Parents, be careful— my daughter just ran inside crying so hard she couldn’t even speak. I assumed something had scared her, so I went outside to find this fella hanging around the backyard. This is the second time now. Does anyone know how to keep them away?SEE MORE.

Snakes aren’t monsters, but they are survival experts—and your yard can look like a five-star hotel. Leftover birdseed, fallen fruit, and open compost invite rodents, and rodents invite snakes. By sealing compost bins, moving bird feeders to the far edges of your property, and cleaning up any food scraps, you cut off their main reason to visit.

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