When Summer temperatures are on the rise, snakes are looking to cool down and escape the heat. This means they will try to find somewhere cool and damp, which may include the same body of water as you.

To keep you and your family safe this summer as you take a refreshing dip in your local pool or lake, here are a few things you can do to keep snakes away:

Check Water

This is the simplest thing you can do as you swim. Before getting into any bigger body of water, do a check for anything dangerous. Snakes are a major thing to look for, but any foreign object in the pool can be a potential danger.

Do a preliminary check of your surroundings. While most venomous snakes can be seen slightly above the water while swimming, there are certain conditions where the snake may be hidden by waves, murky water, or may be just below the surface.

If you do see a snake in the water, please remember to:

  1. Remain calm.
  2. Slowly move away from the animal.
  3. If in water, exit as calm and fast as possible.

From here, you can wait till the reptile leaves or call your local animal control number for any help with removal.

Clean Up and Store Toys

While rare, there have been cases where families have found rattlesnakes hiding in their pool toys. For instance, in 2022, the Salado Texas Volunteer Fire Department found a large rattle snake in a pool noodle. Due to the dark and wet nature of pool noodles, they make perfect comfortable spaces for snakes to hide.

The best way to avoid this is to put away any water toys that have been recently used, keeping pool toys dry and off the ground.

Keep Snakes Out in the First Place

While you can’t do much about snakes in larger bodies of water like ponds and lakes, pools are much easier to maintain. Keeping your pool clean and performing daily maintenance is the best way to make sure you keep animals out.

You can also buy things like liquid snake repellent from a local hardware store. If you prefer a more natural approach, you can plant things like garlic, cinnamon, and marigolds which have scents that turn snakes away.

Other natural snake repellents you can use are:

  • Onions
  • Ammonia
  • White vinegar
  • Lemongrass
  • Clove and Cinnamon essential oil
  • Powdered sulfur
  • Lime mixture

If all else fails, you can call a local pest control company to professionally apply snake repellant and rid your backyard of any hidden snakes.

There is no reason to let snakes ruin your summer fun. With some precaution and knowledge, you can have the peaceful and relaxing time everyone deserves.