First of all, you should think about ordinary hedgehogs. In the “hedgehog versus snake” duel, feel free to bet on a prickly animal. The hedgehog successfully hunts other small animals that are undesirable on the site - mice, rats, moles, mole rats, toads, lizards, etc.

Did you know? Witty Hungarians came up with original way stimulate hedgehogs to exploits in the fight against an enemy that is not inferior in strength: pour a little low alcohol into a small saucer fragrant drink(wine or beer) and put in the way of little predator. It is believed that a drunken hedgehog– terrible weapon.

Seriously speaking, it is inhumane to water hedgehogs with alcohol, because such a stimulant is very harmful to their body. It is much better to attract hedgehogs with milk or meat scraps.

In addition to hedgehogs, cats and dogs can resist reptiles, but unlike field predators that kill reptiles for their own food, it all depends on the desire and mood of your pet.
There are specially bred breeds of dogs (for example, the Australian Terrier) that professionally hunt reptiles.

Pets can serve you well as natural repellents: when scented with wool, shy snakes may voluntarily move away from potential danger.

To help them make the right decision, you can lay out things that have collected cat or dog hair in places that are dangerous from the point of view of a possible nest.

Important! As a rule, snakes do not behave aggressively, but there is an exception: the protection of offspring. Therefore, in the spring and then at the end of summer, when the snakes molt and lay their eggs, special care must be taken.

Devices for scaring

Reptiles, like moles, do not tolerate noise and vibrations. Based on this property, scientists have created special devices.
Several times a minute, they produce sound vibrations in the range that snakes respond to, and make them go in search of a quieter shelter.

Modern devices include the use solar energy for recharging, therefore, having successfully installed the device once, you can forget about the problem. You need to find the right place to install the repeller: it should be as close as possible to a potentially dangerous area (for example, a compost pit) and not contain interference around it that will reflect or absorb sound waves.

Important! The viper is relatively resistant to ultrasonic stimuli and noise, but perceives vibration very poorly. Therefore, in our latitudes, preference should be given to vibration rather than ultrasonic repellers.

Repellers can be ultrasonic, vibrating or sonic. The latter are less preferred, as they will irritate not only snakes, but also bipedal visitors to the site.

On the other hand, noisy work carried out in the country is a natural hindrance to the snake's nest. In addition to the above, it can be the work of a circular saw, other devices, or just a friendly cheerful company. You can create noise with your own hand-made rattles, turntables and other devices, however, as was said, vipers can tolerate such irritants quite comfortably.

Sometimes they offer to lay out the site with pieces of cloth soaked in diesel fuel. Perhaps the reptiles will not like the stench exuded in the country, but whether you yourself want to breathe it is a big question.

Poisons and chemicals

There are several answers to the question why don't kill snakes. This method is ineffective: if something attracted reptiles in your country house (for example, there is a great place for a nest), it means that they will come again.
In addition, it is inhumane to destroy animals that, unlike pests, do not cause any damage, but attack only as a defense. And it is also believed that, when dying, the snake emits a special smell, on which its relatives crawl.

Did you know? In many nations of the world, the killing of a snake is under the strictest ban. These animals are considered a symbol of goodness and happiness in the house,even a kind of "keeper", killing which, you kill the person protected by him;they believe that they are inhabited by the souls of dead ancestors.

You can also try using poisons. But be prepared for the low efficiency of this method: snakes are hunters, they will not eat poisoned bait, and if the poison emitted into the atmosphere scares away the predator, it can be dangerous for you, your children and pets. As already mentioned, diesel fuel is used as poison against snakes. Also used, saltpeter, naphthalene,. On sale there are also poisons developed against cold-blooded animals, you can use them.

Folk methods

Much more humane to use against snakes. It is believed that these reptiles can not stand pungent odors, including natural and completely harmless to humans.

You can plant garlic around the perimeter of the site or scatter dry mustard (this may protect you from the visit of a reptile, but is unlikely to drive it away from the site after it settles on it).
Also, reptiles react poorly to fire and the smell of burning. Some recommend setting fire to a tire in the area, but this method can disperse not only snakes, but also all neighbors, so it’s better to just make a fire from dry grass and leaves, observing all fire safety measures.

