How do we get rid of garter snakes in our back yard?

I've heard that keeping a fake owl sitting on your roof or garage helps to keep some animals away - not sure it works for snakes though. If the sources of food are not there for the snakes, then they won't come. If you have nice plush green gardens, fields, a stream, river, creek, pond or lake nearby you can forget about chasing snakes away. Where there's water and green growth for bugs, insects, rodents or frogs, etc... there's plenty of harmless snakes around. I recommend you get used to living with them, and just walk LOUDLY. Snakes want nothing to do with humans, and will always slither in the opposite direction when approached by sounds. When disturbed obruptly, they might strike to defend themselves only. Or, sometimes they might seem to be slithering in your direction, as they can get confused or if they feel your trying to catch them or kill them, they seem smart enough to change directions. One minute moving away from you, the next minute turning 180 degrees and coming at you. In hopes that you'll miss them in the tall gr so they can get away from you. Trust me! They don't want anything to do with you and want to be farther away from you, as you want them to be from you. : ) Did that make any sense? LOL