Best Snake Repellents for Most Venomous and Non-Venomous Species

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

In some areas snakes aren’t killed on sight or removed because they can help control the rodent population. But even though they can be useful at times, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have some of the best snake repellents on hand at all times.

It is ill advised to allow venomous species to roam around your property just so they can take care of a rat or two. You should also try to keep non-venomous snakes at bay. They can scare pets, kids, and their bites can still cause a great deal of pain and potentially life-threatening infections. Here are some ideas of what you can use to repel snakes.

7 Best Snake Repellents to Keep Snakes Away

The Exterminators Choice Snake Defense comes in spray bottle containers. You can get it in a 32oz bottle or a 128oz large jug which features a hose and a spray nozzle. This means that it’s very easy to apply the solution anywhere around your property. This formula is intended for use around lawns, back yards, trash bins, fences, etc.

Keep in mind that this formula might be too potent to use inside the house. It contains mostly peppermint oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil. These are all known snake deterrents and the combination of all of them will be much more efficient than using any single one alone.

Another good thing about the Snake Defense repellent is that it works against venomous and non-venomous snakes alike. This means that you can protect your property and your family no matter where you live. Also, it will work on some rodents too which will provide a level of residual control.

  • Made with essential oils
  • Comes with its own sprayer system
  • For all types of snakes
  • Repels rodents too
  • Not the best weather resistance

Granule snake repellents are getting more and more popular. The Victor Snake-A-Way snake repellent comes in 4lbs bags and is potent enough to treat around five acres of land. The resealable bags will make storage a lot easier as they will keep the granules fresh for a prolonged period.

The Snake-A-Way formula contains a proprietary blend of ingredients, of which naphthalene and sulfur make up for a combined 35% portion. I should stress that naphthalene is only 7% of the formula, so it’s not as toxic and harmful as many other options on the market.

In terms of residual control, the granules do a good job of protecting your property for up to three months. They won’t get washed away easily or dissolved by rain, which makes them a good choice in humid areas.

  • Resealable bags
  • Lasts for up to 3 months
  • Disrupts sensory reception
  • Highly potent proprietary formula
  • Not the best formula to use if you have pets

The Nature’s Mace Snake Repellent comes in a shaker resealable bag. You can get a bag of 2.2lbs that can cover an entire garden, or bigger bags of 5lbs or 22lbs if you own a very large property.

One of the best things about this repellent is the fact that it comes in granular form. Granules will usually last longer than most water-based solutions. Therefore, you can easily use this if you live in an area which receives a lot of precipitation.

The main ingredients are naphthalene and sulfur. The formula is potent, but not to the point that it would be too dangerous to use around plants and pets that might be roaming your lawn. You should also know that this particular blend might not work against all species of snakes.

It does a good job of deterring both venomous and non-venomous snakes, but it might not always be very efficient against highly aggressive species.

  • Naphthalene and sulfur formula
  • Big granules
  • Available in bags of various capacities
  • Can handle venomous and non-venomous species
  • Might make some snakes a bit too aggressive

You can get Dr. T’s Snake Repellent in 32oz spray bottles. The nozzle has an adjustable spray pattern. This will make the application of a barrier a lot easier and you’ll be able to accurately trace a pattern around the perimeter you want to keep snakes away from.

The 32oz spray bottle should be enough to treat an area of up to 500 sq. ft. I consider this good coverage for a spray repellent. Besides, using a spray often has some advantages. For one, there’s no chance that your kids or pets will pick it up as they might with granules.

The manufacturer recommends Dr. T’s Snake Repellent for garter snakes, corn snakes, and timber rattlesnakes, as well as some small rodents. You might appreciate the list of ingredients, which is a combination of natural ingredients with some chemical compounds.

Snake-A-Way contains cedar wood oil, garlic, cornmint oil, cinnamon oil, rosemary oil, sodium chloride, and a few other ingredients that help increase the formula’s potency and weather resistance. That said, even though this formula has many natural ingredients, you should still use some protection when spraying so that you don’t get it on your skin or ingest it.

  • Natural blend with added chemicals
  • Fast-acting formula
  • Adjustable spray nozzle
  • Offers good coverage
  • Won’t handle rain as well as granules

The Safer Brand 5951Shield is a granular snake repellent that you can get in 4lbs resealable bags. This repellent has a formula that’s less toxic than others, making it safer to use if you have pets or ornamental plants in your garden.

It doesn’t require a special activation, meaning that its effect will be almost instant. You might also prefer the 5951 Shield if you want a long-lasting solution. By using this granular repellent, your property will be protected even after the rain.

The granules won’t break down easily when watered, which is why this formula is preferable for outdoor use on lawns, around gardens and barns, in garages, etc. What’s also important is that this is not an overly aggressive formula.

Sometimes, a repellent would trigger a nasty fight-or-flight response in some snake species. This might actually make some of them more aggressive instead of keeping them away from venturing on a protected property. The Safer Brand 5951 Shield repellent takes a different approach. The formula excludes harsh chemicals and, therefore, will only trigger the flight response in snakes.