As already mentioned, vipers do not like the smell of natural wool. If you don't have cats or dogs, you can lay out a bunch of threads around the perimeter using yarn or old woolen things.

Did you know? In order to attack, the viper needs only 0.7 seconds: during this time, the snake lunges, bites and returns to its original position. But for a successful throw, the reptile needs support, so the assertion that being in the water you do not risk being attacked is not without foundation.

And two more tips in the end. Snakes are very attracted to areas located in the lowlands. Therefore, if you are lucky enough to have a cottage on the very shore of the bay, be especially careful.
And if you find a shed snake skin on the ground, immediately take it out as far as possible, because it carries the smell of the hostess and is a bait for her fellows. Moreover, some argue that the snake deliberately sheds its skin in a place it likes, where it certainly plans to return.

Precautionary measures

If you find a reptile in your area, do not try to identify it. Despite the fact that only one in ten snakes in the world is statistically venomous, a mistake can be very costly.
Even after killing a snake, do not touch it with your hands, so that, having absorbed the smell of a reptile, you will not necessarily become a living bait for its “relatives”.

The same applies to the found snake skin - take it with gloves and, before taking it out, pack it in an odor-proof bag.

It’s another matter if you disturbed her nest or at least approached it during the “dangerous” period, or stepped on a reptile calmly dozing in the sun.

Important! Snakes do not see well, but they hear well and perceive fast movements. Therefore, noticing a reptile in close proximity, freeze and watch it. If the reptile does not notice you and does not crawl away, very carefully, slowly and as silently as possible, try to move to a safe distance. It is unlikely that you will be pursued.

Having found a reptile on the site, do not poke it with a stick, but use a noise effect. If there is no nest nearby, the snake will quickly crawl away, and if there is, the stick will only provoke it to attack.

First aid for a victim of a snake bite

The bite of a viper is dangerous for humans, and the severity of the poisoning and the likelihood of death depend on what measures are taken in the first minutes after the poison enters the body (and it is quite possible in the absence of the necessary assistance).

Did you know? The mouth of creeping reptiles is very small, but when the snake attacks, it can easily open its mouth so that its upper and lower jaws form a straight line in relation to each other.

So, when bitten by a snake:

• Remove the source of danger: chase the snake away or move away yourself (if you can take a picture of it, make sure to take it – This will make it easier for your doctor to help you properly.)
• take it easy(or try to calm the bitten).
• Bend the bitten arm or leg and do not move it (it is important that the bitten place is fixed below the heart).
• Press your fingers on the edges of the wound and suck out the poison along with the blood, after taking some water into the mouth beforehand to reduce the concentration of toxin in the mouth (snake venom is not dangerous if swallowed, but can be harmful if ingested oral cavity there are wounds). Don't forget to spit! Repeat the procedure for at least a quarter of an hour: it is believed that this method allows you to extract up to 50% of the poison from the wound without letting it go further into the blood.

Important! Do not pull the wound above the bite! The best way do not allow the poison to spread - do not move the stung limb.

• Disinfect the wound quickly(but not with alcohol), bandage it with a non-tight sterile bandage - and immediately to the hospital! It is desirable that the patient is in a horizontal position, the head and the bitten place are below the body.
• If the path is long, or there is no way to see a doctor at all, drink as much liquid as possible so that the remaining poison leaves the body naturally as soon as possible. Coffee, alcohol and other stimulating drinks are contraindicated.
• In case of loss of consciousness or cardiac arrest, artificial respiration and chest compressions are used.
• Also, on the way to the doctor, it will be useful take an antihistamine – for example, suprastin, diphenhydramine or tavegil to neutralize a possible allergic reaction to a bite. Give two tablets at once, even if the victim is a child. If necessary, you can also give an antipyretic.

That is why in all cases your the main task- get to the hospital as soon as possible.

