Seeing or hearing a rattlesnake near your house is the stuff of nightmares. Their bites are dangerous, and you’re right to want to find a way to get rid of them.

To get rid of rattlesnakes, first, respect their dangers by staying at least ten feet away. Next, seal any holes in your home and outbuildings where rattlesnakes could enter. Then, work on eliminating their food sources and habitats from your property. Finally, if a rattlesnake won’t leave your yard, get help from wildlife removal professionals who can humanely trap and rehome the animal.

Rattlesnakes are no fun to deal with. Luckily, with the tips in this article and patience, you can get rid of them.

You might also be interested in reading these two related articles “How To Get Rid of Possums Quickly And Permanently” and “How To Stop Pigeons/Birds From Nesting On Your House“.

Words Of Caution

Rattlesnakes are extremely dangerous. A rattlesnake bite could be deadly and requires urgent medical care.

It’s best to leave it to trained professionals to remove rattlesnakes from your property. They have the skills and equipment to do the job safely.

Fortunately, rattlesnakes prefer to slither away from humans rather than attack. If you keep 10 feet between yourself and a rattlesnake they can’t hurt you.

Should I Kill A Rattlesnake In My Yard?

While rattlesnakes are scary, you should find a humane solution to get rid of them. Overall, they play a critical and beneficial role in controlling other pests like rats and mice.

Only hire an animal control professional who will humanely remove and rehome rattlesnakes from your house or yard. In fact, some rattlesnake species are endangered, and it would be a shame if they went extinct. 

How To Identify A Rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes are native to every state in the continental US. According to El Dorado County, California, 15 species of rattlesnake inhabit the USA.

The flat, triangular-shaped head of a rattlesnake is one of the best ways to differentiate them from other snakes. Their heads are about twice the width of their body, giving them a distinctive appearance. Other physical attributes to look out for are:

• Up to eight feet long
• Thick body
• Scaly skin with diamond patterns
• Earth toned, highly camoflauged
• Forked tongue
• Ribbed tail

Famously, rattlesnakes make a rattling noise with their tail when they feel threatened. Some say it sounds like a hissing sound, or I have heard a rattlesnake that sounded like the boing noise of a cartoon spring.

Signs Of Rattlesnakes Around Your House

If you see one snake, it might have just been passing through. But, if you notice certain signs, they might be making a home there.

Signs of rattlesnakes living around your house include:

• Snakeskin sheddings – as rattlesnakes grow, they shed their skin. They appear translucent white with impressions left by the scales and rattle.
• Rattlesnake trails – in bare earth, a rattlesnake creates a distinctive straight track. Rattlesnakes only leave a curvy, S-shaped trail, like other snakes, if they’re in a hurry.
• Musky odor – rattlesnakes have a strong, musk scent that you might notice if it’s living in your shed, garage, or under your house.
• Rattlesnake poops – these are small, oval-shaped and brown or black.

Getting Rid Of Rattlesnakes

The keys to eliminating rattlesnakes near your home are to take away their habitat and food. To do this, first, learn where they live and what they eat.

If you see a rattlesnake in your yard and you want it to leave, an effective technique is to spray it with a hose. Stay at least 10 feet away from the snake and be ready to run and take shelter if it decides to attack you in fear.

On that note, it’s always best to stay far away from rattlesnakes. Leave them alone and they will move one.

Eliminate Rattlesnake Habitats

Rattlesnakes prefer to stay out of sight of predators, protected from the hot sun and insulated against the cold at night. Remove these sorts of habitats from your yard, and rattlesnakes won’t want to come near anymore.

Keeping your yard clean and free of debris is the best way to make it less appealing to rattlesnakes. Some specific measures you can take are:

• Mow your lawn often, keeping it short. Rattlesnakes prefer long grass that hides them from owls, hawks and humans.
• Trim bushes and trees away from your house and garage. Leaving 24 inches clear under plants will discourage rattlesnakes from crawling and hiding under them.
• Keep your yard clear of logs, rocks, tires or any debris that could give a rattlesnake shelter.

Eliminate Rattlesnake Food 

Rattlesnakes are carnivores and eat just about any animal smaller than them. In fact, many rattlesnake prey animals are considered pests, meaning you have a chance to kill two birds with one stone by keeping them away.

