Repelling Rat Snakes from Wood Duck Boxes with Chemical Barriers

Potential chemical repellents against rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) depredation of wood duck (Aix sponsa) nesting boxes were tested under controlled conditions on the Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area, Georgia. Two repellents (Tack Trap and a mixture of Tack Trap and pine gum) effectively repelled rat snakes from wood duck nesting structures under pen conditions (P<0.l 0). The stickiness of the repellent material and not the presence of pinosylvin phenols appeared to be the deterrent to rat snakes.