If it is not possible to get to the hospital in the next few hours after the bite, you should also not despair - clearly follow all the above recommendations, move less, drink more, and in this case, a strong body will successfully overcome the poison without the introduction of serum. A viper's bite is dangerous, but not fatal if handled properly.
If you are bitten by a non-venomous snake, the wound still needs to be disinfected, and since you can hardly be sure that you have suffered from an attack harmless snake, the first aid mentioned above for preventive purposes should still be provided to the victim.

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Spring, nature triumphs and awakens from sleep all large and small living creatures. And these are not only cute and beautiful butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, but also snakes. Most of these creatures look unpleasant, and some also pose a danger to humans and domestic animals, being poisonous.

Reasons for the appearance of snakes in the country

In the middle lane, forests and forest belts are the standard habitat for snakes. Until recently, creeping reptiles were rarely seen in the residential sector within the city limits. But the process of deforestation does not stop and the snakes lose their homes, the only way out for them is to migrate to a nearby city or village. Fortunately, for creepers in summer cottages and household plots there are often many trees and shrubs where they hide. But even without trees, the snake feels great next to a person, hiding in garbage or compost pits and sheds. Non-poisonous snakes, snakes, copperheads and deadly vipers most often come close to human habitation.

You should also be aware that snakes do not always come from the forest. They can be brought in with building materials, such as crushed stone.

Precautionary measures

It has long been known that a snake almost never attacks a person or animal first. The aggression that they show is a measure of protection shown in case of detection of danger. But after all, this knowledge does not make it easier for a person, he may simply not notice a snake that has warmed up in one of the beds, and step on it or hurt it. And as a result - gets a bite. And if the bite of the snake is simply unpleasant and leaves small wounds, then the bite of a viper under adverse conditions can be fatal.

If you have suspicions that snakes are crawling around your summer cottage or personal plot, we recommend that you walk exclusively in rubber boots and always look around the area for a snake basking in the sun.

On a note!

The bite of non-venomous snakes is dangerous. An infection can enter the body through wounds. Therefore, the bite should immediately be disinfected.

First encounter with a snake

Do not try to drive the reptile away with a stick, nothing will work, he will only get angry and can attack. Win by cunning, remembering that snakes do not like noise. If you already have a stick in your hands, then beat it on a tree, and knock on the ground with your feet. The generated noises and vibrations unnerve the snakes, and they try to hide in their quiet shelters as soon as possible. So you can scare away snakes from your summer cottage.But killing a creeping reptile is not a solution at all. The fact is that before death, the snake emits a special smell that lures its relatives. Accordingly, by killing one snake, you risk attracting a dozen new ones. The same situation is with snake skin left after molting. Take it away from the site.

Snake fighting

Method 1 - site cleanliness

Painstaking and thorough cleaning of a personal or summer cottage in most cases is a very effective way to get rid of snakes. Among the wood left after pruning trees or in a pile building materials asps love to hide. So why tempt fate, it is better to immediately take out or destroy everything unnecessary.

Take time to mow the grass. Many species of snakes like to hide in tall grasses. If possible, use a lawn mower, the noise it makes will allow you to get rid of snakes in the garden many times faster, reptiles will crawl away to quieter places.

The compost heap should be located at the maximum distance from the house. The temperature in it is optimal for snake masonry, so you should not create conditions for the reproduction of creeping reptiles with your own hands. Moreover, the snake protects its nest until last breath, respectively, to destroy it alone will be many times easier than the whole family.

On a note!

The main period of activity of snakes is the time of molting and laying in the spring, and then - the end of August.

Against the background of all the fears of snakes, you need to understand that in some cases they are useful for the site, as they hunt various pests - moles, small rodents and toads. But in a place with this, snakes love to feast on sweet strawberries and strawberries, so you will either have to sacrifice the harvest in favor of fighting more serious pests or protect the garden from snakes from rodents.

Method 2 - helper animals

The main enemy of any snake is an ordinary hedgehog. So create everything the necessary conditions for a comfortable stay of this animal on the site. It will also help in the fight against small rodents, moles and toads, exterminating everyone who can somehow harm the crop.

