Snake-A-Way is the world's only EPA approved, university tested, patented snake repellent. It has been proven effective against both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. When used and applied as directed it is  safe to human, animal and plant life. It has been universally approved and endorsed by naturalist, conservationist and ecologists.

Natural History Magazine 4/95 Vol. 104, no. 4
THE SERPENTS TONGUE by Kurt Schwenk

Aside from the other senses, the most important and exquisitely sensitive mode of the snake is the Jacobson's organ. In a world textured with chemical clues, the snakes primary guide is its tongue. Recent studies have demonstrated that the snake is always utilizing its forked tongue to determine much about its surroundings. "Tongue flicking delivers chemical particles into the mouth that makes its way up through palate openings and into the Jacobson's organ, stimulating sensory cells." It is similar to smell but different and distinct." Like paired eyes or ears, that a snake does not posses, a snakes forked tongue delivers a form of stereo smell. It gives the snake the ability to sense the presence of their enemies or prey. Temperature, humidity, acidity levels and prey detection are just a few of the examples of the ability inherent in this unique sensory receptor.

University of Florida - Gainesville, FL
Summary
Test Animals: Snakes (various species)
Source: Various (private collections; wild / caught)
Date Animals Received Various June 1 - August 24
Date Tests Started: June 13, 1989
Date Tests Completed: October 2, 1989
Temperature & Humidity of Animal Room: 21+1*C: 50-65*RH

Behavioral tests involved: (1) a two way choice situation within a Y-shaped enclosure (Y) test, and (2) the use of space within a circular enclosure in which one quarter of the area was bounded by a strip of repellent (circle test). Snake-A-Way is shown to repel snakes with efficacy that varies from 100% to 17% in the different taxa. The nine venomous species tested (particularly rattlesnakes) exhibited consistently high avoidance of the repellent, with the exception of cottonmouth. The other snakes showed high avoidance of repellent, except for rat snakes. Some individuals of all species demonstrated overt avoidance of repellent. Collectively 83% of all snakes tested avoided the strips of repellent used in the Y tests. Data for three species of snakes subjected to circle tests corroborate the findings from the Y tests. Thus, Snake-A-Way appears to be potent repellent, however, snakes of all species may cross the repellent in unusual circumstances. These circumstances are probably rare in nature, however, and use of Snake-A-Way can be expected to reduce occurrence of snakes in "protected" areas. Effectiveness tests were conducted by Dr. Harvey Lilywhite, Professor of Reptology, University of Florida. Dr. Lilywhite is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading research repotoligst. Over ten years of independent research and follow up tests were also conducted by Dr. T's Nature Products, Inc. The effectiveness of the repellent is demonstrated by the following experiments performed with various species and the product has been found to have a rate of efficacy that varies from 17% to 100% depending on the individual species.

87.5%  Agkistrodon contortirix, copperhead
  21%  Agkistrodon piscivorus, water moccasin
  75%  Coluber constrictor, black racer
  91%  Crotalus adamanteus, eastern diamondback rattle
  91%  Crotalus atrox, western diamondback rattlesnake
  91%  Crotalus, horridus, timber rattlesnake
  91%  Crotalus, lepidus, rock rattlesnake
  91%  Crotalus, ruber, red diamond rattlesnake
  91%  Crotalus, viridis, pacific rattlesnake
  17%  Elphe guttata, corn or red rat snake
  47%  Elaphe obsoleta, yellow rat snake
100%  Heterodon platyrhinos, eastern hognose snake
100%  Micrurus fulvivus, eastern hognose snake
 50%  Python fulvivus, eastern coral snake
100% Thamnophis marcianus, checkered garter snake

