Alabama is home to about 40 different species of snakes, making it one of the most diverse snake populations in the United States. Although some people don’t mind seeing an occasional snake or even keeping one as a pet, most don’t want to see one in their yard. Even though only a small portion of all the types of snakes in Alabama are venomous, it’s best to avoid them in general, both for your health and for the snake. But you shouldn’t feel like you can’t enjoy your yard as the weather begins to cool down and you want to spend more time outside. Especially if you have small children or pets, you want to make sure that they are not at risk from a snake bite. Although there are some preliminary steps you can take to keep snakes out of your yard, a snake repellant treatment from Bama Pest Control is also a great idea.
Most Common Venomous Snakes Seen In Alabama
Markings are the best way to identify dangerous snakes in Alabama. Most of the venomous snakes in Alabama are pit vipers, which can be recognized by the pits they have on their faces between their eyes and nostrils, as well as their flat, triangular-shaped heads and the single row of scales at the end of their tails. Other types of snakes have no pits on their faces, have oval-shaped, longer heads, have tails with a double row of scales at the tip, and are not venomous.
The only exception to this rule in Alabama is the coral snake, which is venomous but has a double row of scales like nonvenomous snakes. You can differentiate a coral snake from other snakes by its alternating red and black bands which are separated by thin yellow rings, and by the black markings on its nose and the top of its head. Coral snakes like to live in sandy soils.
There are three venomous rattlesnakes native to Alabama,
which can be recognized by the characteristic rattle on the end of their tails. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is usually very large and heavy-bodied, and can sometimes reach eight feet in length. Timber rattlesnakes, also known as canebrake rattlesnakes, are also large and typically live in rural forested areas. The smallest of the three, the pygmy rattlesnake, is typically only 30 inches long and is most active late in the summer.
The most common venomous snake in Alabama is the copperhead. Although colors and patterns may vary, you can usually identify a copperhead by its tan or brown color with darker crossbands and copper-colored head. Copperheads can live anywhere but prefer forests, fields, and sometimes the banks of streams. Another very common venomous snake is the cottonmouth, whose light-colored mouth gives the snake its name. These snakes are aquatic and find their home in swamps, creeks, rivers, and other waterways. Like copperheads, their blotchy appearance can vary, but cottonmouths are typically solid grey or tan in color with brown bands. Because these snakes can be hard to identify, it’s best to avoid any snake you see in the water.
Dealing with snakes, contact us today!
A Few Tips To Keep Snakes Away
- Make sure there aren’t places for a snake’s food sources (insects, frogs, and small rodents like mice) to live in your yard and around your homes, such as tall grass or overgrown plants
- Keep trees and shrubs trimmed so they aren’t touching your home, deck, outbuildings, or the ground so snakes are easy to spot and remove if necessary
- Think about keeping animals that are predators of snakes, like guinea fowl, chickens, or pigs
- Mow your lawn frequently and make sure the grass is kept short, as snakes don’t like to live in or move through short grass that exposes them to predators like owls and hawks
- Seal up any cracks or crevices that snakes might slither into or hide in, whether it’s on your home, deck, shed, or other outbuildings
- Plant natural snake-repellent plants, such as West Indian Lemongrass or Mother-In-Laws Tongue
- Consider getting rid of any potential hiding places for snakes, such as woodpiles, compost heaps, trash, or other debris, or making these inaccessible by locking them in a shed or raising them up off the ground
- Keep any animal feed or pet food you have secure and tightly closed to prevent attracting rodents and their predators, snakes
- Don’t overwater your lawn, as standing water in your yard might bring in snake food sources like insects and frogs
- Most importantly, get a snake-repellant treatment from Bama Pest Control
Call Bama Pest Control To Keep Snakes Out Of Your Yard And House
If you are concerned about snakes entering your Alabama yard and home, call the professionals at Bama Pest Control. A disabled, veteran-owned business, we offer a temporary and effective snake repellant treatment that will repel snakes from your property for 30 days. Bama Pest also uses Integrated Pest Management techniques, an environmentally sensitive approach that attempts to reduce risk both to your home and the environment around it. You can visit our website to view all of our pest control services for inside and outside your home, reach out to us via our contact form for more information, or give us a call at 251-478-7015.
We currently service:
- Mobile County
- Baldwin County
- Washington County
Bama Pest Control is a disabled, veteran-owned small business. We are also HUBZone certified and DBE certified two certifications from organizations helping the disadvantaged, minorities and women maintain their small businesses.
And don’t forget to check out our monthly blog for more informative articles on keeping pests out of your home!