What Does Salt Do To Snakes?

Do you have a problem with snakes around your house?

Are you worried about snakes coming across something harmful?

One old wives tale about keeping snakes away from a campsite or a home involves creating a ring of salt.

Hearing about this “trick” might make you ask:

What does salt do to snakes?

While this was a commonly used method of keeping snakes away, salt does not repel or deter snakes, and it has no effect on them. This myth has long ago been debunked, and snakes do not fear salt the way people once thought.

Continue reading to learn even more about snakes and what salt does to them.

What Does Salt Do To Snakes?

A common household myth to keeping snakes out of your home, people spread salt around the house or any area where someone wanted to keep out snakes.

This trick is not effective as snakes are not affected by salt.

Likely the myth evolved from the ability of salt to ward off slugs and snails.

Many people mistake snakes to be slimy, but in reality, they are dry and cool when someone touches them.

On the other hand, slugs and snails are slimy, and when they come across the salt, the crystals bind to the moisture and do great harm, killing them very quickly. 

What If A Snake Comes Into Your Home?

Maybe you are a fan of snakes, or you respect their right to be in the world but don’t want to come into contact with them.

This doesn’t mean you want them crawling into your home or garage. 

The very first thing to remember is not to panic or make any sudden movements. 

This will not help you or the animal. 

Next, identify what kind of snake has come into your home. 

Find out if the snake is poisonous or not before making any attempts to trap or remove it.

A snake slithering across your path inside does happen, but some signs are more subtle.

There are a few signs to look for to know if you have a snake in your home. 

You might notice snake skins from a recent shed or tracks in dust or dirt the snake makes as it travels around.

Other signs include snake droppings or strange smells in an enclosed area.

There are traps available if you are ambitious and want to catch the snake yourself or use everyday household items like a garbage can.

Only do this if you are sure it is safe for you.

It isn’t always easy for you to trap the snake before it slithers off to a hiding place.

In these cases, it may help to set a trap to catch the snake and release it in a better spot. 

At the sign of a snake, another option is to call a pest control specialist to assist with removal.

There are very few venomous snakes naturally found in North America, but they do exist.

If you are afraid you have a venomous snake in your yard or home, contact your local animal control for assistance in trapping and removing the animal. 

You don’t have to kill the snake to remove it from your home. 

Remember seeing a snake outside is ok, as it is a sign of a good environment.

They are an essential part of the ecosystem and not a threat.

Keeping Snakes Away From Your Home

Are snakes coming into your home?

If you don’t want to harm them but don’t want them as your roommate, there are a few things to do to keep them from coming inside.

Seal up entry points on the exterior of your home.

This means checking for gaps around doors, windows, any vents, drains, or crawl spaces.

Next, work on removing their food sources by setting traps and eliminating mice and rats around your home.

Pet or other animal food should be stored securely, if you keep it outside.

If it isn’t, this food will attract those household pests snakes love to eat. 

Without a steady source of food, the snakes will not be hovering around your home as frequently.

Another great way to reduce the chances of a snake entering your home is to pick up around your yard.

This means eliminating places the snake is likely to make their home or find shelter. 

Keep shrubs properly trimmed and mow the grass, so it is not as tall.

Don’t keep compost heaps, leaf piles, or other yard debris right next to your home.

And keep firewood piles and garbage or recycling bins at a distance to reduce other places for the snake to hide.

Removing water features or birdbaths from near your home is another way to greatly reduce a snake’s chances of being too close for comfort.

Water attracts the rodents and insects the snake feasts on, and as we discussed before, a well-sourced buffet is impossible for the snake to pass up.

While we won’t say you won’t ever have a snake come into your home, these tips will reduce the chances. 

Advantages To Having Snakes Around Your Home

While snakes come with a bad reputation, dating back to biblical times, they aren’t all bad.

Having these animals around your home may even be an advantage.

The main advantage stems from their diet.

Snakes eat mice, insects, and many other animals deemed pests.

They are vital in keeping populations of mice and rats in control and come in handy to have around if you have pests like this entering your home or garage.

Conclusion

If you had heard of the old wive’s tale about snakes and salt, you probably had a lot of questions.

Salt does not affect snakes and will do nothing to keep wild snakes from coming indoors.

There are effective ways to reduce the chances of a snake coming inside, but you also need to recognize, snakes have a place in the food chain and keep other household pests in check.