In as much as the normal behavior of snakes is to move slowly in a deliberate and investigatory manner, the experiments were devised to test the snakes responses to the repellent in as near to normal conditions as possible. The granules should be spread in a strip 10-30 centimeters wide, although generally the wider the strip the better. In this manner, an odor barrier is provided that snakes are reluctant to cross. Additionally, a smaller amount of the product may be scattered in a diffuse or non-continuous manner just beyond the strip, on the side away from the area to be protected. This serves to lessen snakes wandering beyond the strip. After 2 1/2 months, a group of 16 snakes was again re-tested. In this test the branches of the Y were reversed so that the repellent strip was at the branch opposite from that in the previous tests. Moreover, the repellent used was five weeks old (i.e., it had been on the ground, outside, but protected from heavy rainfall). Test were conducted as described from the primary test above. Eleven snakes exhibited overt avoidance of the moving across the repellent strip while rubbing the head against the ground, seemingly attempting to escape from the repellent. Two of the snakes which crossed the repellent exhibited avoidance behavior first, eventually moving across the repellent strip while rubbing the head against the ground, seemingly attempting to escape from the repellent. Repelled snakes showed no hesitation to enter the opposite (being) branch of the Y.
The principle conclusions from this study are as follows: 1) Snake-A-Way repels snakes. 2) The efficacy of the repellent varies with taxon. 3) Circumstances in which individual snakes of all species tested will cross a strip of repellent, so the product cannot be regarded as an absolute barrier to these reptiles, 4) Use of the product can be expected to reduce significantly the occurrence of snakes within areas that are "protected" by recommended use of the product. 
Copperheads were strongly repelled by Snake-A-Way, while the related cottonmouths were not. This result is interesting insofar as cottonmouths inhabit swamps and readily feed on carrion. It is possible that the sulfurous smell of the repellent is normally encountered by the latter species, either in parts of its natural habitat or during carrion feeding, or both.

Dr. Harvey Lillywhite, Professor of Reptology, University of Florida conducted effectiveness tests. Dr. Lillywhite is internationally recognized as one of the worlds leading research reptologists. Dr. T's Nature Products, Inc., also conducted over ten years of independent research and follow-up tests.

Address: Department of Zoology University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611
Telephone: (904) 392-1101
Date Of Birth: 1 December 1943 (Arizona, USA)
Marital Status: Married; 2 Children

Education: PHD (Zoology: Physiological Ecology) UCLA, 1970 George A. Bartholomew, Committee Chairman.
MA (Zoology: Physiological Ecology) UCLA, 1967
BA (Zoology: with honors) University of California Riverside, 1966

Professional Experience:

1985 to present Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville

January, February 1988 Research Expedition, central Philippines (study and collecting of marine snakes).

March, April 1986 Research Expedition, central Philippines (study and collecting of marine snakes). Funded by NIH.

1984 to 1985 Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville.

January, February 1985 Research Expedition, Visayas, Philippines (Study and collecting of aquatic snakes). Funded by NIH.

1982 to 1984 Professor, Departments of Physiology and Cell Biology and Systematic and Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence. August 1979 to

August 1980 Visiting Scientist, (sabbatical leave), Physiological Research Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego. Funded by NIH.

June 1976 to June 1982 Associate Professor, Departments of Physiology and Cell Biology and Systematic and Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence.

June 1975 to June 1976 Visiting Lecturer and Visiting Scientist, Department of Zoology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

July 1976 Research expedition, Papua New Guinea (study and collecting of sea snakes. Funded by Australian Research Grants committee.

October 1971 to June 1976 Assistant Professor, Physiology and cell Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence.

Summer 1968 Training in development of miniature telemetry systems: Biocom, Inc, Culver City, California.

October 1966 to June 1967 Blood Technician, veterans Administration Hospital, West Los Angeles.

Teaching Experience:

University of Florida:

1. Animal Physiology
2. Reptilian Structure and Function
3. Integrated Principles of Biology

University of Kansas:

1. Biology of Organisms (undergraduate core requirement)
2. Comparative Animal Physiology
3. Mammalian Physiology (team participant)
4. Respiration Physiology (team participant)
5. Human Physiology
6. Herpetology (team participant)
7. Ecology and physiology graduate seminars; research supervision

Monash University:

1. Physiology Ecology
2. Honors Student supervision

University of California, Los Angeles:

1. Animal Physiology (head teaching assistant)
2. Ecology and Evolution (teaching assistant)
3. Natural History of Animals(teaching assistant)

Professional Affiliations:

American Society of Zoologists; American Physiological Society; American society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; American Association for the advancement of Science; Ecological Society of America, Sigma XI, and Phi Beta Kappa.

Other Affiliations:

Wilderness Society; Desert protective Council; National Geographic Society; League of Conservation voters; The nature Conservancy; Union of Concerned Scientists; National Parks and Conservation Association; Cultural Survival; Word Wildlife Fund; Sierra Club legal Defense fund; Natural resources Defense Council.

