Snakes...coming soon!

[Noble]

It's almost time for snakes to appear in our gardens and around our houses in Italy. Those who live here or have had holiday homes for some time, will know that no matter how big/long/terrifying the snakes are, the only snake to stay well clear of is the Viper. It's the guests seeing a snake that concerns us and so for the past few years, we have put camphor tablets/mothballs in "hiding places" at the root of things planted up against the house etc. Lay them all around the outside of the house. Seems to keep snakes away.

The other thing to do is check your outside, ENEL type meter boxes, (those boxes built to house tubes that run underground, containing services etc). Fill up the (red) tubes with foam that sets hard or silicon, to prevent snakes from living down those tubes and coming out to sun bath.

[Torchiarolan]

"moved to italiauncovered.co.uk"

[Roskoboy]

Oh thanks, Noble...now Mrs Rosko won't set foot back in Umbria without a 1926 Diving Suit and a Baseball Bat

[sagraiasolar]

Originally Posted by Noble

It's almost time for snakes to appear in our gardens and around our houses in Italy. Those who live here or have had holiday homes for some time, will know that no matter how big/long/terrifying the snakes are, the only snake to stay well clear of is the Viper. It's the guests seeing a snake that concerns us and so for the past few years, we have put camphor tablets/mothballs in "hiding places" at the root of things planted up against the house etc. Lay them all around the outside of the house. Seems to keep snakes away.

The other thing to do is check your outside, ENEL type meter boxes, (those boxes built to house tubes that run underground, containing services etc). Fill up the (red) tubes with foam that sets hard or silicon, to prevent snakes from living down those tubes and coming out to sun bath.

Good tip - thanks
last year we had children climbing a tree with a viper found in the roots just a foot away from where they were jumping. Hilarious scene followed with la moglie going mad with a panga after I had dealt a blow with a stick. Later I killed a 1.2 metre grey/brown snake in the house (came in out of the heat). Sorry animal lovers but with children around we have zero tolerance on big snakes in the house. Grass snakes are cute though.
PS. how to tell if it's a viper - not very long, just over half a metre, triangular head and a fat body with a funny little tail.

[Gala Placidia]

If you are interested in identifying the snakes, here is a link I already gave in another thread:
serpenti italiani

[Vigneverde]

I thought snakes only came down in the height of summer, is this not true? Are many found at altitudes up to 500 m? I spoke to our neighbours and they said it is very rare to see them other than dead on the road.
I will strim the garden in a very different way now, possibly on stilts !

[Angie and Robert]

Well the snake sitting next to me whilst I was weeding the borders at 450mtrs wasnt aware of the 500mtr rule! there are snakes around us but they are timid and avoid people. I was told by an Italian friend that if you plant the herb Rue around your garden snakes keep away.This one wasnt aware of that theory either.!.
A

[sueflauto]

I think you'll find snakes from sea level to 1600m - my own personal best! - and above....

[KarenR]

We are about 300m above sea level and have black snakes and four-line snake (very pretty) in the garden. Both stay away from the dogs and us! We were told by locals that the poisonous snakes are only "in the mountains" not this low down. They were here before us so we leave them alone and they leave us alone. Wasps on the other hand......................

[Geotherm]

We are only at about 400 mtrs and have plenty of vipers about, so don't believe everything you are told. The black snake is just a grass snake about a metre or so long, and the 4 line one is probably the same as the slow worm. We picked up one here about 2 days ago .. very docile in the hand. The vipers on the other hand, tend to keep eating the frogs in the pond ....... not so good.