It’s common to find frogs in yards and gardens, especially in the spring when these amphibians are most active.
Many snakes regularly eat frogs and other amphibians as part of their diet. For this reason, the presence of frogs in an area can attract hungry snakes looking for a meal.
That being said, it is important to note that having snakes around is not always something to worry about.
Some snake species such as garter snakes, and rat snakes are generally harmless to humans and eat pests such as rodents and slugs.
Kingsnakes (which are also harmless to humans) are even known to eat venomous snakes such as copperheads – helping keep these potentially harmful snakes off your yard.
The Presence of Frogs Can Attract Snakes
Many snake species around the world eat frogs, and other amphibians as part of their natural diet.
For example, Common ribbon snakes (Thamnophis saurita) favor eating frogs, salamanders, and tadpoles, over other animals in their environments.
Eastern hognose snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) mainly eat toads and small amphibians.
In fact, Eastern hognose snakes are so specialized in eating toads, that they have large teeth in the back of their mouths – to puncture inflated toads to make them easier to swallow.
Many other snake species (for example, Copperheads, and Rattlesnakes ) do not have specialized diets and will eat almost any prey they can catch, overpower, and swallow whole.
These snakes will frequently eat frogs they can catch, as well as other small animals like rodents and birds.
In general, snakes are drawn to environments where they can find, shelter, food, and water.
For this reason, snakes will be attracted to areas where they can find lots of frogs, and other small animals to prey on.
If you have frogs in your yard or garden, hungry snakes could be attracted to the area, as they search for prey.
12 Tips to Keep Frogs (and Snakes) Out of Your Yard
If you want to stop snakes from coming into your yard, you have to make the area less attractive to them.
One of the ways of doing this is to get rid of the “snake food” (prey animals) you have in your yard.
Here are 12 tips to keep frogs, and the snakes that prey on them, off your yard.
1. Cover Swimming Pools
Being amphibians, frogs are attracted to areas with water bodies where they can swim. It is important to cover your swimming pool when it is not in use.
This will help discourage frogs from coming onto your property.
2. Consider Building a Small Fence Around Ponds in Your Yard
Unlike swimming pools, ponds housing fish and live plants need direct sunlight. This means they can not be covered up as swimming pools can.
Instead, you could try building a small fence around your ponds – that frogs cannot climb or hop over.
3. Raise Your Birdbaths and Keep Them Farther Away From Your Home
Bird baths close to the ground provide an excellent source of water for frogs to soak in.
If possible, raise your birdbaths to make them less accessible to frogs. Also, keep them farther away from your home.
4. Keep Your Grass Short
Tall grass provides the perfect cover for frogs and other amphibians to hide from predators.
It also attracts bugs such as grasshoppers that frogs eat. Keeping your grass short will discourage frogs from coming into your yard.
It will also make it easy to spot the frogs that do end up in your yard so you can get rid of them.
5. Clear Dead Leaves and Other dead Vegetation
Frogs love to hide under dead logs and leaf litter on the ground.
Getting rid of these will keep frogs away because they will have fewer places to hide.
7. Store Firewood, Compost Piles, and Other Types of Debris Away From Your Home
Frogs love to hide under any cover they can find. Stacks or firewood and lubber are the perfect places for them to hide.
Sometimes, they will even hibernate deep in compost piles to escape the freezing winter temperatures.
Store firewood, lumber, and other piles of debris away from your home.
8. Don’t Overwater Your Lawn
Frogs are amphibians that love moist environments where their skin won’t dry out.
For this reason, over-watering your lawn will attract frogs to your yard.
9. Use a Raised Water Bowl for Your Pets
If you have dogs, cats, or any other pets at home that spend lots of time outdoors, it’s a good idea to use a raised water bowl.
This will prevent frogs from easily accessing or getting into the water.
10. Consider Installing a Fence
If you have an open yard in an area with lots of amphibians – a few frogs will eventually end up on your property.
Install a fence and put a mesh screen around the outside of your fence.
Bury the screen by at least 10cm and extend it by at least 50cm. This will help stop any frogs trying to come into your yard.
Some companies even make wildlife-specific fencing. You could easily find a “frog-proof fence” appropriate for your yard.
11. Be Vigilant During the Wetter Seasons of the Year
Frogs and other amphibians are most active in the wetter months when the temperatures are warm.
Be alert during this time of the year and watch for any frogs that may end up in your yard.
Be extra alert in the very early morning hours, after dark, or after a rainstorm when amphibians are more likely to be active.
12. Fill Out Low-Lying Areas in Your Yard
After a rainstorm, take note of where puddles form in your yard. Use dirt or soil to fill these low-lying areas out.
All of the things mentioned above are just a few things that you should consider doing to keep frogs away from your yard.
Above all, you need to make sure that you inspect the yard on a consistent basis to get rid of any frogs that might be hiding or wandering about.
Having Snakes Around Is Not Always a Bad Thing
If you spot a snake in your yard, it’s not always a bad thing.
Many types of snakes, such as garter snakes (Thamnophis) and kingsnakes (Lampropeltis), are harmless to humans – and can be good to have around.
They will not eat your vegetables, flowers, or other plants, but will eat grasshoppers, snails, rodents, and other pests that do.
Having harmless snakes in your garden can reduce the need for chemical pesticides that can be damaging to the environment.
Most snakes don’t dig or burrow, so they do not damage the roots of any of your plants.
Also, snakes such as kingsnakes eat many venomous snakes, helping keep these potentially harmful snakes out of your garden.
Conclusion
Snakes in general, are very opportunistic and will be drawn to any area they can easily find small animals to prey on
Frogs and toads are not the only animals that attract snakes. Bird eggs, baby birds, slugs, snails, lizards, salamanders, newts, rats, mice, moles, and other small animals can attract snakes.
Almost any small animals that are small enough for snakes to catch and swallow whole, will attract snakes looking for a meal.
Some snake species may even be drawn to areas with fishponds where they can eat small fish.