Snakes and Wood Storage

[ColdNorCal]

Getting ready to stack and store using a couple of old metal gates, 5 ft x 12 ft, as the base and cinder blocks to elevate them.

Rattlesnakes are very common here and I kill a few every year despite the property being well maintained and having barn cats and Llamas. I have read that keeping woodpiles stored 12" or more is a deterrent to keep snakes out as they prefer to be in close contact with the ground. Given this, Im thinking of stacking the cinder blocks two high, elevating the woods pile ~16 inches off the ground.

Is this worth the effort to keep rattlers out?

 

[JimBear]

I have never heard of that but I would definitely try it if they are a problem, Good luck with your endeavor. Around here there are some reported rattlers just south of us in Missouri & a few Water Moccasins in a river west of us. Most of what we have are Bull, Gardener & some nasty ass Black Rat snakes. I personally don’t care for snakes, venomous or otherwise & haven’t seen any around my stacks ( thank goodness). I have some wood on pallets by a fence & some stacked in an old corn crib & I put poison out throughout my stacks in hopes that keeping the rodents to a minimum will make it a little less homey for the scaley slithery things. I won’t move any of it around till winter so at 20-30 degrees I shouldn’t have any unpleasant surprises.

 

[kennyp2339]

Rattlesnakes are very common here and I kill a few every year

My simple answer... compress fuel blocks stored inside. But in all seriousness I have snakes in my wood piles at different levels through out the wood pile, I've never ran into one, but I have found many skins through out.
Perhaps you can call your local animal control agency and get recommendations on wood storage, maybe there's natural plants you can plant around the wood pile that rattlers don't like so they avoid the area. Also ask the question about placing stacks in reference to the morning sun angle, I think rattlers like eastern exposures to sun themselves while in a shelter.

 

[Bushels20]

I get snakes in my piles, but simple garters. They make me jump and make me feel like i soiled my flannels, but I can’t imagine rattle snakes! Good luck.

 

[beatlefan]

Buy some snake repellent and spread it around the perimeter of your stacks.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Maybe a good dog that can find snakes before you unstack?

Yikes.. I'd be terrified if i had rattlers.

 

[Adabiviak]

We have rattlesnakes here; I'd rather have snakes than mice/rats, so when I find one, I try not to spook it too much.

 

[Manly]

That sounds dangerous. The only snake I get in my wood pile is my pesky neighbor that usually rears his ugly head in late spring when he has shot his load for the season. One rack of my Winchester model 12 sends him scurrying every time. I don’t believe his bite is poisonous but his fangs look like they could leave you with a pretty nasty infection. His wife is a rattler or sure but she stays clear of my wood.

 

[maple1]

Doesn't seem like going one block higher is much effort to risk for the potential benefit.

Rattlers - no frickin way, thank you very much.

 

[weatherguy]

I get lots of snakes in my wood pile but usually garter snakes or ringnecks, if I had rattlers I think I'd get a pet mongoose, hate snakes.

 

[Tar12]

I never get snakes in my stacks although there is plenty of food there in the way of mice and chipmunks..

 

[beatlefan]

I get giant spiders. I hate giant spiders.

 

[Prof]

I get snakes in my piles, but simple garters. They make me jump and make me feel like i soiled my flannels, but I can’t imagine rattle snakes! Good luck.

I get mostly black rat snakes that give me a similar experience---I can take a couple of deep breaths, calm down and call the kids over to see the cool snake--wouldn't do that if it was a rattler!

 

[tsquini]

I don’t think it matters how high you elevate the wood. The snakes are there for the mice, chipmunks and squirrels. If they are there the snakes will be there.

 

[Adabiviak]

Yeah, I let 'em stay (though I've only seen one rattlesnake actually in my pile)... would rather have snakes than disease-carrying vermin leaving scat all over my wood.

 

[Ashful]

My great-grandfather was killed by a rattlesnake, right here in SE PA. Never had any family killed by a mouse. Just sayin’.

 

[Dobish]

we have lots of garter snakes around.. they have solved our mouse problem for sure. Now if only the snakes would fight off the racoons.

 

[Chas0218]

I stack my wood on pallets and have snakes in the pile all the time. Just the other day I had one about eye level with me sunning himself. I always try to catch them and show them to the kids. We supposedly have Rattle snakes in our area but no one has seen them before even the old geezers never have. I don't mind the snakes, between them and my dogs rodents don't stand a chance. My dogs like to kill the snakes but I try to get to them before the dogs.

Now if one of those darn snakes would get that red squirrel that keeps getting into the garage.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

I get snakes.. i dont care.. im not burning when there around in the wood pile. Let the eat the bugs and stuff

 

[BoiledOver]

Rattlers are rarely seen around here but have been spotted in most counties. My Dobermans seem to dislike snakes, they leave bits and pieces laying around quite often. Racers, corn, northern water, garter, milk, and an occasional eastern hognose. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is Michigans only venomous snake.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

I get snakes.. i dont care.. im not burning when there around in the wood pile. Let the eat the bugs and stuff View attachment 230031 View attachment 230032

What species is that?

 

[Dmitry]

My great-grandfather was killed by a rattlesnake, right here in SE PA. Never had any family killed by a mouse. Just sayin’.

Mice is a host of ticks . Ticks -- Lyme Disease. Lyme disease - Death.

Bottom line: Mice - Death.

 

[Ashful]

Mice is a host of ticks . Ticks -- Lyme Disease. Lyme disease - Death.

Bottom line: Mice - Death.

Many neighbors, and one of my dogs, have had lyme. Also, one of the guys who works for me. Never knew anyone to die from it, unless you leave it un-treated for several years. 100% of the people I know (all one of one) who've been bit by a rattler seem to die within 3 days.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

What species is that?

Top pic is a garter in the wood shed the bottem is a black rat by the wood shed

 

[ben94122]

Mice is a host of ticks . Ticks -- Lyme Disease. Lyme disease - Death.

Bottom line: Mice - Death.

Hantavirus, West Nile, rabies, and bubonic plague all have rodent vectors!