  • No harsh chemicals
  • Doesn’t make snakes more aggressive
  • Long-lasting effect
  • Moisture wicking granules
  • Not for broadcast application

You can find Ortho repellents for just about any type of pest that may decide to invade your property. That’s probably why the Ortho Snake B-Gon is one of the most popular snake repellents on the market. It’s all about brand reliability and good choices when it comes to ingredients.

The formula of the B-Gon snake repellent contains clove oil, cinnamon oil, eugenoil, and peppermint oil. These are the main active ingredients. As you can tell, this is a potent, odor-based formula that should work well for both creating barriers and broadcasting application.

It’s also easy to disperse the Snake B-Gon granules using the shaker bottle. The granules may be small, but they are quite water resistant. You shouldn’t have to reapply Snake B-Gon in under 30 days, unless after some heavy downpours.

Another cool selling point of this repellent is the fact that it is not at all unpleasant for humans. It has a potent formula made mostly from essential oils, but after a while only the snakes will notice it.

  • Works on most snake species
  • Natural ingredients
  • Comes in a shaker bottle
  • Good water resistance
  • May be less effective against copperheads

The Sniff’n’Stop Snake Repellent is a multipurpose repellent in granular form. It comes in 1.25lbs bags and can be a quick and efficient alternative to the classic mothballs. It’s also safe to use around pets, kids, and plants.

If you prefer natural formulas, then you’ll appreciate the blend of essential oils in the Sniff’n’Stop repellent. That being said, keep in mind that the smell of this repellent can repel some humans too. Since it has been formulated to work against snakes but also rodents and other pests, the odor can often times feel overpowering.

You probably shouldn’t use it in your garage and definitely not in your house. Its effective range is quite good, given that the repellent can handle even copperheads with ease. Although designed to last, this formula doesn’t have that impressive residual control.

That said, even if you have to reapply if more often, it’s important to remember that this formula can easily work on just about any snake and rodent that cuts it close to the barrier.

  • Made with natural oils
  • Good residual control
  • Deters snakes and rodents
  • Safe to use around pets
  • Slightly expensive

The Importance of Ingredients

There are two requirements the ingredients should meet when they’re used in a snake repellent. First of all, they have to be efficient at keeping snakes away from your property. But, most importantly, they should be safe to use around humans and pets.

A lot of repellents are made with naphthalene. This active ingredient can be quite harmful to humans and animals. Though it is very effective in keeping the snakes at bay, you may be better off getting a repellent made with natural ingredients and essential oils.

Of course, you could also try your luck with electric repellents too. These use sound waves that snakes will want to steer clear of.

Weather Resistance Is Equally Important

While ingredients matter a lot, the actual formulation does too. Not all blends are particularly effective in the long run. Ideally, one barrier of snake repellent should last you a few months.

So what does this mean for the repellent? It means that it has to have very good water resistance. Rain is the most devastating thing that can happen as it tends to dilute or completely wash the repellent away.

Electronic repellents have the best water resistance. But, they have their own issues too. For example, one may not be enough to protect your entire property. Another problem might be positioning and potential obstacles throughout your yard.

Granules are probably the ideal choice if you live in a humid climate or in an area where it rains a lot. They won’t wash away as easily as spray repellents. Just keep in mind that not all granules have the same moisture wicking properties.

Should You Buy a Multipurpose Snake Repellent?

In my opinion, yes, you should. If you can get a snake repellent that works equally well against rodents, you will get significantly more value for the money.

Consider that sometimes snakes may be getting on your property just because you have a large population of rodents roaming around. By repelling snakes and deterring rodents in one fell swoop, you’re making sure that neither will be as attracted to your property in the future.

You should also think about what you’re actually trying to accomplish. Yes, you may want snakes off your property, but they are effective in rodent population control. If you’re not looking to eliminate all snakes, then you might want to consider something specific instead of a broad spectrum repellent.

Broadcast vs Barrier Applications

Not many people can tell the difference between the broadcasting and barrier repellents, but most repellents on the market belong to one of these two categories. Barrier repellents are formulated to create a shield or barrier around specific locations like flower beds or your dog’s favorite outdoor spot.

Broadcast repellents have wider area coverage. These usually work fine if you just sprinkle or spray them in key locations, so that your entire yard might trigger the flight response in snakes, instead of just one or two specific spots.

In terms of pricing, there shouldn’t be any noticeable difference between formulas designed for specific repellent application methods.

Safeguard Your Garden from Slithering Pests

Snake repellents come in many shapes and forms. As you can probably tell by now, picking the right one for you will often come down to personal preference and factors such as how many pets you have, the environment you live in and so on.

This article contains reviews of snake repellents suited for a wide range of situations. Pick the one you can afford and start putting down barriers to keep venomous and non-venomous snakes from creeping onto your property.

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