A small portion of alcohol contributes to the activation of the hedgehog's hunting instincts. Place shallow saucers filled with beer or wine around the perimeter of the site. Hedgehogs being able alcohol intoxication, will destroy all potential pests on the site with double enthusiasm. Activating the activity of hedgehogs with the help of alcohol is called the “Hungarian way”.

If you want to lure only hedgehogs, and not bastards from neighboring streets, then use milk instead of alcohol. Do not forget that hedgehogs, like snakes, are very fond of destroying strawberry crops.

Cats can also hunt snakes. Experts say that the cat's body is resistant to most snake venoms. But do not forget about the habit of cats to demonstrate their prey to their owners. Most likely, you will find the corpse of a dead snake in the most visible place, and it’s good if this is not your bed.

All types of snakes can be fought by a Jagd Terrier dog. But keeping such an animal at home is not the best solution, these dogs are aggressive towards humans.

If you don't have a dog or cat and the hedgehogs refuse to settle in the area, use natural wool. Spread it in a small amount near the places where the snakes are supposed to nest, and after a while the creeps will leave the site.

Method 3 - human factor

First you have to decide if you want to fight snakes in the country,removing or destroying them. The first option assumes a high probability that the reptiles will return after a couple of months, and the second is guaranteed to save you from creeping ones, at least until the start of the next summer season.

Snakes have a heightened susceptibility to smells, it is worth taking advantage of this. Spread dry mustard over the entire area, one kilogram is enough for ten acres or burn car tire. For prevention, break several beds with garlic on different sides of the summer cottage.

You can get snakes out of your summer cottage with caustic chemical substances, which an experienced gardener should have in abundance. It is enough to soak old rags in chemistry and scatter them around the site.

There are free special means that poison creepers, but remember that the smells of dead snakes attract new individuals, and this option does not always help.

Reliable protection against snakes in the country — fence with a high plinth. To increase the effectiveness of this method, the fence is recommended to be treated with chemicals.

Remembering that snakes do not like noise at all, you can take advantage of this feature by hanging rattles, bells or noisy turntables around the area. Electric mole traps work the same way.

Simple but effective method fight against snakes, deprivation of creeping food. If there are no toads, moles and rodents on the site, then there will be no snakes that hunt them.

What to do after a bite?

If you find the snake too late and don't take precautions to avoid attack from it, the main thing is to behave properly after the bite. Minimize panic and try not to move, as the accelerated work of the heart muscle will also speed up the spread of blood with poison throughout the body. Before the ambulance arrives, try to drink a lot - clean water and juice, apply cold to the bite site, this will help relieve swelling. If your hands begin to swell, it is better to remove rings and bracelets, this will relieve pain.

It is strictly forbidden to cauterize or cut the bite site; pulling the wound will not help either. All these manipulations can, on the contrary, lead to the development of infection and a gangrenous condition. You should not suck out the poison from the wound if you are not sure that you have no damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth and teeth.

HOW TO REMOVE SNAKE FROM THE PLOT

1. Hang Chinese bells on the site. The snake will scare away this sound, and the ringing of bells will not annoy you.

2. Sprinkle dry mustard on the area. Its scent repels snakes. For 10 acres of land, 1 kg of mustard is enough.

3. Mow the grass regularly. On a flat lawn, you will always notice a snake. And snakes like to hide in thick grass.

4. Enclose the site with a fence on a brick plinth. The height of the masonry should be at least 40–50 cm. This is a good barrier against uninvited guests.

5. Prepare a kerosene solution. Dilute the flammable liquid with water 1:2 and spray the area along the fence. Snakes can't stand this smell.

