Hiss Off! Slithery Facts and Protection from Snakes

For many Americans, there is nothing scarier than being surprised by a snake while casually working in the garden, grilling, or playing with the kids in the backyard. Unless you live in Alaska, chances are good that snakes live close to your property. Here are some interesting facts about snakes and a few methods you can use to keep snakes off your land and out of your home.

One of the most important snake deterrents is Zone Hiss Off! Snake Repellent. We’ll share more about what makes this the best snake repellent later on in the article. But first, let’s learn more about snakes! Thanks to One Kind Planet for providing some of this slithery information.

Snake Facts

  • Snakes are carnivores, meaning that they eat meat. I guess I’ve never seen a snake chowing down on a salad but like most others, I rarely have lunch with them.

  • Snakes don’t have eyelids.

  • Snakes have internal ears, but not external ones. I guess they like to hear themselves think.

  • Snakes can’t bite food, so they have to swallow it whole. They have flexible jaws that can open 150 degrees, which allow them to eat prey bigger than the size of their heads.

  • Snakes smell with their tongues, which is why they’re often seen flicking them in and out. Can you imagine if people did this? I guess sticking your tongue out would no longer be considered rude.

  • Snakes are found on every continent of the world, except Antarctica.

  • Snakes aren’t native to Hawaii, but people have brought them there illegally, and now they exist there with no natural predators around them.

  • Snakes used in snake charming performances respond to movement, not sound. Snake charmers appear to hypnotize the snakes with a swaying pungi, a wooden instrument, but in reality, the snakes consider the pungi a threat and respond to it as if it were a predator. Snake charmers are certainly “Losing Their Sway”.

  • There are around 3000 different species of snake, and 600 are venomous.

  • More than 200 species of snake are considered to be “medically important”. Snake venom have proteins that have effects on various biological functions, such as blood coagulation, blood pressure regulation, and nerve impulse transmission.

  • Snakes are covered in scales, but their skin is smooth and dry. I am curious to know if we will see a true “snake oil” or lotion that harps on making your scaly skin smooth. Bonus Fact: The term “snake oil” is actually a euphemism for deceptive marketing. How will SC Johnson sell snake oil without calling it snake oil? Ahhh, so many questions.

  • Snakes shed their skin a number of times a year in a process that usually lasts a few days. Some sea snakes can breathe partially through their skin, allowing for longer dives underwater, so they better be careful when shedding.

  • Snakes, like other reptiles, are cold-blooded. This means that their body temperature changes according to the temperature of their environment, unlike warm-blooded animals like humans, whose temperature remains constant. Snakes that live in colder climates hibernate in winter as temperatures become too cold for them to survive otherwise.

  • Venomous snakes kill their meal with their poison, and then swallow it. Other snakes, such as boas and anacondas, suffocate their prey by squeezing them to death before swallowing them whole.

  • Despite snakes being feared by many people, more people are killed by bees than snakes every year, yet you don’t hear people screaming about how they hate bees. Poor little snakes.

  • The Black Mamba is the fastest snake in the world and can move up to 12 miles per hour! This one freaked me out a bit. I’m not sure if I can outrun this thing.

  • Two-headed snakes are not just mythical creatures – they can occur on rare occasions! The two heads will often fight each other for food, despite sharing the same body. That’s just a neat fact and I’d love to see that.

Now that we’ve learned a bit more about snakes, let’s talk about what’s most important — how to keep them away from your family and pets! Continue reading for info on snake repellers and tips for keeping snakes out of your property.

Snake Prevention Tips

  • Mow your grass often and keep it short. Snakes are less likely to hang out and move through short grass because it increases their exposure to predators, such as coyotes and hawks. Short grass also makes snakes easier to spot by you and your family members.

  • Avoid watering your lawn. Watering your lawn and garden may attract some of snakes’ favorite snacks, such as worms, slugs, and frogs.

  • Keep trees and shrubs trimmed. Trim trees and shrubs away from your home and garage, and keep branches away from the ground. Creating a 24-36" space under trees and shrubs will reduce the likelihood of snakes taking refuge in them and will make snakes easier to spot if present.

  • Move your bird feeder. Birds are messy eaters and often leave seed scattered below their feeder. Seeds on the ground attract rodents, which may attract snakes seeking a meal. Move your bird feeders away from your house, or stop feeding birds altogether. Store your bird seed in a metal can with a tight fitting lid if you do use a bird feeder at your home.

  • Install a perch pole. Hawks and owls are natural snake predators that can be attracted to an area with the aid of a well-placed perch pole. Poles should be placed in open areas so that hawks and owls have a good view of the yard and surrounding area.

  • Feed your pets inside. Feeding your pets outside can attract insects and rodents, which attracts snakes. If it’s absolutely necessary to feed your pet outside, be sure to clean up any food your pets don’t eat right away. Store your pets’ food in a metal can with a tight fitting lid.

  • Move your woodpile. Store firewood, excess lumber, and other types of debris away from your home. Stacks of lumber and firewood, and other piles of debris are perfect places for snakes to hide.

  • Think before you landscape. Avoid using mulch and large rock in your landscaping. These materials attract snakes and their prey. Instead, use smaller tight-fitting rock, such as gravel or river rock.

  • Avoid water gardens and Koi ponds as these water features attract snakes.

  • Do not use mothballs. The active ingredient in mothballs is either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These chemicals are toxic to insects and mammals, but are not effective against snakes. Naphthalene may cause illness in humans, and have been linked to death in children. Using mothballs outside your home violates product labels, and puts your family and pets at risk. Do not use mothballs.

  • Don’t use sulfur, either. Many snake-away products claim that sulfur in their products will keep snakes away. Unfortunately, sulfur is not effective at deterring snakes and is a waste of money.

  • Do not relocate problem snakes. Snake relocation might seem like a good way to reduce human-wildlife conflict, but most research on the topic has found that the snakes die more often when relocated than not when relocated.

Use Hiss Off! Snake Repellent

Use Zone's Hiss-Off! line of snake repellents. Hiss Off! comes in a ready-to-use 32-ounce spray bottle and if you need to build a larger perimeter, you can get Hiss Off! Snake Repellent concentrate to treat areas up to 4,000 square feet in size!

Gosh Brian, how does it work? Zone Repellents Hiss Off! Snake Repellent uses a blend of natural oils that are encapsulated with Rain Guard Technology to last through the weather. These oils present a smell that is offensive to snakes, but pleasant to us. With the Rain Guard Technology, just a single application of Hiss Off! Snake Repellent lasts for one to two months!

All of our animal repellents are safe, inexpensive, and extremely effective. If you need guaranteed results, look no further. We'll keep snakes at bay so your family, pets, and home stay safe.

References:

Smith, Christopher, “Keeping Snakes Away: Advice from a Wildlife Biologist”, June 19, 2017.