I work at a facility that borders about 10 acres of wooded land and also has a creek bed. These conditions and the coming onset of winter means we have had an abundance of gartner (sp?) snakes in the past few weeks making there way to our building. A few co-workers and I have, shall we say “disposed of” upwards of 200 snakes in that timeframe. I have a few co-workers who are terrified by this situation and are threatening to quit because of it. It’s us or the snakes. An exterminator wants $50 per snake so that is not an option. Most have been found outside by the foundation but now they are starting to get inside. What’s the best way to dispose of these buggers? Need help ASAP! I like my co-workers and don’t want to see them go…
Garter snakes. Thamnophis sirtalis.
That sounds so cool. Keep in mind that they were there first–it’s your building that’s in their way, not the other way around. And frankly, I don’t have a lot of sympathy for anyone who’s afraid of a garter snake. So maybe it’s time for some new co-workers.
Call your Ramsey County Extension Agent to ask for suggestions, or even help. (If you’re not in Ramsey County, this site provides links to all the Minnesota Extension Agents by County.
While I would also consider it cool to have that many garters wandering around (provided they didn’t get caught in machinery), I am aware that people don’t really have control over their phobias.
I really hope you are not wantonly killing the poor critters. I’b be willing to bet that any mouse problems you may have previously had have disappeared. At any rate, there is no need to kill them.
You might also call the Minnesota Herpetological Society which seems to have two separate home pages (??) to see if they can offer either help or suggestions. (I do not know how much they can offer, but it is worth a try.)
They are looking for a place to winter and will almost certainly be gone soon. Leave them alone, and for the few that do get in just take them outside and worry about it as it happens.
The “problem” will solve itself. They are harmless snakes and do far more good than anything else.
Let 'em be.
Garter snakes are the friendliest of snakes. Perfectly harmless and prey on pests. Leave 'em be.
Dogs might scare them away.
Maybe. It’s worth a shot.
Get a mongoose!
I personally WOULD quit. I have severe ophidiophobia.
As has been said, snakes are wonderful for controling rodents. I would let them stay, but if they are a problem, don’t get a dog. They are useless with snakes. Well, they might bark at them or jump around a little but that really doesn’t bother the snake that much and eventually the dog will get board and leave.
Speaking from experience if you must get rid of them, get a female cat or two especially ones with kittens. Mother cats are excellent at handling snakes. I personally like snakes, but my wife doesn’t so we have had this discussion.
One thing though, the cat might bring you the dead prizes to show off and if you don’t dispose of them soon, dead snakes can begin to smell rather quickly.
TV
Please try to find it in yourselves to leave the snakes be. They are not going to hurt anything. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that garter snakes are the “friendliest of snakes” (actually in my experience they are about as agressive as a non-poisonous snake gets) but they are not dangerous to a person who doesn’t pick one up. Even then, the most they could do would be equivalent to a few pin-pricks, probably barely enough to draw blood.
And please don’t get a cat and let it run free. Domestic and feral housecats are probably the second biggest factor (behind habitat loss) in the decline of North American songbirds. Snakes kill songbirds too, but not dozens of them for fun in a day. Cats do kill snakes too, and rabbits, and quail, and pheasants, and just about every other wild thing up to about their own size.
Fishhead
The easiest things that works with snakes is Phenol. Get some Phenol and encircle your place in it. Snakes will never enter the circle.
Of course, you have to do this frequently.
Phenol is there in many disinfectants available at your hardware store. Look for phenolic based disinfectant or here
Bah! Having personally handled garter snakes(that my female cats would catch) I can tell you that those vicious little beasts can make you drop them right quick. And how do they make you drop them? No, not by biting. Those vicious little monsters get back at you by taking a dump right on your hand:D
Yes, that’s what garter snakes do if you’re not careful.
Snakes are great at munching out rats and stuff.
I don’t understand why people are afraid of poisonless snakes.
Correct me if i am wrong (not too clued up on American snakes)
But Garters are …well… completely and utter harmless ?
But i understand, from a business point of view you do not want snakes crawling over your clients… " come for the snakes - stay for the service 
"
OK, i come from Australia and had the good fortune of growing up on a sheep station in the middle of nowhere … i wish i was being dramatic.
Snakes need a place to sleep and hide. Remove that and you will remove the snakes.
A thick piece of fishing line coated with Vas (or KY if ya want) pulled tights about .3 mm off the ground will either keep them out or keep them in. They will not go over it
Get rid of your mouse/rat/bird problem or the snakes will do it for you.
Now - These snakes will also become a food source something … i do not know your geography but where i live other snakes eat snakes.
You have 1000 garters i would imagion you have 1 nasty posionous snake there too.
<b> Dave_D</b> You make a good poitn about your cat - We had a pair of “house cat” burmese - shy and lazy … atelats we thought so until they in the space of a week killed a Tiger snake, a Kind brown, and a tiapan.
If you can not get a mongoose get a cat or two.