A baffle on the post beneath the box is about all you can do. Black snakes can drop from overhanging limbs. I'll never forget the time a black snake fell off the rafters in our old barn (when I was a teenager) and onto a mouse. If the area around the post is suitable (sun and dry), you could plant lavender there. Cameron

I would probably have a heart attack if I find a snake like that in my box!!!!! That is scary that it was able to get beyond your baffle and into the box, I hope the move to the new location works for you...I have 3 babies that are 13 days old today they should fledge this week.

Good job Ray! Those are mean as heck to! I had a stand off with one earlier this spring. At first I thought it was a inner tube from a old 10 speed and then it moved!! He didnt like me at all. Joe

Sunday update: My box still just has an empty nest. I wonder if it's a dummy nest????? Only saw the sparrow once today, but the wrens were around once too. Ugh. Wish the bluebirds would nest in my box, but at least both male and female are coming to my yard to eat mealworms. My neighbor's box had one egg in it today! Being that they are out of town, I am monitoring their box. We put up a baffle (metal stovepipe) and made and installed a sparrow spooker today. It is quite the spooker too! We actually bought fringed mylar and stapled it to the dowels after priming and painting them so they will hold up in the weather. We made three spookers, hoping I will need one and made one for another neighbor too. Question: Is there anything we can do to keep the wrens away?