Snakes are the one camp visitor almost nobody wants to meet. Not every species is venomous, but a large share are, and out in the backcountry there is rarely an anti-venom medevac waiting nearby. That makes prevention your best tool.
The good news is that snakes are predictable. They follow warmth, water, and food, and they avoid noise and open ground. Once you understand what draws them in, keeping them out of your campsite becomes a matter of a few simple habits.
Here are 13 actionable tips to help you keep yourself and your loved ones safe and snake-free on your next trip.
1. Consult a Tourism Agency
Before you go, contact a tourism or travel agency that handles camping in your destination. Their agents can help you pick a spot that is free from snakes and other reptiles.
These agencies have real, on-the-ground experience and knowledge of where it is safe to camp across the country. Places infamous for lethal reptiles are always on their blacklist, so a quick call can save you a lot of worry.
2. Gather Geographical Information
Look up the geography of any place you are considering: its temperature, humidity, and altitude. Most of this information is easy to find online.
Do this research before you commit to a campsite. Knowing the conditions of an area is crucial if you want to avoid snakes in the first place, because it tells you whether the climate suits them.
3. Choose the Right Camping Area
Nature is not just the creator of all living things; it is also their guide. If you observe closely, the landscape tells you where danger likes to hide.
Snakes are cold-blooded, so they prefer warm habitats where it is also easy to find food. They like cover they can disappear into, such as tall grass and wooded areas.
- Pick the driest ground you can find.
- Avoid tall grass, brush, and heavy leaf litter.
- Steer clear of rock piles and fallen logs where snakes shelter.
4. Keep Food Leftovers Covered
Tossing food scraps around your camp does more than attract mosquitoes, bugs, and other animals; it can attract snakes too. Snakes shelter in shade or holes, but they come out to hunt, and the smell of food reads as an open invitation.
It is not only reptiles either. Plenty of larger wild animals will pay you a visit if they catch the scent. So never leave leftover food sitting at your campsite.
- Gather all leftovers in one place and keep them covered.
- If you have nowhere to store them, dig a hole, bury the scraps, and cover it carefully so no animal can smell it.
5. Look for Holes in the Campground
We know snakes live in holes, but it is easy to forget that they also travel through them. A snake can enter your camp area through a hole at any time, whether it is hunting or scouting for a new place to live.
Walk your site before you settle in and make sure it is free of holes. Choose ground that is more confined and easy to inspect. It is a simple thing to remember, and it goes a long way toward keeping snakes away.
6. Keep All the Zips Up
Snakes love small, cozy spaces to hide in. Keep the zipper closed tight on every bag and container you carry, and check that each one works properly before you reach the campsite.
Pay special attention to your tent zipper. A faulty zip is exactly how a snake ends up crawling on you at night while you sleep, so make sure it seals completely.
7. Use a Snake Repellent
It is always smart to keep a snake repellent on hand and apply it around the outer perimeter of your camp. Naphthalene balls can also help keep snakes from settling near you.
Keep these handy and place some both outside and inside your camp for extra peace of mind. The granular repellent below is one we recommend for forming a perimeter barrier.
8. Fire Up Your Campground
All animals, reptiles included, fear fire, and no camping trip is really complete without a campfire. You can put that fire to work keeping snakes at a distance.
As soon as the sun goes down, light a campfire close to your camp and keep it burning through the night. The heat, light, and activity all signal that this is not a safe place for a snake to approach.
9. Stay Away from Water
Experts advise setting up camp at least 300 meters away from water. Several snake species are semi-aquatic, and pitching close to a stream, pond, or lake sharply increases the odds of an encounter.
Water also draws the small animals snakes hunt, so distance keeps both predator and prey away from your tent.
10. Let Them Know Your Presence
Snakes do not like being around us. They only strike at humans when they feel threatened, and they can sense foot vibrations, so making your presence known often sends them the other way.
Their skin absorbs liquid from the ground, so pouring white vinegar around your camp creates a line most snakes will not cross. It works as a simple protective layer for your site.
11. Keep Your Camper Pest-Free
If you are camping in a car or an RV, insects and rodents will often gather around the vehicle. Those tiny animals are ideal prey for snakes.
In the search for that food, a snake may slip into your camper. Make a conscious effort to keep the vehicle clean and pest-free so there is nothing on the menu to lure one inside.
12. Wear Protective Clothing
Clothing adds another layer of protection to your skin. Use boots and gaiters for your feet and ankles, and wear long pants whenever you are hiking or trekking.
If you are heading into an area infamous for snakes, consider tall snake-proof boots like these from LaCrosse. They are built to resist a strike to the lower leg, which is where most bites land on hikers.
13. If You See a Snake, Avoid It
If you have taken every precaution and still run into one of these venomous creatures, the first thing to do is inform the wildlife rescue team.
Without proper training or experience, confronting a snake in the wild can be a fatal decision. If you encounter one, simply keep a safe distance, do not panic, and give it room to move away.
Gear That Helps
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- Snake Repellent (Granular Perimeter Barrier)
A granular repellent you can scatter around the outer edge of your camp to discourage snakes from crossing into your space.
- LaCrosse Tall Snake-Proof Boots
Tall, strike-resistant boots from LaCrosse that protect your feet and lower legs in areas known for snakes.