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Even if you have extreme ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), don’t try to shoot or kill them with a shovel. Besides being pretty cruel, killing snakes in most states is illegal unless your life is at risk and many species are protected. 

Plus, you're putting yourself at greater risk using these techniques if it goes wrong and the now-angry snake is venomous.

Although raccoons aren’t particularly picky regarding food, certain sounds, metals, and smells bother them. You can place these items around your home to keep raccoons away:

• Place wire mesh screens around and underneath decks and porches to prevent raccoons from nesting. 

• Put metal sheeting around the edges of your roof or at the base of trees to deter raccoons from coming close. 

• Place a loud battery-operated radio near the raccoon’s den to keep them from nesting.

• Keep a bowl of cider vinegar on your deck or porch.

• Remove old raccoon scents by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting underneath porches and decks.

Yes, dryer sheets can help repel mice. The strong artificial fragrances found in many dryer sheets, such as citrus, floral, or lavender, are unpleasant to mice, which are very sensitive to smells. Many people report success using them to deter mice from areas like cars, drawers, vents, and cupboards. The scent can last for many days, making the space undesirable for rodents. However, dryer sheets may not be a foolproof solution on their own. For more effective protection against rodent infestations, it is best to combine them with other preventive measures like traps, repellent sprays, and proper storage practices.

While some pets, especially dogs, may chase rabbits away due to their natural hunting instincts, relying solely on pets to deter rabbits is not foolproof. Some rabbits can become accustomed to the presence of pets over time, and not all pets possess the same level of hunting inclination. What’s more, rabbits can potentially carry serious diseases like Tularemia and E. cuniculi, which they could pass to your pets.