Snakes in woodpiles.

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I live in Wisconsin and heat with wood. When re-stacking this woodpile this summer, a large snake was found in it. I wasn't doing the work, had a nearby farm boy doing the work. He took the darn thing a mile or so away, hoping it will not return. Any answers here on eliminating woodpiles of snakes? Please help!!

-- C. Overgaard (coverga@bminet.com), July 16, 2000

Answers

You've made the perfect home to attract snakes ~ a woodpile. Scorpions love them too. There are some snake repellents that can be put out, but I've never tried them. I've just used my foot first to kick a piece of wood or rock or whatever I'm after, instead of reaching with my hands. And the pistol is ready if need be. Peafowl are good at getting snakes. I hear Guinea are also. I know people who say their cats kill snakes.

Here's a company that sells the snake repellent:

http://www.bugsaway.com/

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 17, 2000.


its eating your mice that are in the woodpile, let em be

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), July 17, 2000.

Stan is right. The snakes will keep the mice at bay. And by the time you will be burning that wood, the snakes will be long gone and hibernating. I don't know if you have any poisonous snakes in Wisconsin to worry about.

-- Kate Henderson (sheeplady@catskill.net), July 17, 2000.

Isn't a complete cure-all, but getting the wood off the ground on racks will help, as will putting the pile more out in the open and keeping the area around and under it well mowed. Traffic around the wood pile will help, somewhat. They are eating rodents and insects, but I just don't care to have them doing it in MY areas. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 17, 2000.

I agree with the concensus to "let them be, they control rodents". However, if you want rid of them, two approaches that work are 1) set a running chainsaw on the pile once or twice a day (the vibrations send them on their way ) and 2) scatter moth balls under and in the pile (the smell will repel the snakes and of course the naptha balls will also keep insects down around the pile. The only disadvantage to the mothballs is if its real close to your house you may smell them too.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 21, 2000.


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