Snakes Are Back—And Your Yard Might Smell Like an Invitation

7 signs there are snakes in your yard — what to look out for

Warm weather brings slithery surprises, but a few scent-smart changes can make your home far less appealing

Snakes Are Back

The weather is warming up, and snakes are officially clocking back in for the season.

And not in a quiet, “oh look, nature” kind of way—more like the kind of spring and summer where a Virginia woman found a snake in her margarita, a Maryland woman ran into one on the beach, and thousands of people in North Carolina lost power after snakes got into substation equipment.

Yep. Snake season is seasoning.

But while those headline moments are wild, most of us are more likely to deal with snakes the old-fashioned way: spotting one in the backyard, near the garden, by the shed, or curled up where it really doesn’t belong.

And here’s the part that surprises people: snakes don’t just wander randomly. They follow clues—especially scent clues.

“Snakes primarily ‘smell’ their environment through a process called chemoreception,” explains A.H. David, a snake expert and founder of Pest Control Weekly. Instead of smelling with a nose, they use the Jacobson’s Organ, or the vomeronasal organ. “This is connected to their mouth, and when they flick their tongue out, they collect particles from the air which are then processed through this organ,” David notes. They can then find chemical cues or “smells” in their environment.

So if your yard smells like food, water, or snake romance… congratulations. You may be running a five-star snake resort.

The #1 scent that attracts snakes: their prey

Snakes are not sniffing out humans like a movie monster. They’re sniffing out the things they eat. And most of the time, that means small animals.

“Snakes follow the scent of their prey, and since most snakes are ‘ambush’ predators, they set up in these areas that have scent left behind from their prey,” explains Jamie Nichols, senior service center manager at Arrow Exterminators.

That means if your yard is full of birds, rodents, frogs, or fish, snakes may not be far behind.

Bird smells, nests, and droppings can be a snake magnet.t

This one feels unfair, because birds are lovely and peaceful and basically the opposite of snakes.

But some snakes (like rat snakes) love bird eggs.

For example, David says rat snakes feed on bird eggs, so “the scent of birds, their droppings, or their nests could potentially attract these species.”

And it’s not just the scent. It’s the setup.

Bird baths can attract snakes because they need water to cool off and hydrate. Bird feeders can indirectly attract snakes because spilled seed attracts rodents, which attract snakes.

It’s like a chain reaction you never asked for.

Rodent scents are basically a dinner bell.

If you’ve got rats or mice anywhere near your property, you’re not just dealing with rodents—you’re potentially advertising a buffet to snakes.

Speaking of rodents, the scent of rats, mice, or hamsters “can attract many species of snakes, particularly larger species such as pythons, boa constrictors, and many kinds of rat snakes,” says David.

Even worse? You might not even see the rodents.

Even if the rodent isn’t currently present, the lingering smell of their droppings or urine can attract snakes.

One of the simplest ways to reduce this is also one of the least glamorous: keep trash sealed, don’t leave food scraps out, and make sure bins aren’t overflowing.

Frogs, toads, and fish can attract snakes, too.

If you have a pond, a water feature, or even a yard that stays damp, you may also be hosting snake snacks.

“For water-dwelling or semi-aquatic snakes such as water snakes or certain kinds of garter snakes, the smell of amphibians like frogs or toads, as well as fish, can be attractive,” says David.

And since snakes are also attracted to water in general, it becomes a double win for them: hydration and a meal.

If you do have a pond, experts suggest applying repellent around the perimeter to discourage snakes from moving in.

Snakes can even be drawn in by… other sna. kes

5 Mistakes That Are Attracting Snakes to Your Yard

This is the part nobody wants to think about, but it matters.

“Snakes can sense pheromones, which are special chemicals released by animals of the same species,” says David.

Even though they don’t eat other snakes in this scenario, pheromones can signal mating opportunities—meaning if one snake is around, more could follow, especially in mating season.

So if you’ve seen one, it’s smart to take it seriously—not panic, but pay attention.

In my opinion, the smartest way to handle snake season isn’t fear—it’s prevention. Snakes aren’t “out to get us,” but they are out to eat, cool off, and survive, and our yards can accidentally provide everything they need. If we cut off the smells and setups that attract their prey, we’re not just making our property safer—we’re also avoiding those once-in-a-lifetime horror stories… like finding one in a margarita.

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