I don't know of any way to get rid of them. I leave them be. So far I'm not aware of them causing any problems.

Anne

Get a teenage boy to catch it and take it to a natural area. There is no way to keep them from visiting your pond. No snake repellents. If you build it, wildlife will come.

They do eat fish.I had to walk in big farm pond to save a swan,I stepped off shore turned around to see a big water snake with a blue gill in his mouth.

I would not want to hurt the snake but depending on the size I would remove it. Grill tongs are great for snatching small ones out of the pond, tossing them in a small trash can and then relocating them far far away. I have heard of putting bird netting around the perimeter in wads? folds? and this catches the snake when he tries to crawl thru and gets tangled but have not had to try it. I know they are a part to the pond wild life but encourage them to live elsewhere.