Looking for the best snake repellents? Then you’re in the right place!
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- What snake repellents are and how they work
- If repellents are effective at controlling a snake population
- Recommended repellents for homeowners
Snake repellents are products designed to stop serpents from entering a protected property.
They can be sprinkled or sprayed around a yard, and some companies developed sonic repellents. Some repellents are more effective than others, and this guide can help you separate the wheat from the chaff.
Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management. He manages Pest Strategies now helping homeowners around the world!
Best Overall
Best Service
Victor Snake-A-Way
Features
- Easy to apply
- Creates a protective barrier against snakes
- Safe to use almost anywhere
Nature’s Mace Snake Repellent
Features
- Long-lasting
- Powerful, natural ingredients
- Won't harm the environment
Ortho Snake Granules
Features
- Most Affordable
- Essential Oil Based Repelling Granules
- No stink' Formula
Exterminators Choice Snake Spray
Features
- Easy To Apply Spray Formulation
- Essential Oil Based Repellent
- Better For Small Areas
Table Of Contents
Top 5 Best Snake Repellents Reviewed
Short on time? Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide.
- Ortho Snake B Gon Granules
- Safer Brand Snake Shield
- Exterminator’s Choice Natural Snake Repellent
- Victor Snake-A-Way
- Nature’s Mace Snake Repellent
What Is Snake Repellent?
Snakes frequently wind up around homes because they provide ample food and shelter. Many of them catch pesky pests like slugs, mice, and other rodents.
They can be beneficial creatures, but sometimes they might pose dangers and risks if they bite humans or start to terrorize pets. To combat them, manufacturers developed snake repellents.
What Is in It?
Many snake repellents include or are based around Naphthalene. Naphthalene comes from black walnut trees and is a strong chemical which can cause nerve and retinal damage. The ingredient smells of mothballs and is supposed to be unpleasant for serpents to cross.
Some more environmentally friendly repellents use essential oils instead. These include cinnamon, castor, peppermint, clove, and other strong-smelling ingredients.
Chemicals vs. Sound
As mentioned earlier, chemicals have distinct scents designed to be unpleasant for snakes. While serpents have nostrils and a typical nose, they don’t use it often. If they find something interesting, they will sniff it and then flick their tongues.
Their tongues can pick up odor particles which are then sensed by special organs in the mouth. These organs are called the vomeronasal organs. Some chemicals are also toxic or can hurt a snake, which means it will avoid the area.
Sonic repellents supposedly generate noise at a frequency which is hard for humans to hear. Serpents detect the frequency. The noise is unpleasant and irritating, so snakes will again not enter a property affected by the sonic repellent.
What Are the Risks of Snake Repellent?
Some repellents are toxic to animals and cause serious problems or death. Ingredients such as naphthalene damage the nervous system. It is also considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to be a carcinogen for humans.
Carcinogens are products which potentially cause or increase a person’s likelihood of developing cancer. People can avoid these problems by using environmentally friendly or sonic repellents.
What Makes a Snake Repellent Good?
There is a large amount of diversity in snake repellents. The three factors people should look at are strength, effectiveness, and overall cost.
How Strong Is It?
Some repellents can withstand the elements while others will be affected by rain, wind, or other factors. Some formulas will also last longer than others, so it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients.
How Effective Is It?
Effectiveness can be determined by how many snakes the repellent handles. Some products will only work on certain species of snakes, while others affect a broad range of serpents. As mentioned earlier, some products will also only last for a few days and will need to reapplied. Others can be kept for much longer.
How Much Does Snake Repellent Cost?
Products can range between $8 and $60 depending on the ingredients and whether or not the repellent relies on electricity. Electric or sonic repellents tend to last longer and are therefore more expensive.
Do Snake Repellents Work?
As with most repellents, they are usually not 100% effective. As their name implies, they repel, not physical stop animals from crossing.
In our review of other field tests of popular snake repellents on the market, they are not 100% effective. Snakes can definitely sense and smell that there is something they don’t like, which does slow them down, but they’ll still likely cross the barriers you create.