6. Bring hedgehogs from the forest, because they catch snakes. Provide them with saucers of food and milk.

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Tips Zmeelova -

To make sure that the snake has already left, or vice versa, lives in the house -

It is necessary to scatter a path of plain flour near each door frame, in a thin layer. If the snake is still there, then you will definitely see the characteristic flour tracks that the snake will leave when crossing the flour "path". If those do not appear in ten days (or two weeks), then the snake has long left the house
The best way (but not humane) to catch a snake in a dwelling is to unwind and spread the adhesive tape with a sticky layer up. The snake will inevitably plunge into it and begin to rage - thereby wrapping the entire tape around itself (the entire unfolded piece). All this happens with noise and crunch.

snake in the house

Pour any dissolved garden herbicide into the gaps between the boards - the snake will leave, in English.

“I meet my snake, I immediately run to the kitchen to brew coffee. At the same time I shout to her: Make yourself comfortable, dear mother-in-law! ..
This is how I've been surviving for twenty years."

snake on garden plot -

You can process the boundaries of the site with simple ammophos, sodium or potassium nitrate, etc. The herbicide may give the best effect, but the smell from it is nasty, and lasts quite a long time. In the spring, it is necessary to carry out such processing several times with an interval of two weeks.
Weeds will begin to grow vigorously.
Sheathe the perimeter of the site in a continuous strip. And from the side of the forest, if it does not harm anyone else, you can still duplicate it with a wide train. Spray carefully so that cultivated plants do not get; from a height of thirty centimeters. This will scare the snakes from crawling.
It does not happen year after year, but usually the main activity of snakes lasts from April to October, so it may be necessary to repeat the procedure in the second half of the summer, especially in rainy summers. In the opposite situation, hot dry summers, when the food supply of snakes (rodents and insects) move to human habitation, where there is always watering, additional processing will also be required.

Scare away from the camp -

Snakes do not tolerate agricultural chemical fertilizers. If along the perimeter of the camp scatter saltpeter or amophoska, etc., in the form of a "path". - snakes do not crawl over this "barrier". You can also do it differently. You will need to take one or two ampoules of any garden herbicide with you. Already in the parking lot, dissolve them in water, in PET bottles, and also spray them with a line along the perimeter (to do this, make several holes in the lids). The effect is guaranteed. Only the amber of herbicides is not the most pleasant, I myself would not poison the clean forest air with them. For three days, no phytoncides will kill the persistent smell of chemistry. Rest will be ruined. This is more relevant for summer cottages or estates in the forest.

Prevention of unwanted meetings -

Any killed or crushed snake wriggles in agony, all its muscles spasm violently. At the same time (especially in females), substances containing invocative pheromones are released from the anal. If in a simple way - a killed snake involuntarily emits the smell of readiness for mating. And since snakes have the most perfect sniffing apparatus, neighboring individuals will instinctively climb "to the wedding" - exactly, right to the source of this smell. Therefore, it is advisable to take the snake away from housing and, if possible, dig in (and even better avoid this procedure and disperse peacefully).

How to disperse in peace -

Snakes are often dangerous, there is no doubt about it. But it is quite possible to reduce this danger to almost zero by proper behavior on a hike or at a picnic.
As a rule, a snake bites in defense, and a person gets into such a situation through indiscretion. That is why, according to statistics, the number of bitten among the local population is disproportionately less than among travelers and tourists.
You have to be careful in the forest, and in the places where snakes may live (and in the steppe and in the mountains, respectively, too). Such places are usually bushes, forest edges, glades, boulders, tall dry grass, banks of forest streams, swamps, lakes. It is necessary to be wary of various crevices, holes and not climb into them with your hands. When picking mushrooms, it is useful to have a stick with you, with which you “feel” the grass under the trees and shrubs. Walking along the path, especially on a warm, quiet day, look under your feet so as not to inadvertently step on a snake basking in the sun. They like to rest on the paths after the rain, when everything around is damp. "They love to bask in the sun." You also need to carefully look under your feet when walking in places overgrown with tall grass or shrubs. Snakes attack mainly a moving object.
If you suddenly notice a snake crawling, freeze, give it the opportunity to leave. If the snake is in a menacing posture, back away slowly. Avoid sudden movements that frighten the snake! You can not, defending yourself, put your hands forward, turn your back to the snake. If you have a stick, hold it in front of you towards the snake. Do not run away from the snake you meet - you can step on another unnoticed. Remain calm in decisions, actions, gestures. Remember, a snake that you do not see is dangerous, a snake that is found is not a threat. Seeing a snake, it is enough just not to touch it and move away.
In the case of the viper, tight sneakers and loose jeans are enough to protect against teeth, not to mention boots. In addition, before going to bed, in nature, it is necessary to carefully inspect the tent and sleeping bags, and in the morning inspect and shake out clothes and shoes. And you just have to be careful.
The main method of protection for the common viper is stealth. Often people coexist with snakes and are unaware of their existence.
But if, due to your inattention, you stepped on or sat on a snake, or foolishly decided to catch and take the snake in your hands, it will defend itself in a different way - bite. They defend themselves by attack and if for some reason they cannot crawl away, or they are driven into a corner or not warmed up enough to quickly retire or have recently dined.
Often the consequences of improper treatment of a bite are more dangerous than the bite itself.

