What do you do if you have a close encounter with a snake this season? “Don’t panic!”
That’s the advice from Wildcare NSW president Greg Tarlinton.
Local Wild Care volunteers Blake Swadling and Jeff van Leeuwin have already had several call-outs to deal with snakes in the Yass Valley. Mr Swadling said one local resident, living on the southern outskirts of Yass, had discovered a nest of brown snakes infesting her backyard.
“One day she actually had two males wrestling each other to see who was the strongest. That happens sometimes,” Mr Swadling said.
A mating pair had also been encountered in the same backyard just a few days later. The snakes had been enjoying a warm slab of concrete only a few feet from the back door, which they were able to access from underneath. Mr Swadling said that, combined with nearby sleepers and long grass, had provided an ideal habitat for the snakes.
He said that a nest of snakes so close to people was unusual.
He urged anyone finding a snake on their property not to panic. He said most snakes would happily move off if left alone.
“Just slowly back away and don’t make any sudden moves,” he said.
Mr van Leeuwin said, “They’re not as dangerous as people think they are. We need them actually. They eat vermin such as rats and rabbits.
“Don’t ring the council or the police station, as they don’t have the resources to deal with snakes. Call Wildcare.”
Mr van Leeuwin said most snake bites occur when people try to attack the snake.
“The best thing is to back away slowly. Keep your eye on it because once you lose sight of it, it’s pretty impossible to find it again later. I’ve been to call-outs where I’ve spent basically the whole day looking for the snake.”
He said it was difficult when a call-out came from Bowning or Murrumbateman, simply because by the time he gets there the snake is usually long gone.
Mr Tarlinton said that Wildcare is planning a snakehandlers course at the end of November, and he encouraged people throughout Yass Valley to attend.
“We have a bit of a hole in that area, in terms of a lack of snake catchers to cover the townships outside of Yass.”
It is a two-day course run over a weekend.