Publications

1968. Lillywhite, H. & Maderson, P.F.A Histological changes in the epidermis of the subdigital lamellae of Anolis carolinensis during the shedding cycle. J.Morph. 125:379-402
1969. Lillywhite, H. Miniature telemetry systems. Application Notes, Biocom Memo 1007. Biocom, Inc., Culver City, California. (Technical Note)
1970. Lillywhite, H. Behavioral temperature regulation in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeina. Copeia 1970:158-168.
1971. Lillywhite, H. Thermal modulation of cutaneous mucus discharge as a determinant of evaporative water loss in the frog, Rana catesbeina. Z. vergl. Physiology 73:84-104.
1971. Lillywhite, H. Temperature selection by the bullfrog, Rana catesbeina. Comp. Biochem. Physiol,. 40A:213-227.
1973. Lillywhite, H., Light, P. & Chelgren, P. The role of behavioral thermoregulation in the growth energetics of the toad, Bufo boreas. Ecology 54:375-383.
1973. Lillywhite, H. (Review of) The temperature and Water relations of Reptiles, by J. L. Clodseley-Thompson. J.Syst.Zool. 22:201-202.
1974. Lillywhite, H. & Light, P. Water movement over toad skin: functional role of epidermal sculpturing. Copeia 1974:257-258.
1974. Lillywhite, H. & North, F. Perching behavior of Sceloporous occidentalls in recently burned chaparral. Copeia 1974:984-986.
1974. Lillywhite, H. How frogs regulate their body temperature. Environment Southwest No. 465, pp. 3-6.
1974. Seibert, E., Lillywhite, H. & Wassersug, R. Cranial co- ossification in frogs: relationship to rate of evaporative water-loss. Physiological Zoology 47:261-265.
1975. Lillywhite, H. & Light, P. A comparative study of integumentary mucous secretions in amphibians.
1976. Lillywhite, H. Abundance and diversity of lizards in a herbicide-treated environment. Am. Philos. Soc. Year book 1975: 342-344.
1976. Seymour, R. & Lillywhite, H. Blood pressure in snakes from different habitats. Nature 264:664-666.
1977. Lillywhite, H. Friedman, G. & Ford, N. color matching and perch selection by lizards in recently burned chaparral. Copeia 1977:115-121.
1977. Baldwin, J., Friedman, G., & Lillywhite, H. Adaptations to temporary muscle anoxia in anurans: activities of glycolytic enzymes in muscles from species differing their ability to produce lactate during exercise. Australia J. Zool. 25:15-18.
1977. Lillywhite, H. Effects of chaparral conversion on small vertebrates in southern California. Biol. Conserv. 11:171-184
1978. Lillywhite, H. & Seymour, R. Regulation of arterial blood pressure in Australian tiger snakes. J.exp. Biol. 75:65-79.
1979. Lillywhite, H. (Review of) Behavior and Neurology of Lizards, edited by N. Greenberg and P.D. MacLean. Copeia 1978:558-560.
1979. Johnson, R.N. & Lillywhite, H. digestive efficiency of the omnivorous lizard Klauberina riversiana. Copeia 1979:431-437.
1980. Lillywhite, H. Behavioral thermoregulation in Australian elapid snakes. Copeia 1980:452-458.
1980. Roberts, J. & Lillywhite, H. Lipid barrier to water exchange in epidermis of reptiles. Science 207:1077-1079.
1980. North, F. & Lillywhite, H. The function of burrow turrets in a gregariously nesting bee. Southwestern Naturalist 25:373-378.
1981. Gibbons, J.R.H. & Lillywhite, H. Ecological segregation, color matching and speciation in lizards of the Amphibolurus decresli species complex (Lacertilia: Agamidae). Ecology 62:1573-1584.
1981. Lillywhite, H. & smith, L. Haemodynamic responses to haemorrhage in the snake, Elaphe obsoleta. J. Exp. Biol. 94:275-283.
1982. Lillywhite, H. Tracking as an aid in ecological studies of snakes. In N.J. Scott (ed.), Herpetological Communities: a Symposium of the Society for the study of Reptiles and Amphibians and the Herpetologist's League, August 1977. U.S. fish & Wildlife Research Report 13. Pp. 181-191.
