Attracting garter snakes to your house can be beneficial for your garden and the overall ecosystem. Garter snakes are non-venomous and help control populations of pests such as slugs, snails, insects, and small rodents. While having a water source like a pond is ideal, there are other ways to attract garter snakes even without one.
1. Provide Shelter: Garter snakes need places to hide and seek refuge. To attract them, create suitable habitats such as rock piles, brush piles, or log piles. These areas provide shelter and warmth for the snakes. You can also use old boards or pieces of tin to create snake-friendly cover objects.
2. Create a Compost Pile: Garter snakes are attracted to compost piles because they provide a steady supply of food in the form of insects and other invertebrates. Make sure your compost pile is well-maintained and not too hot or dry, as snakes prefer cooler and moister areas.
3. Plant Native Vegetation: Garter snakes are more likely to be attracted to areas with native plants, as these provide food and cover. Native grasses, shrubs, and wildflowers attract insects, which in turn attract garter snakes. Avoid using pesticides or herbicides that can harm the snakes and their prey.
4. Provide Sunning Areas: Garter snakes are ectothermic, which means they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Create sunny spots in your garden by removing excess vegetation or planting low-growing plants. Snakes will bask in these areas to warm up and regulate their metabolism.
5. Avoid Chemicals: Garter snakes are sensitive to chemicals, so it’s important to minimize the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides in your garden. These chemicals can contaminate the snakes’ food sources and habitat, causing harm to them and disrupting the ecosystem.
6. Minimize Disturbance: Garter snakes are generally shy and prefer quiet areas. Minimize loud noises, foot traffic, and other disturbances near their potential habitats. By providing a peaceful environment, you increase the chances of attracting and retaining garter snakes.
Personal Experience: In my own garden, I have attracted garter snakes by creating a rock pile near a sunny area. This has become their favorite basking spot, and I often spot them sunning themselves on the rocks. Additionally, I have noticed an increase in the number of garter snakes since I started planting native wildflowers and shrubs, providing them with a diverse food source and cover.
Remember, attracting garter snakes to your house should be done with respect for their natural behaviors and needs. Creating a suitable habitat and minimizing disturbances will not only attract garter snakes but also contribute to the overall health and biodiversity of your garden.