Remember that when destroying snakes in natural environment their habitats, you thereby cause irreparable harm to NATURE itself, upsetting the balance between certain types. In particular, you create the prerequisites for the mass reproduction of rodents, including mice.

Despite the general warming of the climate, there are no more snakes in Ukraine. They like stable conditions - warm and dry, and we are seeing sharp temperature fluctuations.

The number of snakes fluctuates every year and depends on weather conditions. Their active time is from April to October, in the cold season they hide for the winter.

How to distinguish crawling guests from each other

Eleven species of snakes are found in Ukraine (all of them are essentially predators) - these are snakes, vipers, copperheads and snakes of various species. The most big snake in our latitudes - yellow-bellied snake, up to 2 meters long!

It is not dangerous to humans, but, defending itself, it can injure with its powerful jaws.

Yellow-bellied, Sarmatian and leopard snakes live in the south of Ukraine. Patterned snake - in the east of the country. Aesculapian snake (depicted on the medical emblem) - in the Carpathians and in the Nikolaev region. These snakes are not aggressive, attacking only if they are saving their lives. By the way, all snakes, copperhead, and two types of vipers (steppe and Nikolsky) living in the country are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Our Poisonous snakes- These are three types of vipers. Throughout the territory of Ukraine, except for Transcarpathia, common vipers are found; in steppe zone and in the south of the forest-steppe - steppe, but Nikolsky's vipers can be found on the forest-steppe and border with them steppe areas Kharkov, Sumy, Odessa, Cherkasy and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

Vipers never attack first.

Only if the snake warmed up in the sun and fell asleep, and the summer resident accidentally stepped on it, can it bite. But usually these reptiles feel the approach of a person by the vibration of the soil, the radiation of your heat and crawl away themselves.

By the way, the information that vipers are capable of two-meter throws per person is a myth. Any snake can lunge a little more than half its body length. For reference: the length of an ordinary adult viper is 55 cm, the steppe viper is 60 cm, the Nikolsky viper is 80 cm (old individuals 90 cm long are extremely rare).

So vipers are short thick snakes, but snakes and copperheads are longer (usually 90-120 cm). Runners, as a rule, are more than a meter.

A poisonous viper can be distinguished by a triangular head (the neck is clearly visible) and eyes like a cat's - by slit-like pupils.

Copperheads, snakes and snakes are from the family of already-shaped, their head is elongated (the neck is not visible), pupils - round shape. Snakes and copperheads love to hunt in the water and, by the way, they are unusually smelly reptiles. If you took them in your hands, it is impossible to wash off the strong smell for a whole week!

Why do storks, herons, and sometimes foxes and wolves eat vipers with pleasure? They don't smell.

Hedgehogs, by the way, eat snakes when there is absolutely nothing to eat. The usual food of hedgehogs is insects (including poisonous ones!), slugs and snails, mice.

Adult snakes eat everything the same, except for insects and snails, kites often eat insects - so they can also be useful on the site. Remember: as long as there is food for reptiles in the country, they will hunt in your territory. At night. During the day they rest. That is their nature. But do not be afraid to go to the toilet at night: snakes are not interested in you.

