Snake-A-Way does not work reliably to repel snakes. Despite being one of the most popular snake repellent products on the market, university research has found that its active ingredients fail to change snake behavior in any meaningful way. The product contains 7% naphthalene, 28% sulfur, and about 65% inert ingredients, and while snakes can detect these chemicals, they simply don’t avoid them.
What the Research Actually Shows
A study from the University of Nebraska tested Snake-A-Way directly on plains garter snakes, alongside pure naphthalene crystals and sulfur on their own. The researchers wanted to know whether any of these substances could make snakes turn around or avoid a treated area.
The snakes did notice the chemicals. Tongue-flicking, which is how snakes sample their environment, was observed within the first 25 seconds of exposure in every single test subject. So the snakes could clearly sense the naphthalene and sulfur. The problem is that sensing a chemical and being repelled by it are two very different things. The researchers concluded that “naphthalene, sulfur, or a combination of these chemicals did not elicit avoidance behavior.” Applying the product in areas the snakes already lived or in unfamiliar territory made no difference. The snakes moved through treated zones with their normal patterns completely intact.
Why the Product Still Sells
Snake-A-Way has been registered with the EPA as a snake repellent, which gives it an air of official credibility. And the logic sounds reasonable on the surface: snakes rely heavily on chemical sensing through their tongues, so a strong-smelling substance should theoretically overwhelm or irritate that system. In practice, though, snakes have evolved to navigate environments full of strong chemical signals. A layer of naphthalene and sulfur granules doesn’t register as a threat or a barrier.
There’s also a confirmation bias problem. If you spread Snake-A-Way around your yard and don’t see a snake for two weeks, you assume it’s working. But you probably wouldn’t have seen a snake anyway. Most snake encounters are infrequent and random, so it’s easy to credit the product for something that would have happened regardless.
Other Chemical Repellents Fare No Better
Mothballs, which contain the same naphthalene found in Snake-A-Way, are a common home remedy for snakes. The National Pesticide Information Center states plainly that mothballs “have little effect on snakes.” They’re also not labeled for outdoor use as a snake repellent, which means scattering them around your yard is technically a misuse of the product.
Chemical snake repellents as a category carry real downsides without delivering real benefits. The National Pesticide Information Center warns that these products “can pose risks to people, pets, or the environment if they are not used properly.” Naphthalene in particular is toxic if ingested by dogs, cats, or children. You’re essentially spreading a pesticide around your property for no functional gain.
What Actually Keeps Snakes Away
Snakes enter yards for two reasons: food and shelter. Eliminating those draws is far more effective than any chemical product.
- Remove hiding spots. Snakes shelter under woodpiles, rock walls, thick ground cover, debris, and gaps beneath sheds or porches. Keeping your yard clean and trimmed removes the cover they need to feel safe.
- Control rodent populations. Mice and rats are the primary food source for most snakes that show up in residential areas. If you have a rodent problem, you likely have a snake-attracting problem too.
- Seal entry points. Gaps under doors, cracks in foundations, and openings around pipes give snakes access to garages, basements, and crawl spaces. Sealing anything larger than a quarter inch keeps most species out of structures.
Snake-Proof Fencing: The One Barrier That Works
If you need a physical barrier, purpose-built snake fencing is the only option with a real track record. The key specification is mesh size: quarter-inch by quarter-inch openings are small enough to block even juvenile snakes. The fence should stand at least 30 inches tall, with an additional 6 inches of mesh bent outward in an L-shape at the base and staked flat to the ground. This prevents snakes from pushing underneath, which is their most common method of bypassing a barrier.
Snake fencing requires maintenance. Vegetation growing against it, debris piling up at the base, or gaps forming at gates will all create entry points. But when properly installed and maintained, it provides a genuine physical obstacle that chemicals simply cannot match. The investment is higher upfront, but unlike a bag of Snake-A-Way that needs reapplication after every rain, a well-built fence works year after year.