Here we are, the great heat arrives, and finally, we can enjoy a nice siesta in the garden, in the cool shade, while the children play in the open air, the dog wags its tail, and the cat relaxes next to us. But wait, what is that thing crawling right next to our table? A snake!
This could be the beginning of a horror film for the splendid American ones that have snake-infested houses as protagonists. Don’t panic though, because, in this article, you will learn How to get rid of snakes. In some parts of the world, a meeting like this is practical of the third type, that is, very rare. Those who live in the countryside or, in any case, have a garden certainly have a better chance of encountering a snake, but we are very far from the danger of infestation that occurs in some American countries, and even the risks in Italy are all in all limited.
Not All Snakes Come to Harm
Let’s start immediately by saying that in Italy, we are quite lucky because, despite having poisonous species, there are not so many; they are not very widespread, and, for example, in Sardinia, there are completely no poisonous snakes. So, there are snakes in our country. There are 17 species present in our country, but 13 are Colubrids; therefore, absolutely harmless as well as very shy, and four are viperids, a little less friendly and sociable.
However, to think of the bite of a snake in our country as a death sentence is excessive; although the venom of these species of viperids is still a poison, this is not as powerful as that of other species that are lethal in a few moments. To be clear, if an adult in a state of good health is bitten by a viper, it will certainly not be pleasant, but he will run very little risk of losing his life. In reality, it is not even that easy to die from a viper; you have to annoy or scare it, but clearly, finding one in the backyard is not reassuring.
Most frequented by the houses, however, are the snakes and the Orbetini, a sort of limbless lizard. These, as well as the collared snakes, are harmless, and if by chance you catch a glimpse of them in the grass of your garden or the woodpile, do not call the marines because it is not necessary; they are probably more afraid of you than you are of them but if you want to be on a safe side from all reptiles, visit https://everpest.com. So, in this case, you can rest assured, also because these snakes are so shy that you won’t see them very often. One of the most common snakes in our territory, which is part of the colubrid family, is the White Snake, as common as the grass snake.
The rat snake is mostly found in the southern and northwestern regions and is easily recognizable as it is all black. Even in front of this snake, do not panic, it is not poisonous, and if it sees you, it may escape first. In Sardinia, the Viperina natrice is widespread and also harmless, while in Sicily, the Saettone Occhirossi is more widespread; in Puglia and Tuscany, there is the largest snake in Europe: the Cervone. Instead, let’s see which are the snakes from which we must keep away.
How Do I Recognize a Poisonous Snake?
There is little to make fun of; if we see a snake, we keep away from it, period. We are not there to evaluate the length and width of the skull or the shades of the scales. It is a snake, and in our mind, the snake bites and kills us. Well, now let’s try to focus on the fact that not all snakes are lethal; not all snakes are poisonous, so before we get a serious shot, let’s distinguish a potential danger from one that isn’t at all.
The Aspis viper, for example, is small, measuring about 80 cm and has a brown coloration with darker designs, has a small triangular head, and can also be black. It is not easy to confuse it with snakes because it is much smaller. The adder viper is the most widespread snake in Europe and is slightly larger than the common viper. It, too, has a dark brown color with black geometric designs.
The Orsini viper is the shortest of the vipers and has a color that turns more towards a decisive brown than the livery of the other vipers. The horned viper is also unmistakable due to the horn it has on its face. It has a livery with a gray base and dark brown zigzag designs. Here, it is good to stay away from this because, among all the vipers present in Italy, it is the most dangerous.
Finally, there is another venomous snake in Italy, to be precise, in western Liguria: it is the lacertine snake. It has a uniform color that changes from brown to olive. This snake is not dangerous; even if it has venom glands, it is not able to inoculate the venom, if not to small prey during swallowing. In general, all snakes present on our territory are not offensive but use their venom for defense and to hunt.
Who is at Risk If Bitten
So far, we have talked about adults and being in good health, but what if an elderly person or a child is bitten? In this case, things are a bit different because children like the elderly and people with particular allergies can have serious complications due to a snake bite. Likewise, pets such as cats and dogs can also be at risk.
Therefore, prevention is fundamental. Snakes, during the hot season, love to be in the sun and warm, so if you go around the woods and paths, it is always advisable to wear a suitable type of footwear, such as hiking boots or boots. However, if you spot a snake, it is still a good idea not to bother it by trying to drive it away because it will get scared and may bite. It goes without saying that if you spot a snake, you absolutely must not chase it away either with sticks or with anything else. Simply change your way and leave it alone, and it will do the same too
If The Snake Comes to My House
There may also be the case in which we find ourselves, despite ourselves, having to live with snakes. In Italy, to tell the truth, it does not happen very often, fortunately, precisely for the reason they had described earlier, namely that snakes are generally shy animals and do not like the presence of man, so they tend not to be seen around. However, in some rare cases, it may happen to spot some snakes in the garden or the houses in the countryside.
The most obvious and normal reaction is fear, but before starting in fourth gear and physically eliminating the unfortunate, among other things, also running risks for your health, try to rationalize and act with common sense. First, you should try to understand if it is one or more specimens and if they are poisonous. If in doubt, it is best to call animal protection or, in the case of multiple sightings, a pest control company since they are still protected animals.
In this period, one or more snakes may frequent the most reserved areas of our garden, especially in the months between June and September. What should be done then? If you fear for your safety, for that of children, or our animals, we immediately call a professional expert who knows how to behave.
Generally, deterrents or natural repellents are used that do not harm the animal. Often the most effective treatment is based on a natural repellent that has a particularly unpleasant odor to snakes. This is sprayed all over the area to be treated, and in a short time, the snakes change areas. The treatment must be repeated several times as soon as the smell of the product disappears.
How To Prevent a Snake Infestation
Even in the case of snakes, as in that of other pests, the most useful thing to do is to prevent infestation. In this case, it is not difficult because it is enough to simply keep the garden clean and tidy to have a lower chance of a snake becoming attached to our home.
The grass must therefore be cut periodically, avoiding that uncultivated or poorly cared for areas remain. Any cracks in walls and low walls must then be plugged, then piles of wood or stones or any other material that can be interpreted by snakes as a safe shelter must be removed. You can as well visit https://everpest.com/blog to know the stress-free method of exterminating snakes.
Conclusion
Remember that the favorite places for snakes are the areas most exposed to the sun and at the same time sheltered, therefore precisely with tall grass or other types of shelter. Finally, if it is a harmless snake, perhaps you could think of “adopting” it as it has its usefulness: it is an excellent hunter of mice and cockroaches, so it could even come in handy!
