Q. This year we have been plagued with garter snakes in our neighborhood. We live near a wooded swampy area, and we have seen over a dozen slithering around our landscape. We have tried repellants, but they don’t seem to work. What can we do?

A. In some cultures, snakes were a symbol of fertility, and in others they were servants of the dark world. Ancestors of snakes date back to the Triassic period 190 million years ago.

Snakes are beneficial. Most snakes prey predominantly on rodents, although some also eat bird eggs, nestlings, lizards and insects. They in turn are prey for hawks and eagles. This is why snakes are not generally found in open manicured areas.

To discourage snakes in and around the home, eliminate areas where snakes hide. Remove any brush and rock piles, wood and other debris, and eliminate areas of tall grass and weeds.

Seal all openings 1/4 inch or larger around the house foundation with mortar, caulking compound or 1/8 -inch hardware cloth. Check and repair cracked walks or porches and check house foundations for cracks or holes. Stack wood away from the house, and install 1/4 -inch mesh hardware cloth around the base of storage sheds and decks. For rural homes, check to ensure that septic or sump-pump drain tiles are not open outside. If the tile is open at the end, cover it with 1/4 -inch mesh hardware cloth.

Interestingly, researchers have found that snakes avoid lava rock because of its sharpness, so a narrow barrier of lava rock around the foundation and other areas can discourage snakes. Research has also shown that turkeys and chickens are great at finding snakes in a landscape.

One can trap, remove and relocate a garter snake by simply sweeping it into a large bucket with a broom. Damp burlap sacks covered with dry sacks to retain moisture are attractive to snakes. Check the bags daily and remove snakes with a shovel.

Glue boards or glue trays (available at some hardware stores and garden centers) are also effective. To harmlessly release the snake, pour vegetable oil over it to break down the glue. Place glue boards where pets or other non-target species will not get caught.

Use drift fence (short fencing that directs snakes to certain areas) and funnel traps to capture snakes at dens or open areas. An example of how to make a funnel trap is at www.ehow.com/video_4950657_build-funnel-snake-trap.html.

If the problem is more than you can handle, commercial animal control and removal companies can handle the snakes for you. Most snakes in Indiana are harmless, and many are coming close to being endangered. Snakes of Indiana (http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/inherps/insnakes.htm) is an excellent publication that discusses the value of snakes and has descriptions of the few poisonous snakes that dwell in our state.