Signs of snakes

It is rare to see snakes in China, unless your property has a garden or open space near extremely secluded areas. In most cases, snakes are most likely just passing through your garden area.

The common signs to look out for on whether a snake is in your property are: 

• Shed skins — snakes shed their worn-out skin about 6 times a year. This process is called moulting. 
• Winding trails — can be seen on light dirt or sandy surfaces, particularly across secluded open land areas.

There are certain places where snakes may like to hide on your property:

• Secluded open land, field or bush area.
• Garden with ponds, wood, rock or rubble piling around.
• Garden with un-trimmed long grass.

Reptiles are timid and will usually flee to seek cover if they are detected by people or pets.

There are a few things you can do to deter snakes:

• Trim grass regularly to keep it short.
• Keep wood, rock and debris from piling up.
• Seal holes that snakes can hide in such as under the sheds, decks and walls.
• Place fitting fences or walls around ponds as a deterrent.