Snakes in the yard or garden are a common occurrence for California homeowners.

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11 Ways to Get rid of Snakes In Your Yard and Garden

1. Spray it with a hose. …
2. Trap the snake. …
3. Eliminate food sources. …
4. Get rid of standing water. …
5. Trap the snake. …
6. Fill burrows. …
7. Remove shelter.

What do you do if you see a water moccasin?

If you see a cottonmouth in the wild, be calm and realize that you are much larger than it, and it perceives you as a potential predator that has invaded its space. Cottonmouths are not out to get you, are not aggressive, will not chase you, and ultimately would like to be left alone.

Can a water moccasin bite you underwater?

Besides sea-snakes, there are two common snakes that can live in or near water – the cottonmouth (water moccasin) and the water snake. Not only can snakes bite underwater, but water moccasins join a list of more than 20 species of venomous snakes in the United States making them even more of a threat.

Is a water moccasin the same as a cottonmouth?

Description: Cottonmouths are venomous semi-aquatic snakes often referred to as “water moccasins.” They have large, triangular heads with a dark line through the eye, elliptical pupils, and large jowls due to the venom glands.

Does moth balls keep snakes away?

Mothballs are commonly thought to repel snakes, but they are not intended to be used this way and have little effect on snakes.

What smells do snakes hate?

Snakes will often eat insects, amphibians, and other reptiles, so keeping them at bay is key. What scents do snakes dislike? There are many scents snakes don’t like including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents.

How long do cottonmouth snakes live?

Though they can be found in fields, water moccasins usually reside in, along or near bodies of water. These snakes prefer streams, ponds, swamps, marshes and drainage ditches. The lifespan of a water moccasin in the wild is about 15-20 years. The oldest water moccasin lived to 24.5 years old in captivity.

What time of day are water moccasins most active?

When swimming, the cottonmouth holds its head above water with most of its body barely touching the surface. Cottonmouths are nocturnal, most active at night. The young wiggle their tails so that the tip appears to be a small worm.

Can you smell a water moccasin?

Besides gaping to warn a potential predator, cottonmouths whip their tails back and forth, raise their heads and coil up menacingly. They may spray a bad-smelling musk, much like a skunk.

How long do you have after a water moccasin bite?

Patients presenting after a cottonmouth bite should undergo observation for eight hours post-envenomation. If there are no physical or hematologic signs within eight hours, then the patient can be discharged home.

What time of year do water moccasins have babies?

Mating Habits

It is suggested that Water moccasins are monogamous; this means that during the breeding season a male mates with only one female. Mating occurs in April-May and the young are usually born in August or September.

What time of year do water moccasins mate?

Cottonmouths mate in spring, usually from April to May. During the mating process, males slither around, waving their tails in an attempt to lure females away from other male suitors. The males also fight each other when competing for females.

What smells do water moccasins hate?

The truth is, snakes have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find accessible food sources. You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as cinnamon, clove oil, and eugenol. These are the only scents recommended by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to repel snakes.

How do I keep water moccasins out of my pond?

Use Snake Deterrents

Essential oils such as clove oil and cinnamon oil can be mixed in water and sprayed around the pond. Snakes hate the smell and stay away. Snake repelling granules are made of sulfur and special oils that deter the snake but remain safe for use in your home.

What is the best snake repellent?

The Best Snake Repellent — Reviews

• 1) Ortho Snake-B-Gon Snake Repellent Granules.
• 2) Victor VP364B Way Snake Repelling Granules.
• 3) Exterminators Choice Snake Defense Spray.
• 4) Nature’s Mace Snake Repellent.
• 5) Safer Brand 5951 Snake Shield Snake Repellent.
• 6) SerpentGuard Snake Repellent.

Do fake owls keep snakes away?

Fake owls do not keep snakes away. The only basis of people for saying this is the principle behind some prey-predator relationships in the wild, or the fact that birds are afraid of scarecrow. There is no scientific evidence proving that snakes are afraid of fake or real owls.

How does snake droppings look like?

What Do Snake Droppings Look Like? Snake droppings are tubular and cord-like, but may have a pinched, irregular surface. They are dark in color with pale, whitish streaks of dried urine. Many people initially mistake snake droppings for bird waste, since they have a similar appearance.

Are there any plants that repel snakes?

Onions and garlic are very useful garden plants for repelling snakes. Both plants give off a smell that snakes not only dislike, but it also confuses them. Garlic plants are thought to be the best plants that repel snakes. The plant gives off an oily residue when a snake slithers over a clove.

Which is worse cottonmouth or copperhead?

The cottonmouth (also known as the water moccasin) bite is much more dangerous and harmful to humans than the bite of the closely related copperhead, but rarely leads to death. … In addition to being larger, the cottonmouth has a slightly more powerful venom, but is still rarely lethal to humans.

What animal eats water moccasin?

Dogs, cats, raccoons, wild pigs and other mammals occasionally prey on the water moccasin, but the most common mammalian predator of a water moccasin is the opossum. Opossums are known for a rodent-like appearance and a fierce nature when it comes to killing their prey.

Do water moccasins climb trees?

Water Moccasins typically bask on land, stumps, or logs near the water surface, and only occasionally climb to low limbs when access is afforded by vines or a gradually sloping branch. Water Snakes are very agile climbers and spend a great deal of time basking on the limbs of shrubs and trees overhanging the water.

The cottonmouth can breed all year but breeds most often in spring. The female carries her eggs inside of her for about five months. The babies are born when the eggs break open inside of her, and between one and 16 young emerge.

