How to prevent a Garter Snake Bite
The Common Garter Snake is the most abundant snake in Canada. There are three subspecies of the Common Garter Snake are found in British Columbia. If captured, the snake will try to escape by releasing a smelly mix of musk and feces or flatten their heads and strike aggressively. Common Garter Snakes spend the winter underground in dens. They may have to travel a few kilometers to reach a good den site. Adult snakes eat slugs, frogs, toads, salamanders, tadpoles, insects, birds, fish, and other reptiles.
To keep your house snake free:
- Snakes love crawling into hidey spots such as roofs, underneath houses, garages etc. Make sure to keep doors closed and install screens on doors and windows. Block any holes in the ceiling and roof which might accommodate snakes.
- Keep a well maintained garden and shed. Keep the lawn low in height and garden beds away from the exterior of the house. Ensure that wood piles are neatly stacked to prevent snakes and rodents from sheltering. Discard lawn clipping and mulch rather than keeping it in a pile, as the piles provide warmth and security for snakes.
- Placing rodent bait around your house and garden will get rid of mice and rats — and therefore reduce the likelihood of snakes.
- Ensure that all food scraps are disposed of properly in covered bins. Food scraps encourage rats and mice, and the snakes will follow.
- Consider the type of shrubbery and trees you have growing in your garden. Low shrubs and leafy bushes will provide the perfect habitat for sheltering snakes. By growing tall trees and keeping leaf litter to a minimum, you’ll have less garden maintenance to do.
- http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/deltabc-1.983313/blog-how-to-prevent-a-garter-snake-bite-1.2098599