Where can snakes be found in the country

Most snakes love overgrown areas. They can be found in dachas located near swamps, lakes, ravines, forest edges. Snakes like to lie in places that are well warmed by the sun or slightly shaded by plants. Favorite dislocations are woodpile or piles of old pieces of wood, elevations in the form of a cellar roof or heaps of sand, stones or rubble, heaps of uprooted weeds and even compost pits.

Our advice:

You don’t need to drive the guest away with a stick - it’s best to create noise and vibration, for example, stamp your feet from afar and shout. If the snake was just basking in the sun, and its nest is not in the immediate vicinity, then it will quickly crawl away.

If you suspect the constant presence of creeping reptiles on your territory, try to walk around the dacha in leather or rubber boots, with pants made of thick fabric tucked into the tops.

To keep snakes away from the site, first of all, clear it. Remove broken boards, slates, old firewood, piles of branches and debris, piles of scrap metal - all kinds of snakes look for such shelters or bask in them.

Mow the grass constantly. After all, dense high thickets are the favorite places of these reptiles.

For the same reason, you can install an ultrasonic rodent repeller: mice will leave first, and then snakes. The range of this device is from 10 to 50 meters.

And here are the various folk ways daring snakes (sprinkling the area with mustard, scattering dog hair, burning rubber tires, etc.) are not effective.

Snakes love to nest in compost heaps.

There are no aggressive snakes in Ukraine. It is in Africa that there is a black mamba that can haunt a person (it is called the most fast snake in the world) and its poison is deadly. We have a situation with snakes, one might say - calm. Vipers bite people, but deaths have not been recorded for more than 10 years.

Even during the breeding season, snakes are not as dangerous as popular rumor ascribes to them.

They will not attack first, but any of your careless movement for the snake is a threat.

In the event of an unexpected encounter with a viper, it is best - smoothly and carefully, while facing the viper - to retreat to a safe distance for a bite of at least two meters.

It is important for summer residents to remember that snakes like to arrange their nests in heaps of uprooted weeds or compost pits, where optimal conditions are formed to maintain the temperature in the egg laying. Therefore, such places should be as far away from home as possible.

What to do if bitten by a snake

The consequences of the bites of Ukrainian vipers can be severe - especially for allergy sufferers, children under 6 years old, and in cases where the snake has bitten in the neck, in places close to the neck, and also where the arteries pass - in the ankle or wrist.

A bitten person turns pale, weakness begins, headache, dizziness, swelling of the body at the site of the bite, in severe cases - shortness of breath, vomiting, loss of consciousness may begin.

After a bite, you should contact the nearest first-aid post as soon as possible, best of all - to the district hospital. There is a polyvalent anti-snake serum, there is a serum against the bite of an ordinary viper. Serum should only be administered by a health worker, but, unfortunately, not all medical institutions have it ...

In the meantime, the bitten person has not reached the doctors, he needs to drink an anti-allergic drug as soon as possible and in no case panic! From fear and anxiety, the affected person begins to release adrenaline into the blood by the adrenal glands, so the vessels of the brain expand, blood pressure rises sharply, and the heartbeat quickens.

Before transporting to the hospital, the victim must be laid in the shade, pulled over the place above the bite with a tight bandage (for example, a scarf or bandage). But in no case - with a tourniquet, as they taught in Soviet times: if you get to the first-aid post for more than an hour, you can get necrosis of body tissues below the place where the tourniquet was applied.

Make a splint from improvised means and fix the bitten limb.

Immediately after the bite, you can gently suck out the blood with poison from the wound. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that any wound on the oral mucosa can serve as a way for poison to enter your body.

Cauterization and cutting make no sense. Viper teeth penetrate to a depth of 2 cm, and human integument tends to close. So at the bite site you can see only two points from snake teeth.

The victim should drink plenty of cool water, it will help speed up the removal of poison from the body. And in any case - strong drinks!

Please note: bites from non-venomous snakes can also be dangerous: infections often penetrate the wounds.

Vyacheslav SIGALOVSKY
Photo depositphotos, pixabay.com