23 replies to this topic

[bridie]

I m terrified of snakes! Today I found a 12" (approx) black snake at my front door! My gardener reckons that there may be family of them nearby!
In other words, expect to see more!! Apart from screaming very loudly, is there such a thing as a snake repellent?

[johanson]

This is Mexico. A neighbor was just coming to welcome you to the neighborhood. Only kidding ,of course. I was that way about scorpions. In fact the first winter I was here, I stepped on a scorpion and had to be rushed to the hospital. And was put on medications while in a hospital bed. Why? (do laugh) I was having a panic attack. The only thing I knew about scorpions I had learned from watching James Bond Movies where scorpions were used to kill people.

It took a year or 3 to get over these panic attacks, but I finally did. I don’t know what the best solution is. But please don’t put any poison out that might kill a dog or cat. And please forgive me for teasing you. but I was trying to get your attention about using the type of poison that also do harm to our pets. Remember if a rat or something ate the poison then escaped to the streets, many the hungry animal might think a treat was left for it/them.

[doberwoman]

sorry for your horrifying experience! the best source for knowledge about your question is ....your gardener! this guys must know everything about the garden! anyway I will do some searching by myself.....

when you go to USA, bring "snake away".....meanwhile try with the "repeltronic", you can find it at walmart and it also, repels rats, and the "things" that use ultrasound communication.....or, meanwhile try moth balls...

another thing...get a cat....regular cats kill snakes, but maybe lakeside cats are so spoiled that they do not help, mine, does not kill any mouse.....

[Malaya]

I've heard they will not go over rough ropes.

On the other hand, they eat mice and rats. For me, that's a good trade off. In Mirasol we had one on our roof that was about 12 feet long. Never saw a rat or mouse though and they dogs were highly entertained by this for some reason.

[Jeanne B]

Oh good grief, just the other day I was thinking. " Ok I've had a rat, opossum and scorpion in my house, but at least we don't have snakes". Oops guess we have snakes too.

[bridie]

Thank you all for your responses. Be assured Johanson, I wouldn't dream of putting poison down!! I have lived here almost 4 years, I know better. It is my first encounter with a snake so close to my home! I have already spoken to my gardener, he will be "investigating" the situation!!

[Griffin]

It's a nonpoisonous snake and won't harm you. Snakes do a lot of good. I guess I was lucky to be taught not to fear animals because the fears people are almost always unfounded. Having a respect for an animal is better than fearing it.

Tell your gardener that snakes don't have families. They don't rear their young or live in groups. Reptiles are solitary animals. Place the snake in a safe area away from your house where it won't be harmed.

[redpepper]

Not exactly true, when the babies are born they are in a group. So the gardener is half right. Once they grow a little they will then separate.

[redpepper]

One thing you can use is mothballs, scatter around the edge of your house if you can't find the above recommendations.

[jrm30655]

I don't know about that cat idea. Had a tomcat that brought a 12" Garter snake in at 5am and hopped up in bed to show me his prize catch.

That was the day that the cat door went to one way, out only.

[Griffin]

Not exactly true, when the babies are born they are in a group. So the gardener is half right. Once they grow a little they will then separate.

The babies are the size of worms and are immediately out on their own. The answer stands that adult snakes don't live in families as the gardener thought.

[Sunshine Girl]

One thing you can use is mothballs, scatter around the edge of your house if you can't find the above recommendations.

Mothballs are toxic to dogs and cats and other animals.

[bigd]

The babies are the size of worms and are immediately out on their own. The answer stands that adult snakes don't live in families as the gardener thought.

In Texas we have rattle snakes they are found many times in a den where there maight be 15-20 snakes. They may not be related but they sure live together.

[fordtruckman]

It is illegal to harm or kill the snake. Be glad you have a snake to control other pests. As stated in the earlier post your snake is harmless except to rats, mice and lots of bugs.

[rndutch]

It may help to hop on the internet and google the subject of snakes; for example, Google: "Black snakes, Jalisco, Mexico" and see what info you get. Snakes, like all predatory beings, are attracted to food. Eliminate the food on your property they are seeking (whether it be field mice, etc.) and they won't bother you. If there is property next to or near you that provides habitat/food source, then constructing a barriar to block them from your property may be the answer. This info can also be found on the internet. Buena Suerte.......Dutch

[Beeland]

In eleven years here and countless hikes along the beach at Lake Chapala including the early years when the lake had seriously receded and there was much undergrowth along beach trails, I have never seen even one snake. In fact, while I have seen, maybe, five scorpions in all that time, I haven´t seen even one of those in a good four years in my home or garden. As far as I know, the two harmful snakes reputed to be hereabouts are rattlers and coral snakes but they seem to prefer the wilderness and avoid humans like the plague. Now, black widow spiders are another matter. We have killed quite a few of those both in our house and in our garden. These creatures I do not like and consider them to be dangerous. Fortunately, they are very shy and non-aggressive and only likely to attack you if you inadvertently invade their territory. There are very few harmful creatures in the Mexican Highlands compared to the Southern United States which is crawling with venemous creatures and stinging horseflies and mosquitos and brown recluse spiders among other dangerous arachnoids and you name it. Be glad you are here.

[jaykay]

Your diet will kill you. Smoking will kill you. Lighting will kill you. Cars will kill you and it seems that locally they are TRYING. Worrying about all of the above will kill you. Snakes are way way down the list. Probably in there with rocks from the sky. Snakes just want to be left alone. I have not heard of anyone getting bit on the Lake in the seven years I have lived here. Cars on the other hand...

[Griffin]

It would be nice if people could learn to control their fears of things that are not harmful. Snakes are one of the things to be the least afraid of and they do an enormous good. The only aggressive snake I know of is the Water Moccasin and there aren't any here, plus being bitten by that snake is still rare.

[Griffin]

In Texas we have rattle snakes they are found many times in a den where there maight be 15-20 snakes. They may not be related but they sure live together.

There are several varieties that live in dens but those are not the snakes found here. We always do want to know everything about Texas, so thanks for sharing.

[bmh]

There are rattlers in the hills but I have not heard of them in the village where usually people see the harmless black snake. They are as a rule shy and will not bother you so ignore them and they will ignore you. I saw a black snake in the garden once near a water tap and although it may have had a family , I never saw once again so do not panick about the rest of the family, they are as scared of you as you are of them.