Instructions
Remove Hiding Places
Cut the grass in the yard regularly to avoid it becoming too long. Also, keep flower beds clear of weeds or bushy plants that may offer shade or hiding places for rattlesnakes. If rattlesnakes are common in the area, avoid planting shrubs and have loosely planted beds instead.
Check around the outside of outbuildings and cement walks for gaps that a snake might crawl into. Block off any such gaps in the most suitable manner; this may involve bringing in professionals if gaps are structural. Some possible ways of blocking gaps include backfilling with dirt and using wire mesh.
Avoid having a wood pile during the hotter summer months. If a pile is necessary, keep it away from the house, and keep it on a raised platform about 12 inches off the ground to eliminate shelter.
Remove Food
To remove a potential rattlesnake food source, control rodent populations around the yard and outside of the house in the safest, most appropriate way possible. If poisons can be used without risk to pets and children, then do so. Use snap traps and glue traps to removed dead rodents.
Do not have bird feeders or throw food to attract birds into the yard. Uneaten seeds or bread may attract rodents.
Secure all household waste inside unbroken trash cans with well-fitted lids. Never leave trash bags on the ground as this will also attract rodent activity.
Snakeproof Fencing
Purchase a snakeproof fence. This consists of heavy galvanized hardware cloth, which the rattlesnake cannot crawl through or over.
Dig a small 6-inch-deep trench about a foot outside of the natural fence line. The reason is that the lower part of the snake fencing can be buried below the surface.
Secure the snake fence stakes into the ground per the instructions provided with the fencing. These stakes are usually meant to be completely vertical.
Attach the top of the fence netting to the stakes in the way suggested by the product's manufacturer. This should result in the netting being placed at a downward-facing angle, which snakes cannot climb.
Remove low-lying shrubs or plants near the fence line that are taller than the barrier itself. This removes any chance of snakes climbing the plant and circumventing the snake fence.
How to Deter Rattlesnakes
Of all the animals that people want to keep off their property, rattlesnakes are likely among the most feared. Rattlers pose considerable risk to young children and pets that may approach them despite their warning rattle. It is vital to deter these snakes anywhere they may be found.