1982. Lillywhite, H. Cannibalistic carrion ingestion by the rattlesnake, Crotalus virdis. J. Herpetol. 16:95.
1982. Lillywhite, H. & Maderson, P.F.A, Skin Structure and Permeability. In C. Gans and F.H. Pough (eds.), Biology of the Reptilia, Vol. 12, (Physiological Ecology). Academic Press, New York & London. Pp. 397-442.
1983. Lillywhite, H. & Pough, F.H. Control of arterial pressure in aquatic sea snakes. Amer. J. Physiol. 244:R66-73.
1983. Lillywhite, H., Ackerman, R. & Palacios, L. Cardiorespiratory responses of snakes to experimental hemorrhage. J. Comp. Physiol. 152:59-65.
1983. Roberts, J. & Lillywhite, H. Lipids and the permeability of epidermis from snakes. J. Exp. Zool. 228:1-9.
1984. Pough, F. & Lillywhite, H. Blood volume and blood oxygen capacity of sea snakes. Physiol. Zool. 57:32-39.
1984. Lillywhite, H. & Ackerman, R. Hydrostatic pressure, shell compliance and permeability to water vapor in flexible-shelled eggs of the colubrid snake Elaphe obsoleta. In Seymour, R. (ed.), Respiration and Metabolism of Embryonic Vertebrates. Pp. 121-135.
1984. Lillywhite, H. Trailing movements and sexual behavior in Coluber constrictor. J. Herpetol. 19:306-308.
1985. Lillywhite, H. Behavioral control of arterial pressure in snakes. Physiol. Zool. 58:159-165.
1985. Lillywhite, H. & Gallagher, K. Hemodynamic adjustments to head-up posture in the partly arboreal snake, Elaphe obsoleta. J. Exp.Zool. 235:325-334.
1985. Lillywhite, H. B. Postural edema and blood pooling in snakes. Physiol. Zool. 58:759-766.
1986. Smits, A. W. & Lillywhite, H. Effects of hyperkalemia on thermoregulartory and feeding behaviors of the lizard Sauromalus hispidus. Copeia 1986:518-520.
1987. Lillywhite, H. Circulatory adaptations of snakes to gravity. Amer. Zool. 27:81-95.
1987. Lillywhite, H. & burggren, W. Introduction to the symposium on cardiovascular adaptations in reptiles. Amer. Zool. 27:3-4.
1987. Lillywhite, H. Temperatures, Energetics and Physiological Ecology. In R. Seigel, J. Collins, and S. Novack (eds.), Snakes: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. MacMillan Pub. Co., New York Pp. 422-477.
1987. Lillywhite, H. B. & Stein, B. R. Surface sculpturing and water retention of elephant skin. J. Zool. (Lond.) 211:727-734.
1987. Lillywhite, H. Snakes under pressure. Natural History 96:59-67. (reprinted in Science Horizons YearBook 1988 and Science Annual 1989, Franklin Watts, Grolier Enterprises. Danbury CT)
1988. Lillywhite, H. B. & Maderson, P. F. A. The structure and permeability of integument. Amer.Zool. 28:945-962.
1988. Donald, J. A., & Lillywhite, H. B. Adrengic innervation of the large arteries and veins of the semi-arboreal rattlesnake, Elaphe Obsoleta. J. Morphol. 198:25-31.
1988. Lillywhite H., Smits, A. W. & Feder, M. E. Body Fluid volumes in the aquatic snake, Acrochordus Granulatus. J. Herpetol. 22:434-438.
1988. Lillywhite, H. B. (Review of) Biology of the Reptillia, Volume 16, Ecology B, Defense and Life History. Copeia 1988:1102-1104.
1988. Lillywhite, H. B. Snakes, blood circulation and gravity. Scientific American 256:92-98.
1989. Kattan, Ga. & Lillywhite, H. B. Humidity acclimation and skin permeability in the lizard, Anolls carolinensis. (in press, Physiol. Zool.)
1989. Donald, J. A. & Lillywhite, H. B. VIP-immunoreactive nerves in the pulmonary vasculature of the aquatic file snake, Acrochordus granulatus. Cell & Tissue Research 255:585-588.
1989. Donald, J. A. & Lillywhite, H. B. Adrenergic nerves and 5-HT-containing cells in the pulmonary vasculature of the aquatic file snake, Acrochordus granulatus. Cell & Tissue Research 256:113-118.
1989. Lillywhite, H.B. Unusual shedding behaviors in the aquatic snake, Acrochordus grantulatus. Copeia 1989 (in press).
1989. Lillywhite, H. B. & Donald, J.A. Pulmonary blood flow regulation in an aquatic snake. Science (in press).

