Snakes on a plain...

Factual Questions
1

In particular, the area outside of my back yard. I live in Austin along a green belt. It is very nice in some regards, the view out of my bedroom window is killer- nothing but green. However, it is a problem as well. I have to deal with scorpions all the time, but they aren’t that big a worry. What worries me is snakes. It seems that a neighbour, who shares the green belt view had 2 dogs, bitten by a snake. I haven’t heard how they are doing, but the second one to get bit is doing better than the first one. This indicated the snake may have been venomous. I was told rattler by a third party.

It would be devastating for me to lose my little buddy to something like a snake. How can I snakeproof my yard? Someone mentioned moth balls are a good snake deterant, is that true? Other than muffing up my great view with a concrete wall, what can I do?

2

Get your dog a mongoose play buddy.

I just read a story in which a man talks about snake training a dog. You put a shock collar on the dog and get a defanged snake. You move the snake around the yard and shock the dog every time the snake strikes at the curious dog. You keep doing it until the dog avoids snakes.

3

Keep your grass cut VERY short. Snakes like to hide in tall grass.

4

Here’s a website that claims to train dogs to be snake-proof. I’ve read abut the aversion therapy - it seems pretty effective. Here’s a class offered by the Texas Parks Depratment.

StG

5

I do keep my grass short, but I would like to avoid aversion therapy if at all possible. I don’t want to hurt my dog or do anything that would change his charming personality.

I wish Batman were around, I’d just borrow some Bat snake repellant.