Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am researching any plant or other natural scents that will detour snakes. I run a no kill snake removal business here in Los Angeles California, and would like to offer something new to my customers that would help them feel safe in their yard.

For years I have read and herd from people that Chrysanthemums, Marigolds, and Clover Oil work well at keeping snakes away. Given the growth of my business I am now in a position to experiment with these plants and see if they really work? In the mean time, I am also looking for other scents to use.

This product needs to be a 100% natural non-earth hating chemical. I don’t want to be responsible for the poisoning of pets or children. California has some extremely tough environmental laws (which I am grateful for), so what ever product is come up with, would have to be approved by the EPA before I marketed it.

Any thoughts to natural scents to experiment with would be much appreciated.
Thanks:
Jason Mc

Kingsnake scent might deter some rattlers - some books say that just the smell of a kingsnake will cause many other snakes to retreat.

Otherwise, there are some commercial products out there - don't know how effective they are. Maybe do a google search for snake repellent...

Good Luck with your business!

John D

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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"

Hey thanks for the response!
I thought about recreating the scent of a kingsnake. The only thing that worried me about that was the possibility of the scent attracting other kingsnakes to the area.
It might be worth trying anyway.
Thanks again:
Jason Mc

I assume you have your fishing license.

Of Course!
I actually called fish and game here in California, and looked into getting the lifetime member license. Its a one time fee of $630.00. That covers fresh and salt. With the prices going up each year, and a fishing license is something that we will need forever. It makes sense just to get the lifetime membership.

Good Looking out though.
Jason Mc

This product needs to be a 100% natural non-earth hating chemical. I don’t want to be responsible for the poisoning of pets or children. California has some extremely tough environmental laws (which I am grateful for), so what ever product is come up with, would have to be approved by the EPA before I marketed it.

I think someone has already beaten you to the punch! It's called wire-mesh and a clean yard! Now, granted, it would hurt your business, but since you're more concerned with protecting people from kingsnakes than educating them, then I think you should market some L.A. County tap-water. It would give your customers a feeling of well-being when you spray it around their yard, and you'll know that any form of the substance you spray is fit for human consumption!
It's a win-win!

Shane
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Lifelist

I think someone has already beaten you to the punch! It's called wire-mesh and a clean yard! Now, granted, it would hurt your business, but since you're more concerned with protecting people from kingsnakes than educating them, then I think you should market some L.A. County tap-water. It would give your customers a feeling of well-being when you spray it around their yard, and you'll know that any form of the substance you spray is fit for human consumption!
It's a win-win!

Shane

Talking education about king snakes with my customers! Thanks a pretty cheap shot. These people know plenty about the snakes in their area. Many of the yards I do go into have cleaned yards with cut bushes.

My fear with creating a king snake scent is that since the scent would be so concentrated, their would be an over abundance of kings being pulled to that one area with the hopes of breeding. This stressing the balance of things.

Fencing off yards with wire mesh, and brush clearance is something we already do. Many people don’t want to spend the money to have the wire correctly installed. A spray would allow them to feel like they are saving money, while in the long run it would end up costing more.

As far as giving my customers LA County tap water, I don’t think many people still drink it? Our drinking water is already reclaimed; so many people avoid it whenever possible.

Thanks for your unhelpful response to my post!

Jason Mc