05/09/2026
Great tips from Greater Bendigo Snake Control
๐ฆ๐ป๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐: ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐
In Australia we live with snakes, and many Australians seek ways to... not live with snakes.
Physical barriers and access-blocking products reduce the chances of a snake getting into your home or yard, or pet enclosures.
Recently I have touched on solar snake repellers and home remedy products that FAIL to repel snakes.
But there are a couple of products and alternatives that can help create barriers.
๐ญ. ๐ง๐๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ:
This is one I HIGHLY recommend for external doors.
It's also super easy to install and remove for cleaning.
(If you are not a fan of the foam, and you are handy with a sewing machine you can even make your own out of cotton or calico and fill with wheat or rice)
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐:
A foam draft excluder that slides under and sits along the bottom of a door.
It can be held in place with an adhesive strip or bracket, or left as is.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐:
During peak summer heat snakes end up inside homes and dwellings to escape heat.
They do this when they move along walls and slip under the gap at the bottom of external doors.
A properly fitted twin foam draft stopper closes that gap so there's nothing to slide under.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ:
External doors.
Check the fit occasionally.
If the foam has flattened or the door has warped slightly, gaps can reopen.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ผ๐ณ:
This only helps with that one entry point.
It won't do anything for gaps around window frames, vents, or weep holes, so don't treat it as a total fix on its own.
It's the next level up from the old "door snake"... definitely invest in them!
๐ฎ. ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ, ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐น๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐:
A dog door insert that fits into the track of a sliding door, with a magnetic flap that closes on its own and a lock function for when you don't want it in use.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐:
Standard dog doors with a loose flap, or gap, are a way a snake can get indoors.
A good quality insert with a strong magnetic seal and a flap that sits flush to the frame removes that gap almost entirely when closed.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ:
Look for one that's actually installed correctly and sits flush, not one with visible gaps at the edges.
Use the lock function overnight or whenever the dog doesn't need access, particularly through the warmer months when snakes are most active.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ผ๐ณ:
Cheap inserts with weak magnets or a poor fit against the frame defeat the purpose.
It's worth spending a bit more for one that seals properly rather than picking the least expensive option.
Spending a little bit more on a good quality insert might save you a snake catcher call out cost, or at worst a vet bill.
๐ฏ. ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐:
A screen with magnetic edges that closes behind you as you walk through, commonly used on doorways that don't have a proper door.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐:
These are useful for spaces without an external door at all, like a patio opening, a shed entrance, or an outdoor rec room.
They give you somewhat of a barrier where otherwise there'd be none.
They are also transparent and give you visual advantage if a snake were to approach or be passing by.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ:
Sheds, patios, outdoor entertaining areas, anywhere you've got an open-style entry that a standard door product wouldn't fit.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ผ๐ณ:
These are a handy alternative, but they are NOT a heavy-duty barrier.
They're built for flies and light insects, not really rated as snake-proofing to the same standard as a proper door seal.
Still worth having over nothing, but don't expect the same reliability as a solid door insert.
Again, avoid cheap options.
Find a product with strong magnets, invest in a quality product, and ensure it's installed correctly.
๐ฐ. ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ (๐ฒ๐บ๐บ ๐
๐ฒ๐บ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ)
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐:
Fine galvanised wire mesh with a 6mm by 6mm aperture, small enough that even hatchling snakes generally can't fit through.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐:
This is the most versatile option on the list. It can line fence lines, aviaries, chicken coops, and dog runs, or be used to properly snake-proof a boundary.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ:
This one needs a bit more thought depending on what you're trying to achieve.
For fully enclosing a pet enclosure, like a chicken coop, aviary, or dog run, using it as a complete standalone barrier is genuinely recommended.
Bury the bottom edge or peg it flush to the ground so nothing can push under it, since a gap at ground level defeats the purpose of an enclosure meant to keep something in a defined, secure space.
Fence lines are a different situation, and can be a bit of a tricky one...
If the goal is a full barrier meant to keep snakes out entirely, one small hole, gap, or oversight is enough for a snake to get through, and once it's on the wrong side of that barrier it can effectively become landlocked, with no way back out the way it came in.
Because of that, mesh along a fence line often works better as a redirect than a total seal.
Snakes tend to travel along or against a wall or edge rather than crossing open ground, so mesh installed with that in mind can act as a guide.
Instead of relying on it to stop a snake outright, the idea is that when the snake reaches the barrier it's encouraged to move alongside it and eventually turn away or continue past, rather than searching for a way through into an enclosed space.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ผ๐ณ:
This one takes more effort and cost than the other three.
Be clear on what you are wanting to achieve if you are considering this product, and plan it out before purchasing and wasting money and materials.
When it comes to this product, a full, gapless barrier is appropriate for a pet enclosure where landlocking isn't a risk.
For fence lines meant to keep snakes out of a broader area, treat any mesh as a redirect tool rather than a guaranteed seal, and check it periodically for damage or gaps, since a small hole or a section pulled loose from the ground is all it takes to undo the intended effect.
Some snake catchers may offer the installation of the mouse aviary wire.
Though catchers (should) have a keen eye on entry points and problematic areas, they may not be qualified to do the job. (If they have a qualification or are a tradie then bonus points.)
I've always recommended that whether you try it yourself, or have a tradesman attempt the job, it doesn't hurt to consult with a good knowledgeable catcher about adjustments or considerations.
They might be able to give advice or feedback on snake proofing.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ
None of this makes a property completely snake-proof, and anyone claiming their product does is selling you a promise they can't back up.
What these options do is close off the easy, obvious access points, and that's a genuinely different thing from spraying something around the perimeter or installing a solar repeller with no evidence behind it.
Physical barriers work because they physically block a snake.
That's the whole mechanism.
Combine a few of these where they make sense for your property, stay on top of maintenance each season, and you'll have done the practical, sensible part.
