How Do You Control Rattlesnakes in a School Setting?

August 7, 2008

Question:How do you control rattlesnakes in a school setting? (Ayatu O.)

Answer: The following are recommendations from Game Warden Kyle Chang:

1.   Clear all brush and tall grasses in the area in places where snakes might hide and take refuge.

2.   If there are perimeter fences in the area, he recommends using 1/4 inch square wire all along the perimeter fence about 3 feet high flashed to the ground to also prevent rodents from digging under.

3.   Next, hire a pest removal company to check under buildings and behind areas for any snakes that may be hiding.

4.   Keep all food sources and trash that may be attractants to rodents closed/sealed to prevent “snake food” sources from coming around, attracting snakes by scent.

5.   Make students aware if you find you have a potential snake problem in the area.

6.   Make the students aware of what rattlesnakes look like in comparison to other, non-venomous snakes. A good Web site with lots of identification and educational information on snakes can be found at: www.californiaherps.com.

For more information on controlling snakes around your home or school settings, check out this Web site: www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PESTNOTES/pnrattlesnakes.pdf

As someone who lives in rattler country, killed 11 last year alone at my place withing 50 feet of the house, I can tell you there are no efforts that will make a hill of beans difference in reducing the snake population in any given area.  For example; removing weeds and tall grass; I have a bare dirt area with nothing but hard pack.  A few weeds grow and I pull them by hand in the early morning.  One morning I pulled a dandelion.  Under it was a baby rattle snake.  On another day, in the evening, I went to get some fire wood I store on the other side of the open dirt area.  I crossed, no problem, got the wood and returned.  Upon return, I nearly stepped on a BIG rattler that had crawled to the middle of this bare area.  I'm talking a half acre without so much as a blade of green anything on it.  I've found them while working in the yard.  Once I was picking up dog dirt on the grass and thought a pile was poop.  It was a rattler.  Another time, sitting on the front porch rocking in chairs with the wife.  I looked down and one was crawling behind her rocker.  On another occasion, one was curled up in the dog's food dish.  One minute nothing, then the next minute, a snake has appeared.  I've killed 3 in my garage and never step out without looking first!! 

I've got 2 cats that both kill snakes and bring them to me in the garage.  Ha!  It's amazing to watch them work a rattler, avoiding get bitten and kill 'em. 

I'm encountering the same issue with black widows right now.  They are getting worse than ever this year.  Found one last night setting up web in the backseat of my truck.  WTF?!?!?!?!