Move children and pets away, back off, and give the snake a clear route to leave. Don’t touch, chase, corner, capture, or kill it. If it remains somewhere people or pets could encounter it, contact the wildlife authority or qualified handler for your area. If anyone is bitten, seek medical attention immediately.
What to do during the encounter
- Stay calm and create distance. Slowly walk around the snake rather than approaching it. Don’t get closer for a photo or attempt to identify it at close range. The CDC advises: “If you see a snake, keep your pets away from it, and slowly walk around it.” CDC guidance on wildlife and pets.
- Move children and pets away. Bring them indoors or to a place well clear of the snake, and supervise them. Don’t let a pet investigate or try to scare the snake off.
- Leave an escape route. If the snake is outdoors and can leave without passing close to people, give it space and let it move away. Don’t block its path or surround it.
- Call local help if needed. If it is indoors, remains in a risky spot, or cannot leave safely, keep clear and contact the appropriate local wildlife authority or a qualified handler. Follow local guidance on whether removal is appropriate.
Why you shouldn’t handle or identify it yourself
Don’t try to pick up, catch, kill, or relocate the snake. An attempt to handle or corner it brings you closer and may provoke a defensive response. Appearance alone is not a reliable way for most people to distinguish venomous snakes from look-alikes; species and identification cues vary by region. If identification affects what to do next, ask a local wildlife authority or qualified professional, observing only from a safe distance. Queensland Government guidance also cautions about identification and suggests region-specific snake or reptile guides; a guide is not a reason to approach the animal. Queensland Government snake FAQs.
Who to contact depends on where you live
Removal services, handler licensing, wildlife protections, and relocation rules differ by jurisdiction. Contact your local wildlife agency, animal service, or government authority for the correct advice rather than relying on a generic number or assuming a private remover is authorized.
- Singapore: The Animal and Veterinary Service publishes a local response number, 1800-476-1600, for snake encounters. Use it only in Singapore. Singapore AVS: Snakes in Singapore.
- South Australia: The Department for Environment and Water directs residents to licensed snake catchers when removal is needed. South Australia Department for Environment and Water: Snakes.
- New South Wales: Environment and Heritage provides a directory of reptile handlers. Check its guidance and directory for the appropriate local option. NSW Environment and Heritage: Snakes.
If someone is bitten
Seek medical attention immediately. Don’t delay care to photograph, catch, or identify the snake. Keep other people and pets away from it, and follow emergency-service or local medical instructions. Bite response can vary by location, so use local emergency guidance rather than assuming advice from another country applies. The CDC and Singapore AVS both advise urgent medical care after a snakebite. CDC guidance; Singapore AVS guidance.
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL PROTECTION: This 10 lb snake repellent for yard provides comprehensive pest control coverage up to 1.25 acres, effectively deterring both venomous and non-venomous snakes from your outdoor patio and backyard areas
- LONG-LASTING FORMULA: Snake away granules deliver up to 2-3 months of continuous snake deterrent protection per application, making this pest repellent solution ideal for ongoing lawn care and backyard essentials maintenance
- EPA-REGISTERED SAFETY: Victor's snake repellent outdoor formula is the only EPA-registered snake away repellent for outdoors
- DUAL-ACTION INGREDIENTS: The active ingredients disrupt snakes' scent detection, creating an effective rattlesnake repellent barrier that sends pests away in search of fresh air
- EASY APPLICATION: Simply spread these snake be gone granules in 4-5 inch bands around your yard perimeter to repel garter snakes, or use 8-12 inch bands for enhanced protection against larger snake species
Make the garden less inviting
Some local authorities recommend reducing places where snakes can shelter and limiting food sources that attract prey. ACT Government suggestions include maintaining the garden, removing piles of debris, keeping pet food and water bowls away from wildlife, and managing compost that may attract rodents. These measures can reduce attractants and hiding places; they cannot guarantee a snake-proof yard. The ACT says snakes are more active from October to March in that territory only, so those months should not be applied to other regions. ACT Government: Snakes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PEOPLE, PET & PLANT SAFE: This snake away product has a pet-safe formula that is also safe for use around people and plants when used as directed (not intended for use on or around plants intended for consumption)
- SNAKE PREVENTION: Ortho Snake B Gon1 Snake Repellent Granules prevent snake entry, nesting, and foraging outdoors with an easy application, "no stink" formula
- SNAKE DETERRENT FOR OUTSIDE: Use this repellent outdoors where snake activity has been noticed, such as around houses, garages, sheds, barns, woodpiles, and patios
- HOW TO USE: Apply by simply shaking bottle side to side and dispensing granules on the ground; reapply as needed, usually every 30 days
- SNAKE REPELLENT COVERAGE: One 2 lb. bottle of Ortho Snake B Gon1 Snake Repellent Granules covers up to 1,440 sq. ft.
Rank #4
- EFFECTIVE SNAKE REPELLENT: Snake repellent outdoor granules target both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes in your yard and outdoor areas, disrupting their sensory reception to encourage them to leave
- LONG-LASTING YARD PROTECTION: Each 28 lb container provides up to 3 months of continuous snake deterrent coverage for your backyard, patio, and outdoor spaces when applied as directed
- EPA-REGISTERED: Use this product with peace of mind knowing that Snake-A-Way repellent is EPA-registered, ensuring its safe for use around people and pets when used as instructed to help provide consistent outdoor pest control
- WIDE COVERAGE AREA: Protects up to 3.5 acres of outdoor patio and yard space by creating effective barrier bands around houses, sheds, gardens, and other areas where protection is needed
- WORKS QUICKLY: These snake repellent granules begin working immediately upon application, repelling both garter snakes, rattlesnakes and other species by disrupting their Jacobson's organ function (auxiliary olfactory sense organ) altering sensory reception
Rank #3
- EFFECTIVE SNAKE REPELLENT: Victor Snake-A-Way granules provide reliable snake repellent for yard protection, targeting both venomous and non-venomous species that disrupts snakes' scent detection
- COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE: Protect up to 1/2 acres with the 4 lb container of snake repellent outdoor granules, making it ideal for home and garden pest control around houses, sheds, gardens, and other backyard areas you want to safeguard
- IMMEDIATE OUTDOOR PEST CONTROL: Snake away repellent for outdoors works immediately upon application, creating protective barriers that repel rattlesnakes, garter snakes, and other unwanted species from your property
- LONG-LASTING: Provide up to 3 months of continuous snake repellent protection with only a single application, with granules maintaining effectiveness until reapplication is needed after heavy rainfall or when odor fades
- SAFE APPLICATION: Pest repellent granules are safe for use around people and pets when used as directed, offering reliable snake protection without compromising family or animal safety in your backyard
Rank #2
- PEOPLE, PET & PLANT SAFE: This snake away product has a pet-safe formula that is also safe for use around people and plants when used as directed (not intended for use on or around plants intended for consumption)
- SNAKE PREVENTION: Ortho Snake B Gon1 Snake Repellent Granules prevent snake entry, nesting, and foraging outdoors with an easy application, "no stink" formula
- SNAKE DETERRENT FOR OUTSIDE: Use this repellent outdoors where snake activity has been noticed, such as around houses, garages, sheds, barns, woodpiles, and patios
- HOW TO USE: Apply by simply shaking bottle side to side and dispensing granules on the ground; reapply as needed, usually every 30 days
- SNAKE REPELLENT COVERAGE: This bundle contains two 2 lb. bottles of Ortho Snake B Gon1 Snake Repellent Granules; each 2 lb. bottle covers up to 1,440 sq. ft.
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