Your best using snake repellents as apart of a bigger pest control plan meant to reduce a snake population around your home.
Snake Repellents Reviewed
In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.
Ortho Snake B Gon Granules
Ortho Snake B Gon Granules is a cheap option for people suffering from snake infestations.
A full bottle is relatively inexpensive and can be applied around a property quickly. The mixture uses essential oils and relies on a snake’s sense of smell and taste to prevent slithering invaders. Humans usually can’t smell the granules and can safely place them around the home.
Ortho Snake B Gon is environmentally friendly and comes ready to use. It will not harm plants, so it can also be safely placed in gardens.
I would recommend this product to people who want an inexpensive, green way to prevent snakes from slithering around.
The Good And The Bad
- Human can't smell the repellent
- The product uses essential oils to repel your snakes
- The mixture is environmentally friendly
- The product is less expansive than other options
- Black rat snakes might not be affected as much as other species
- Rain washes away the granules
- The product should be reapplied every 2-3 days
Exterminators Choice Snake Spray
One bottle of Exterminator’s Choice Natural Snake Repellent is a bit more cost friendly and can make a 3 ft. barrier around a property. The product uses various essential oils (clove, peppermint, & cinnamon oil) and relies on a strong odor to keep serpents away. Users can spray the mixture without needing to touch any of the products.
Exterminator’s Choice is environmentally friendly, is okay for most pets, and claims to work on venomous and non-venomous snakes.
This should work well as an alternative to granule treatment if you don’t like the idea of spreading little bits of poison around your lawn.
The Good And The Bad
- Works on most snake types (venomous & non-venomous)
- Easier to spread than granules
- Uses essential oil mixture
- Environmentally friendly
- Strong smell may annoy some people
- Hard to check where the barrier is applied, which lets snakes through
- Needs to be re-applied regularly to keep up the barrier (rain, etc)
Victor Snake-A-Way
These Victor Snake-A-Way granules are university-tested and proven effective against most species of snakes. Also, they’re safe for children, pets, and the environment.
The contents of the resealable bag contain enough repellent to cover up to ½ acre, and the powerful ingredients will last up to 90 days.
Spread some Victor Snake-A-Way repellent granules around these areas for best results:
- Houses
- Cabins
- Trailers
- Sheds
- Garages
- Flowerbeds
By creating a protective barrier, you can keep snakes away for up to 90 days. But it won’t harm them. It simply keeps them from coming back.
The Good And The Bad
- Easy to apply
- Creates a protective barrier against snakes
- Safe to use almost anywhere
- Comes in a convenient, resealable bag
- Doesn't work well when wet
Nature's Mace Snake Repellent
This long-lasting snake repellent from Nature’s Mace is scientifically formulated to repel snakes during any season. Also, the conveniently packaged three-pound bag will protect an area of over 1,500 square feet!
Nature’s Mace Snake Repellent uses all-natural ingredients, so it won’t harm the environment. It’s even biodegradable and non-toxic to birds and wildlife.
This powerful and effective formula completely repels snakes from your home, garden, and outdoor areas. It utilizes the strongest scents that snakes hate, and it won’t easily wash off during an average rain.
The Good And The Bad
- Long-lasting
- Powerful, natural ingredients
- Won't harm the environment
- Weather-proof in most conditions
- May take several bags to treat a large area
Safer Brand Snake Shield
This granular snake repellent formula works for both venomous and non-venomous snakes. And the best thing is, it’s all-natural. So, it’s safe to use in gardens, on lawns, and home perimeters.
The potent active ingredient in this long-lasting compound repels snakes for up to 90 days. But it won’t harm animals.
Use Safer Brand Snake Shield around yards, flower beds, and fence lines. To apply, simply shake some around to form an eight-inch band. One bag contains enough repellent to cover up to 3,000 square feet.
The Good And The Bad
- All-natural snake repellent
- Safe for yards, gardens, and the environment
- Repels both venomous and non-venomous snakes
- Lasts up to 90 days
- Do not use in wet areas
- May not hold up well in extreme heat