Responses of snakes to odors are known to be important in several contexts of their behavior. Such as locating prey and responding to conspecifics (reviewed in Ford, 1986). Snakes are very sensitive to chemosenory input, which involves the vomeronasal system. The tongue of a snake picks up odorants, which mediates its analysis (Burghardt, 1980; Gillingham & Clark, 1981: Ford & Low, 1984). The vomeronasal system is involved in the detection, localization and identification of odors (Cowles & Phelen, 1958; Hapern & Kkubie, 1983). Thus, responses of snakes to Dr. T's Snake-A-Way presumably are mediated by the detection of odorant molecules via the tongue and vomernasal system. Behavioral tests designed to establish the efficacy of the product in repelling snake must take into account the means of chemosensory detection. Visual, tactile and auditory stimuli presumably are not relevant to the intended use of this product. Thus, behavioral test were designed such that moving snakes exploring their surroundings with tongue flicks encountered the Snake-A-Way product as they might in real field situations.

In use, the resulting granular product is spread on the ground across an area where it is desired to prevent or discourage snakes from entering. Preferably, the granules should be spread in a strip 10-30 centimeters wide, although generally the wider the strip the better. In this manner, an odor barrier is provided that snakes are reluctant to cross. Additionally, a smaller amount of the product may be scattered in a diffuse or non-continuous manner just beyond the strip, on the side away from the area to be protected. This added scattering of the repellent serves to lessen the probability of occasional snakes wandering beyond the strip.

Snakes Tested:

All of the tests were conducted in outdoor enclosures, which approximated natural situation insofar, as was practical within constraints of the experimental design. Most of the snakes used in the study were either newly born or recently captured, so the data was not dependent on the long-term captives. Attempt was made to maximize the numbers of both species and individuals subjected to testing. The following snakes (scientific and common names were tested for response to Snake-A-Way.

87.5% Agkistrodon contortirix, copperhead
21% Agkistrodon piscivorus, water moccasin
75% Coluber constrictor, black racer
91% Crotalus adamanteus, eastern diamondback rattlesnake
91% Crotalus atrox, western diamondback rattlesnake
91% Crotalus horridus, timber rattlesnake
91% Crotalus lepidus, rock rattlesnake
91% Crotalus ruber, red diamond rattlesnake
91% Crotalus viridis, pacific rattlesnake
17% Elaphe guttata, corn or red rat snake
47% Elaphe obsoleta, yellow rat snake
100% Heterodon platyrhinos, eastern hognose snake
100% Micrurus fulvius, eastern coral snake
50% Python molurus, Burmese python
100% Thamnophis marcianus, checkered garter snake

In testing, snakes reacted to the repellent and exhibited overt signs of distress or avoidance while in close contact with the pellets. In other case, snakes turning away from the repellent before coming within direct contact (with tongue) were sometimes re-tested and fount to consistently turn away from the repellent while at distances of 10-30 cm. These latter observations are noted as "apparent avoidance".

The effectiveness of the repellent is demonstrated by the following experiments performed with various species and the product has been found to have a rate of efficacy that varies from 17% to 100% depending on the individual species.

Snakes were re-tested at the end of one week, using week-old repellent. All snakes selected the benign branch of the Y and exhibited overt avoidance behavior. These same snakes were then re-tested within one hour and again avoided the repellent (seven snakes exhibiting the overt behaviors). The group of snakes was then re-tested once more, 21 hours following the last test just described. Again, these snakes avoided the repellent with the exception of one individual, which began rubbing its head on the ground, crawled haphazardly, and eventually "tunneled" its way through the repellent strip.

Table 1; Figure 1

After 2 1/2 months, a group of 16 snakes was again re-tested. In this test the branches of the Y were "reversed" so that the repellent strip was at the branch opposite from that in the previous tests. Moreover, the repellent used was five weeks old (i.e., it had been on the ground, outside, but protected from heavy rainfall). Tests were conducted as described for the primary tests above. Eleven snakes exhibited overt avoidance of the repellent, and four snakes crossed the repellent. Two of the snakes which crossed the repellent exhibited avoidance behavior first, eventually moving across the repellent strip while rubbing the head against the ground, seemingly attempting to escape from the repellent. Repelled snakes showed no hesitation to enter the opposite (benign) branch of the Y.

Efficacy and Species Variation:

With respect to testing, Snake-A-Way was 100% effective in repelling snakes of some species while much less effective in repelling others (table 1; figure 1). It is important to note that some individuals of all species tested observed overt avoidance of the repellent. Extrapolating from these results, it is expected that a significant fraction of snakes encountering a strip of repellent in real-use situations will be repelled. The number or percentage of repelled snakes should vary as a function of the species involved.

