Do Mothballs Keep Snakes Away?

Snakes are typically elusive, cautious creatures that prefer to avoid contact with humans, only attacking when they feel threatened, for the most part. They can be somewhat useful to have around due to their carnivorous nature and preference for feeding on grubs, insects, mice, rats, slugs, and even other snakes. They can also serve as food sources for other creatures, such as hawks.

Although most snakes in North America are harmless, there are a few venomous species that may harm humans and pets. Their reputation as sinister, venomous reptiles doesn’t help either, and unsurprisingly, many home and property owners prefer to keep them well away from their vicinity, hence the interest in remedies for keeping them at bay. One of these remedies happens to be mothballs. But, do mothballs keep snakes away? Let’s find out!

What Exactly Are Mothballs?

Mothballs, as their name implies, are small balls made of chemical insecticide used to store and preserve clothes and other valuables prone to mold or moth larvae damage. They have become used for various purposes other than the original reasons for which they were manufactured.

Do Mothballs Keep Snakes Away?

Despite being touted as a remedy to keep snakes away from your home, the truth is, mothballs do not keep snakes away. They are not only ineffective in repelling them but may also be unlawful to use outside, which puts paid to the idea of buying a few mothballs for snakes.

The EPA also regulates their use. Therefore, using mothballs for any purpose other than their original intended use is not only unlawful but risky, especially if they come into contact with your children or pets due to the pesticide that they contain.

Why Do People Believe Mothballs Deter Snakes?

Many people have never actually had first-hand experience of using mothballs to ward off snakes. Hence, their belief in its ability in this regard may mostly be due to hearsay. The ability of these hard, white balls to do so is merely something of an old fable. However, mothballs do not deter snakes. This is because these reptiles smell with their tongues and are therefore unlikely to be repelled by any strong-smelling substances.

The use of moth balls for snakes became popular due to the belief that their ability to repel moths would also make them effective in repelling reptiles.

The Risks Of Mothballs

One of the greatest risks of using moth balls for snakes is the likelihood of their being swallowed by little children or animals. These hard white ovals or spheres may also release toxic fumes in your home, which may be harmful to both human and animal residents.

On the market, there are two kinds of mothballs. They appear to be the same, but some are manufactured using naphthalene and others with paradichlorobenzene. When exposed to air, both compounds decompose and emit a distinct mothball odor. The more hazardous of the two compounds is naphthalene. Mothball emissions can induce dizziness, headaches, and irritation to the eyes and lungs. When consumed, naphthalene can induce hemolytic anemia, a condition in which the process of oxygen transfer to all body regions is hindered due to a breakdown of red blood cells. The resulting symptoms may include shortness of breath, exhaustion, and painful urination.

Snakes and Humans: What Works?

Having answered the question “do mothballs keep snakes away?”, it’s time to examine remedies that are especially effective in this regard. While many people dislike snakes and wish to kill them on sight, others love them and even wish to keep them. Nevertheless, keeping snakes away from homes might be challenging, especially if you live in areas prone to these reptiles. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do.

1. Snake Plant

A yard full of snake plants could be helpful because a snake’s senses are repulsed by the sharp leaves thereof. It is a succulent plant with pointy leaves. Unlike garlic and lemongrass, it has no odor and is easy to cultivate. 

2. Lemongrass (West Indian)

Lemongrass is an excellent plant to grow because it repels snakes, ticks, and mosquitoes. It is also beautiful. The lemongrass plant works well as a natural snake deterrent when grown in a yard.

3. Garlic Spray/Onions

Onions and garlic are considered one of the most potent snake repellents due to a chemical in them (sulfonic acid). A mixture of these can help you repel snakes.

What Are Some Other Ways to Keep Snakes Away?

While snakes in the wild serve a valuable purpose by keeping down rodent populations, some people are just unable to see the good in these slithering serpents. You especially would not want one slipping into your home unannounced. So what are some other ways to keep snakes outside where they belong?

Below are 10 simple steps you can take to help keep the snake population down in and around your home:

1. Sealing Up Cracks: You’ll need to search the perimeter of your home for access points, warm or damp crawl spaces, or holes in your home’s foundation or near ground level. Storm drains are also attractive to snakes. Sealing these entry points appropriately is a start to keeping snakes out.
2. Removing Potential Food Sources: You may not have realized that bird feeders are potential problems, as they not only attract birds but also rodents and insects, both of which attract snakes. Outdoor pet food can have the same effect. If possible, feed your pets indoors and keep any outdoor seeds or other foods in sealed containers.
3. Removing Standing Water: Standing water can attract frogs, lizards, small mammals, and snakes. Try to reduce standing water as much as possible, even if it means watering your lawn less.
4. Trapping the Snake: If there are just a few pesky snakes troubling you, you can purchase professionally-made snake traps at your local hardware store and try to snag them. Rather than killing them, consider transporting the snakes about six miles away and freeing them in the wild.
5. Building Strong Fences: There are special types of fences that can keep snakes out, usually made of vinyl or tight wire mesh. Consulting your local hardware store for advice can help with this strategy.
6. Employing Proper Landscaping and Maintenance: Snakes are drawn to areas of overgrown vegetation, loose debris, wood piles, or other areas where they can hide. Keeping your yard maintained regularly can help cut down on places for snakes to hang out.
7. Bringing in Domesticated Fowl: This may be an extreme solution, but domestic fowl like chickens are capable of managing snake populations, especially roosters, who protect hens and chicks from danger.
8. Luring Birds of Prey: Growing tall trees with strong branches can be a way to attract birds of prey like owls, who like to prey on snakes. Another idea would be to build a nesting box to make them feel at home.
9. Calling Wildlife Control: When all else fails, there’s always the option of calling a professional to come remove an unwanted snake from your property. Exterminators are also valuable, as they can help rid your house of rodents, which attract snakes.
10. Removing Debris and Keeping Woodpiles Off the Ground: This one is similar to #6, but focuses on woodpiles, which should not be left sitting on the ground if you want to keep snakes away. Elevating them will help deter snakes, as well as remove empty containers and piles of debris where snakes may gather.