[thevillager1988]

We have this black snake on our property. It's made a home in the rocks outside our birdcage, and the hole is eroding and getting larger. We want to evict it, but of course not kill it. Any advice on how we can get it to leave it's dwelling so we can fill the hole?

Many thanks!

[MarshBendLover]

Quiet and non-venomous, but:

Close off home when he is away
Scoop with a shovel and toss into a carry item
Pour a dap of ammonia around the area or other strong smells like cinnamon, black pepper, et cetera
Pour anything down his hole after he is out like ammonia or gasoline
The old Snake-Away
Lime can work
Snakes don't like to be irritated, so irritate it. He will leave.
Ask neighbor to come handle while you sit inside and don't ask questions.

[Teed_Off]

Any chemicals that you might use will leach into the groundwater so don’t use gasoline. Short term solution is to catch and release elsewhere. There are probably eggs too.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Snakes don't like cold weather. They will find a hiding spot to sleep in. It looks like yours has found a good one. Next time you see it away from the burrow, SLOWLY lower a small weight (like a washer) attached to a string, to see how deep it is. If it's not too deep you could just fill the hole back up, and your snake will find a different hiding place. If it's deep, it might be a nest and you'd be killing some of the most awesome "natural garden pets" in Florida. If that's the case, wait til spring, and see if the babies come out. If they don't you can just fill in the hole when dad (or mama) is out for the day. If they do, well - they're not in there anymore, so you can fill in the hole.

Black snakes are excellent. But yeah you won't want them burrowing under the foundation of your lanai.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by thevillager1988

Attachment 106949

We have this black snake on our property. It's made a home in the rocks outside our birdcage, and the hole is eroding and getting larger. We want to evict it, but of course not kill it. Any advice on how we can get it to leave it's dwelling so we can fill the hole?

Many thanks!

IMO Black racer Trying to get out of cold, that looks like back yard drain? The drain air warmer than air above it. I would just leave it alone he will move on, or go out with leather glove on wrestle it out hole and put him in bag haul him off to woodlands. But, you will have more insect, lizard, small rodent protection cause that’s what he eaten around your property. I have one that makes his rounds about every 2 or 3 weeks when weather warm. When I see him I shoo him away. IMO they are in hibernation mode and too early for nesting.

[Blueblaze]

You lucky devil! I just spent a week evicting a mouse that found his way into my pantry. Sure wish I had a snake in my yard, like the (almost) pet Rat Snake that kept my chicken coop rat-free, back in Texas!

I assure you, a black snake didn't make that hole. If he's actually living there, it's because he ate the mouse or RAT that made that hole. You should reward him be leaving him alone, to keep actual pests away!

A beautiful, non-venomous, black snake would make a better neighbor than most of the humans I've lived next to over the years!

[CarlR33]

I cannot tell from the picture but that is a common yard drain and are you saying there is an additional hole next to it? I have the same drain on the back of my property line and I think it belongs to the Villages as part of their drainage?

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

You lucky devil! I just spent a week evicting a mouse that found his way into my pantry. Sure wish I had a snake in my yard, like the (almost) pet Rat Snake that kept my chicken coop rat-free, back in Texas!

I assure you, a black snake didn't make that hole. If he's actually living there, it's because he ate the mouse or RAT that made that hole. You should reward him be leaving him alone, to keep actual pests away!

A beautiful, non-venomous, black snake would make a better neighbor than most of the humans I've lived next to over the years!

Agree 100%!

[thevillager1988]

I took the pic of the snake outside the hole sunning himself. I found him while weeding. It wasn't happy to see me, but didn't make any moves. The hole is a few feet from where the pic is taken and it's good sized and goes under our pool foundation.

All the feedback is super helpful. We definitely don't want to kill it and also don't want it living under the pool. There are better places for it and plenty of space in the area for it to live and nest. Doing some research now on nesting season and putting up a camera so we can track when it exits the hole. Great advice ... thanks!!!

[Bay Kid]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

You lucky devil! I just spent a week evicting a mouse that found his way into my pantry. Sure wish I had a snake in my yard, like the (almost) pet Rat Snake that kept my chicken coop rat-free, back in Texas!

I assure you, a black snake didn't make that hole. If he's actually living there, it's because he ate the mouse or RAT that made that hole. You should reward him be leaving him alone, to keep actual pests away!

A beautiful, non-venomous, black snake would make a better neighbor than most of the humans I've lived next to over the years!

They were honored around Grandma's chicken yard. As kids we would play with them until Grandma caught up with us. Better mouser than the barnyard cats.

[vintageogauge]

Leave it there, it will rid your lanai area of anoles and other rodents. We had one every spring and had zero anoles but as soon as it left for better feeding the anoles came back. It won't bother you.

[DonH57]

It's a black racer. Leave it be. It will find it's place to find warmth without bothering you.

[JoeVentnor]

It is a harmless black racer.
They may look scary but that is it.

We have this black snake on our property. It's made a home in the rocks outside our birdcage, and the hole is eroding and getting larger. We want to evict it, but of course not kill it. Any advice on how we can get it to leave it's dwelling so we can fill the hole?

Many thanks![/QUOTE]

[Sherkugawa]

If you have a snake you have mice or rats. Do you feed birds? That can draw mice and then the snake. Unless the hole is dangerous or causing structural problems I would leave the snake alone.

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

Quiet and non-venomous, but:

Close off home when he is away
Scoop with a shovel and toss into a carry item
Pour a dap of ammonia around the area or other strong smells like cinnamon, black pepper, et cetera
Pour anything down his hole after he is out like ammonia or gasoline
The old Snake-Away
Lime can work
Snakes don't like to be irritated, so irritate it. He will leave.
Ask neighbor to come handle while you sit inside and don't ask questions.

[mcloud]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

Quiet and non-venomous, but:

Close off home when he is away
Scoop with a shovel and toss into a carry item
Pour a dap of ammonia around the area or other strong smells like cinnamon, black pepper, et cetera
Pour anything down his hole after he is out like ammonia or gasoline
The old Snake-Away
Lime can work
Snakes don't like to be irritated, so irritate it. He will leave.
Ask neighbor to come handle while you sit inside and don't ask questions.

Really a black snake and you wanna get rid of it, You know that keeps all rodents away will never bite or harm you leave it alone. It will keep your house free of any mice geckos or any other creepy quality things.