Snake-A-Way had the most dramatic effects in repelling garter snakes (Thamnophis Marcianus), pythons (Python Molurus), and most of the venomous snakes, particularly rattlesnakes(Crotalus SPP). The behaviors of garter snakes, pythons, and coral snakes suggest that the repellent chemicals are most obnoxious to these species. Other snakes (e.g. Crotalus Atrox)were repelled with equal consistency, however.

Garter snakes are widespread throughout virtually the entire continental United States and are commonly encountered in many parts of the country. Although a single species was tested, it seems reasonable to assume that Snake-A-Way could be used with considerable effectiveness to repel garter snakes belonging to the Genus Thamnophis. The product also repels pythons strongly. The species tested is Asiatic and commonly kept as a pet by reptile fanciers in this country. Data for pythons suggest that the product likely will repel the two species of endemic boid snake that occur in the western United States.

Snake-A-Way should be an effective repellent for rattlesnakes, which are a potential concern in many parts of the country. The avoidance behaviors exhibited by snakes representing six different species (and most geographic regions of the U.S.) suggest that the repellent is effective for the genus, hence rattlesnakes generally. These venomous reptiles are of widespread geographic occurrence and are locally abundant in many regions.

Copperheads were strongly repelled by Snake-A-Way, while the related cottonmouths were not. This result is interesting insofar as cottonmouths inhabit swamps and readily feed on carrion. It is possible that the sulfurous smell of the repellent is normally encountered by the latter species, either in parts of its natural habitat or during carrion feeding, or both.

Coral snakes exhibited overt avoidance of the repellent. Which suggests that the product may be generally effective against elapid snakes.

Rat snakes (Genus Elaphe)were not strongly effected by Snake-A-way, although some individuals overtly avoided the repellent. Thus, the product is expected to provide only partial effectiveness in repelling these species.

Conclusions and Discussions

The principle conclusions from this study are as follows.

(1) Snake-A-Way repels snakes
(2) the efficacy of repellent varies with taxon:

some species are repelled with remarkable effectiveness, while others are not. However, all species tested exhibit some degree of behavioral avoidance of the repellent.

(3) There are circumstances in which individual snake of all species tested will cross a strip of repellent, so the product cannot be regarded as an absolute barrier to these reptiles. Such situations are expected to be rare in natural environments, however, and,
(4) Use of the product can be expected to reduce significantly the occurrence of snakes within areas that are "protected" by recommended use of the product.

In cases where snakes exhibited avoidance behaviors but nonetheless crossed the repellent strip in various ways, it seems likely that a diffuse scattering of Snake-A-Way pellets over the area beyond the strip would have caused the snake to eventually leave the area. Such procedure might also enhance the effectiveness of the product on substrates that are coarse-grained or uneven. Considering all of the data, the fundamental conclusions regarding efficacy remain the same. Snake-A-Way should significantly decrease snake occurrences.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Gainesville, FL 32611
Department of Zoology
233 Bartram Hall
904-392-1107

SUMMARY

Test Animal: Snakes (various species)

Source: Various (private collections; wild-caught specimens from Alachua County, Florida; research breeding programs).

Date Animals Received: Various, June 1 through August 24.
Date Tests Started: June 13, 1989.
Date Tests Completed: October 2, 1989
Temperature & Humidity of Animal Room: 21+ 1oC: 50-65o RH.

Responses to Snake-A-Way, a putative snake repellent, were examined in 160 snakes representing 15 species and four families. Behavioral tests involved: (1) a two-way choice situation within a Y-shaped enclosure (Y tests), and (2) the use of space within a circular enclosure in which one quarter of the area was bounded by a strip of repellent (circle test). Snake-A-Way is shown to repel snakes with efficacy that varies from 100% to 17% in the different taxa. The nine venomous species tested (particularly rattlesnakes) exhibited consistently high avoidance of the repellent, with the exception of cottonmouths. The other snakes showed high avoidance of repellent, except for rat snakes. Some individuals of all species demonstrated overt avoidance of repellent. Collectively, 83% of all snakes tested avoided the strips of repellent used in the Y tests. Data for three species of snakes subjected to circle tests corroborate the findings from the Y tests. Thus, Snake-A-Way appears to be a potent repellent, however, snakes of all species may cross the repellent in unusual circumstances. These circumstances are probably rare in nature, however, and use of Snake-A-Way can be expected to reduce the occurrence of snakes in "protected" areas.

Excerpts from The University of Florida (EPA TESTING & PROTOCOL)