OK to use "Snake Away" near beehives?

[beewitch]

Hi all - I'm a suburban backyard beek with 2 hives - with a fear of snakes.  Last week saw a black racer about 20 feet from the hives.  Yes, I KNOW he's a good snake - I don't want to hurt him.  I just want to work my bees without being jumpy about snakes.  Yesterday, I worked the hives and my mind was on the snake and my girls popped me to remind me my mind should be on them! :shock:
Does anyone know if "Snake Away" is ok to use around beehives? I'd be using it around the perimeter of my yard - approx 20-30 feet from the hives...  And quit laughing at me...

[T Beek]

 :lau:  Sorry, could'nt resist.  What's in 'snake away' that keep s snakes away?  Having spent considerable time in south GA I can relate to a fear of 'some' snakes, but not all.  I think it goes back awhile.

Personally, when working my bee I'm oblivious to all else going on being totally focused on the task at hand.  That may be why I've only been stung three times this year.

thomas

[beewitch]

I understand it's the same thing as crushed up moth balls.  Supposedly snakes don't like it and won't cross it. 

[rgy]

how will you know if the snake is inside the perimeter already, and now since he won't cross the snake away, you have trapped it where you don't want it?

[caticind]

Wish I had black racers...they tend to keep the copperhead population down, since they compete directly for food.

You can't know for sure that the snake-away will keep the snake outside rather than inside the perimeter.  The active ingredient in mothballs, if it's the same as snake-away, is harmful to the bees if they ingest it (which they probably won't) and also harmful to you and your family if you come in direct contact with it.  I wouldn't recommend it.  Making a lot of noise as you walk out to the hive (stomping, rustling bushes, etc) is free, simple, and more effective as it will alert the snake to your presence and encourage it to flee.

Although I really love snakes, I sympathize with your fear.  But you and the snake have the same goal - not to be near each other.  It will never try to get close to you and will run if it knows you are there.  No 'repellant' is going to be more effective and safe than just knowing you are around.

[iddee]

Good post. Snakes have their place, too, and will retreat if given the chance.

[yockey5]

Poisonous snakes must die!

[iddee]

There is no such thing as a poisonous snake. You can eat all kinds and it won't bother you.

There are venomous snakes, but they have their place, too.

[David McLeod]

Don't waste your money on that crap! Snake away is a fraud. Don't believe me, flip the container over and read the fine print. The fine print says the crap is only effective on to species Crotales (rattlesnake) and Thamnophis (garter), and I think that's pure bullcrap. Now read the recommended application rates. You'd need a dump truck load to treat most areas. Now go pull the MSDS on the active ingredient napthalene, a carcinogen.

[David McLeod]

If I wanted to I could get rich selling the garbage. I had a former employer that issued me a five gallon bucket of the stuff. I could have sold it all at 125 per 1qt application with 10% going in my pocket and I could easily sold 10 buckets a summer. When I left the company five years later I returned him his unopened bucket.

[rober]

most black snakes are king snakes. they eat snakes including copperheads & rodents. so they will eat the snakes that are a slight real threat to you & eat the mice that could invade your hives. find someone who keeps snakes & handle a couple & get over your fear of them. given the chance most snakes will flee. i do not kill any snakes. if i encounter a venomous snake too close to the house i capture it & relocate it. as some others stated snake away is snake oil. it's usually placed next to the smoke bombs & poison peanuts used for moles. 2 more products that are shams.

[yockey5]

There is no such thing as a poisonous snake. You can eat all kinds and it won't bother you.

There are venomous snakes, but they have their place, too.

Iddee your response really impressed me. Thank you.

[iddee]

 :-D :-D :-D :evil:  I do believe I hear a slight bit of sarcasm there.

[yockey5]

You are correct, and I am in error, I should have responded with, I am disappointed in your response. It is all good though, as I live live another day and none the worse for wear. Have a good day.

[iddee]

A little chuckle never hurt anyone. I hope you took it lightly.

[Poppi]

Moth balls are poisonous to children, pets, and wildlife...  and snakes may not always cross them but they will not act as a repellent.  Do a search for moth balls as snake repellent and read what it says.

[David McLeod]

Controlling snakes on a property is like any other method of wildlife control, there ar3 no shortcuts or magic pills. Snakes are like any other species with one important caveat. They require food and shelter and the caveat is that snakes are not highly mobile like four legged species so this food and shelter issue will be very site specific. Snakes tend to live right on top of there food source if adequate shelter is available. Think rat snakes living inside barns or corn crabs because that's where the rats are. To control snakes remove both the food source and shelter and you won't have snakes. In other words kill all the rats and year down the barn or corn crib and voila no snakes.

Now tearing down barns may not be an option but killing rats always is so any steps you can take to modify or eliminate a potential harborage site for either the snake or it's food source will go a long way to discourage snakes from remaining on a property.

[beewitch]

Thanks everyone for the insights.  I'll not give money to the Snake Away fund and clear out my back-yard some more.  As for "getting over" my fear of snakes - easier said than done!

[Lone]

Hello,

This might not be a good place for you to keep bees, Beewitch.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/15/idaho-snake-house-family-flee

Lone