Many people store their firewood on the ground because it is easy to access and convenient. Although this storage method is convenient, it might not be the best option if you have snakes. Snakes often like to hide out in the woodpiles, which can cause you a fright when you go to grab a few logs. Luckily, storing firewood to avoid snakes is relatively easy.
For the most part, all you need to do is elevate the woodpile one or two feet off the ground. For further protection, you can also cover the pile with a plastic tarp, maintain your yard better, or add some other small animal traps to kill off their food source.
To find out more about how to store firewood to avoid snakes, keep reading. This article tells you everything you need to know, including why snakes like firewood and how to stack your wood in a way that snakes can’t hide out in. Let’s get started.
Why Do Snakes Like Firewood?

Snakes like firewood for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, woodpiles often provide housing for their favorite snacks, like rats, mice, and other small rodents. By hiding out in the firewood stacks, the snakes have better access to their favorite meals.
Additionally, wood piles offer the type of environment snakes prefer to rest in. Most notably, wood piles create a warm and dark environment. This environment is perfect for the snake to rest, eat, and nest in safety.
How to Store Firewood to Avoid Snakes
Storing firewood to avoid snakes is really easy. Mostly, you need to lift the firewood off the ground so that the snake has limited access to the firewood in the first place. You could also go a couple extra steps to further ensure that snakes don’t hide out in your wood piles by covering the wood and maintaining your yard.
What You’ll Need
- Cinder blocks or wooden rack
- Plastic tarp
- Bungee cords
- Tools for mowing and yard maintenance
- Rodent traps (optional)
- Insecticide (optional)
Step 1: Elevate the Fire Wood
The most important step for storing your firewood so that it is out of the reach of snakes is to elevate it off the ground. You can do this using cinderblock or a wooden rack. It doesn’t so much matter what you use to elevate the wood. Instead, just make sure that it is at least one to two feet off the ground.
The easiest way to store your firewood is with a firewood log rack like this one by Woodhaven. Its structural integrity is very sound, and will keep your firewood off of the ground. It also comes with its own cover that will cover the top 12″ of your firewood.
Step 2: Cover With Tarp and Bungee Cords
Once the firewood is elevated, it’s a great idea to cover the pile with a plastic tarp. Secure the tarp down by using bungee cords. This will prevent snakes from getting into the pile from the side or top, as well as protect the wood from other irritants.
Step 3: Maintain Your Yard
On top of elevating your firewood and securing it with a tarp, it’s a great idea to maintain your yard. Mowing your grass regularly will discourage any snakes from coming into your yard. The fewer snakes that are in your yard, the fewer that can gain access to your woodpile.
If you find that your yard is infected with insects and rodents, you need to do more than simply mow your yard. You should also set traps for the small mammals and add insecticide. Killing off these animals and insects will lead to a lower snake populations since they are snakes’ main diet. Cut off the food source, and you cut off the general snake population.
What if That’s Not Enough?
If you have gone through steps one through three and are still having an issue with snakes making it into your woodpile, you can also add a chain link fence around the woodpile. Although this will be expensive and unnecessary for most people, it is the natural next step for snakes that are incredibly persistent.
Other Firewood FAQs
How Can You Tell If Firewood Is Bad?
Good firewood is lightweight and dry. As a result, firewood that is wet and heavy is often bad. These two signs are typically the first indicators that firewood is bad. Here are some other signs that your firewood is bad:
- Wet or mildewy smell
- Soft to the touch
- Crumble when pressed
- High moisture readings
What Is the Liquid That Comes Out of Wood?
There are multiple causes for liquid coming out of wood. Excess moisture can lead to water coming out of the wood. This typically means that the wood is not seasoned yet and should not cause you any concern. An oozing log can also be because of remaining sap, depending on the tree type. If the liquid is falling or oozing rather quickly, it is likely slime flux, or bacterial wetwood.
How Do You Dry Firewood Quickly?
Firewood needs to be dried and seasoned before being burned. The best way to dry firewood quickly is to cut the firewood in spring or early summer. Allow it to dry out for six to nine months.
Before stashing it away, make sure to cut and split your wood. This will help it to dry quicker. Additionally, place freshly cut firewood outside, not into a storage shed. As it is sitting outside, stack the firewood off the ground so that it doesn’t soak up moisture from the ground. It should be dry enough for next year’s fall and autumn if you follow these tips.
Final Thoughts
Snakes often like to hang out in firewood stacks because it provides easy protection and access to food sources. Even though these snakes are typically not dangerous to humans, they certainly can be scary and irksome to find every time you go to get a log.
The best way to prevent snakes from hiding out in your log pile is to elevate the pile. Without legs, snakes have more difficulty reaching higher surfaces. Also, consider placing a tarp over the pile, as well as maintaining your lawn.
By doing these three steps, you should almost entirely eradicate the issue of snakes hiding out in your firewood stacks. If you still are having trouble, add a fence around the pile or yard, but that won’t be necessary for most people.