Some of the steps you can take to keep your yard free of rattlesnake food include:

• Don’t overwater your landscaping. Excess water attracts worms, slugs, frogs and other critters that rattlesnakes might like to snack on.
• Don’t feed birds or, keep bird feeders away from your house. Your feathered friends will spill their food, which in turn attracts small animals that will become prey for rattlesnakes.
• Feed pets in your home. Uneaten pet food attracts the small animals that rattlesnakes eat.

If you need tips on getting rid of other pests, there’s plenty of information on this website to help you out with that. Getting rid of rats and other small animals can stop rattlesnakes from coming to your property.

Rattlesnake Proof Your Home

Make your home unappealing to rattlesnakes by sealing it tight. These reptiles might seek shelter under your home, deck, garage or shed if they can find a way in.

Have a walk around your home and buildings, looking for spaces that a rattlesnake might be able to crawl into. There are many basic repairs you can make to keep rattlesnakes out, such as:

• Seal cracks, gaps and holes in your foundation with caulk, foam or construction mesh. Rattlesnakes can fit through any hole bigger than a half inch.
• Install wire mesh around your deck. The barrier must be dug six inches into the earth to keep rattlesnakes out.
• Put barriers on sheds and garages so rattlesnakes can’t get in.

Consider Rattlesnake Fencing

If you live in an area with a large population of rattlesnakes, you might need a rattlesnake fence to keep them out. These fences are made from wire mesh.

To build a rattlesnake fence, follow these steps:

1. Dig a six-inch deep trench around the perimeter of the area you want to protect.
2. Install fence posts, at least 36 inches higher than the ground at a 30-degree angle pointing out of the protected area. Rattlesnakes won’t be able to climb the fence if it’s angled this way.
3. Attach quarter-inch or smaller wire mesh between the fence posts. It must reach from the bottom of the trench to the top of the posts.
4. Fill in the trench and make sure the rattlesnake fence is secure.

Rattlesnake fencing can be expensive and requires a lot of labor. For these reasons, you might only be able to protect a small space like a play area or garden.

Trapping Rattlesnakes

Only attempt to trap rattlesnakes if you have no other options. Hire a rattlesnake removal expert if you have the means to do so, or contact a local government or wildlife agency to find out about resources for rattlesnake removal.

After trapping, the rattlesnake should be released somewhere that it won’t bother other people. Be humane and let the snake live out its life in peace.

Do Snake Repellants Work For Rattlesnakes?

Have you heard of a snake oil salesman? Well, any product claiming to repel snakes is probably from the same company.

People have worked to develop snake repellents for years, but all attempts have failed. For the most part, if a snake wants to get to the other side of a repellent, it will.

Can Plants Keep Rattlesnakes Away?

While there may not be hard scientific evidence that plants keep snakes away, there is anecdotal and folkloric belief in certain plants as snake repellents. While it’s not a surefire way to keep rattlesnakes away, keeping these species in your garden could help, and will certainly look beautiful:

• Onions – this strong-smelling vegetable is avoided by many critters, possibly rattlesnakes too.
• King of Bitters – this plant has been used in India and Sri Lanka to keep snakes away from children’s play areas by planting them to form thick borders.
• Snake Plant – this West African species has tough, sharp-edged leaves that snakes don’t like to crawl through.
• Marigold – this beautiful flower is also great for keeping many pests away, possibly rattlesnakes also.
• Garlic – like onions, the strong odor of this plant might keep rattlesnakes away.
• White Snakeroot – this North American native contains a chemical that is toxic to snakes and can keep them away.
• Barrel Cactus – if you live in the desert, a row of spiky barrel cacti can keep rattlesnakes away.

How Dangerous Are Rattlesnake Bites?

Rattlesnake bites can be deadly, but with immediate medical attention, almost everyone survives them. A person who is bitten can experience many symptoms, including:

• Extreme pain and swelling 
• Bleeding
• Nausea 
• Throat and mouth swelling
• Difficulty breathing 
• Lightheadedness 
• Drooling 
• Loss of consciousness

Never use a tourniquet, apply ice, suck the poison out or cut into the wound. These actions could lead to amputation.

While as many as 5000 people are bitten every year by rattlesnakes, over 99% recover after medical care. Doctors use an anti-venom that boosts the immune system and stops complications.