The Strong Essential Oil That Banishes Snakes From Your Yard

If you spend enough time in your yard, you will inevitably run into some sort of snake. Most people who spend time outdoors learn the signs of a venomous snake. However, whether it is a dangerous type of snake or not, unexpectedly running across a slithering serpent can be unsettling and put a damper on an otherwise pleasant day outside. As a result, many have embarked on a seemingly endless quest for ways to keep snakes from occupying their outdoor living space. In recent years, that quest has trended more and more to finding humane and non-lethal ways to deter snakes and other creatures from backyards and gardens. That dovetails nicely with another rising trend in the U.S. –- the use of essential oils.

Beyond human health and well-being, essential oils are useful in a variety of pest control scenarios. Many people know there are soothing scents that repel mosquitoes and other insects. However, essential oils may also be the answer to your snake control question. Among others, peppermint is a strong essential oil that banishes snakes from your yard.

Peppermint oil is one of the strongest smells of all the essential oils. It is widely regarded as one of, if not, the best natural repellent for a wide range of insects. You can repel gnats with peppermint oil, keep spiders and roaches out of your home, push stinkbugs out of your garden, and take care of countless other pest problems with this solution. For bug control, peppermint oil is effective because it covers the scent of the vegetables or other items that attract them and also irritate their senses.

Snakes are equally deterred by peppermint oil for much the same reasons. Since snakes have a heightened sense of smell, the intense odor emitted by peppermint serves as an irritant and deters them from entering an area. According to PETA, peppermint oil not only serves as a snake deterrent, it is a humane way to remove any snakes that have taken up living in your home, yard, or garden. In that sense, peppermint oil can be seen as both a preventative measure and possible solution to existing snake problems.

Not only is peppermint oil an effective natural snake repellent, but making and using a peppermint oil snake repellent solution is simple, requiring no particular experience, skill, or expertise. To make the solution, use three to four tablespoons of oil for every two cups of water. The solution can consist of straight peppermint oil and water or a combination of various snake repelling essential oils such as cinnamon and cedar along with the peppermint. Since making the solution is literally mixing oil and water, it will require substantial shaking. To help the essential oils disperse better within the water, you can add salt to the mixture. It will still require frequent shaking while applying, but the salt will help ensure the oil is more equally distributed throughout the solution.

Once the mixture is complete, transfer it to a yard sprayer and apply it to the entire parameter of your yard. It is important to pay particular attention to common places snakes hide, such as wood piles, openings under sheds and storage buildings, tall grass, and brush. If you see a snake while spraying the repellent, do not attempt to spray the solution directly on it. This could provoke the snake. You should also spray it throughout your outdoor living space, including porches, patios, decks, and exterior doors to your home. This can help control not only snakes, but a variety of other insects and pests as well.