Are baby Cottonmouths poisonous?

Are Baby Cottonmouth Snakes Poisonous? While they typically produce somewhat less venom than adults, baby cottonmouth (water moccasin) snakes are poisonous and still very dangerous.

Will a cottonmouth chase you?

If you see a cottonmouth in the wild, be calm and realize that you are much larger than it, and it perceives you as a potential predator that has invaded its space. Cottonmouths are not out to get you, are not aggressive, will not chase you, and ultimately would like to be left alone.

How many babies does a cottonmouth have at one time?

Cottonmouths are ovoviviparous, which means that eggs incubate inside the mother’s body. Females give birth to live young every two to three years, in litters of about 10 to 20 offspring. Baby cottonmouths are born brightly colored and go off on their own as soon as they’re born.

Do water moccasins mate in a ball?

There is no such thing as a Cottonmouth breeding ball. Cottonmouths, Agkistrodon piscivorus, are so feared and misunderstood that perhaps the most terrifying thing the average citizen can imagine is these snakes in the process of making even more Cottonmouths.

Can cottonmouth bite underwater?

As its Latin name (Agkistrodon piscivourous) implies, cottonmouths eat fish, and they can bite underwater. The cottonmouth sets itself apart from other water snakes with a distinctive swimming style, its body riding high in the water with its head held up, like a proud pharaoh.

Can water moccasins climb trees?

Water Moccasins typically bask on land, stumps, or logs near the water surface, and only occasionally climb to low limbs when access is afforded by vines or a gradually sloping branch. Water Snakes are very agile climbers and spend a great deal of time basking on the limbs of shrubs and trees overhanging the water.

What is the lifespan of a water moccasin?

Though they can be found in fields, water moccasins usually reside in, along or near bodies of water. These snakes prefer streams, ponds, swamps, marshes and drainage ditches. The lifespan of a water moccasin in the wild is about 15-20 years.

Is a cottonmouth and water moccasin the same thing?

Description: Cottonmouths are venomous semi-aquatic snakes often referred to as “water moccasins.” They have large, triangular heads with a dark line through the eye, elliptical pupils, and large jowls due to the venom glands.

How long do you have after a water moccasin bite?

Patients presenting after a cottonmouth bite should undergo observation for eight hours post-envenomation. If there are no physical or hematologic signs within eight hours, then the patient can be discharged home.

Can a cottonmouth and copperhead mate?

Kissing Cousins. Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) are members of the same genus, which means they are closely related species, and have even been known to mate and produce hybrid babies in captivity.

What is the difference between a cottonmouth and copperhead?

Cottonmouth snakes are generally considered to have more potent venom. Copperheads are considered less venomous and there is some controversy as to whether or not bites from copperhead snakes need to be treated with antivenom. Copperhead and juvenile cottonmouth snakes are both brown in color.

What time of day are water moccasins most active?

When swimming, the cottonmouth holds its head above water with most of its body barely touching the surface. Cottonmouths are nocturnal, most active at night. The young wiggle their tails so that the tip appears to be a small worm.

Can snakes swim up toilets?

Yes, but it’s not common. Sometimes snakes will swim up through the pipes or enter a bathroom through an open window or door and coil up in a toilet bowl in search of a place to cool down during the hot, dry summers. However, this doesn’t really happen in urban areas.

What’s the difference between a cottonmouth and a water snake?

Both cottonmouths and northern water snakes, also called common water snakes, have dark bodies, and they are typically banded. … Cottonmouths also usually have a neck that is narrower than their heads, while water snakes have necks that are not distinct from their bodies.

What do you do if you get bitten by a water moccasin?

These dangerous snakes include the copperhead, rattlesnake, cottonmouth (water moccasin) and coral snake. If you are bitten by a venomous snake, call 911 immediately. It is important to get antivenom drugs into your system as quickly as possible.

Do water moccasins gather in groups?

Water moccasins are solitary, even positively anti-social to other snakes. They are known in the snake world for eating each other. You would never find a swarm of them together, much less acting cooperatively to attack a man.

How can you tell if a baby is a water moccasin?

A juvenile water moccasin appears brightly colored with red-brown bands that extend across its back and down its sides without crossing the belly, set against a brown body color. Many of the crossbands on the snake’s back can contain dark spots and flecks.

How do you keep cottonmouth snakes away?

How to Keep Water Moccasins Away

1. Mow your lawn. …
2. Start by lightly sprinkling the snake repellent granules over the surface area of your yard, taking care to avoid garden areas.
3. Create a perimeter around your yard by spreading an additional helping of snake repellent around the boundaries of your property.

How poisonous is a cottonmouth snake?

Venom / Bite

Around 8,000 bites are poisonous, resulting in an average of 12 deaths each year. If you have the misfortune to be bitten by a cottonmouth moccasin—or any snake for that matter—take it seriously. The cottonmouth moccasin’s venom is powerful and can kill you.

Why are Cottonmouths so aggressive?

Cottonmouths, also called water moccasins, have a fearsome reputation due in part to their propensity to stand their ground and flash the white insides of their mouths when threatened.

What to do if a snake is chasing you?

If you do happen to encounter a snake, follow these steps.

1. Stay Calm. The chances are that the snake saw you before you saw it – and it wants nothing to do with you. If it hasn’t retreated, it will lay still or release a warning sound.
2. Move away from the snake. We repeat, move away from the snake.