Snake season heats up

Rescuers say ‘be vigilant’ after 73 calls in one day

SNAKE catchers in Tasmania’s south received more than 70 calls for help on Boxing Day in a sure indicator that reptiles are on the move this summer.

Handlers have been busy across the state relocating snakes from houses, sheds and even a Bunnings store.

In the south, Reptile Rescue received 73 calls for help, with snakes on properties across greater Hobart from Rokeby to Kingston.

“Things are certainly heating up now the weather is doing the same,” Chris Daly from Reptile Rescue said. “A lot of people think that in hot weather prime snake time is in the heat of the day. Snakes instead are out early and late when it is cooler. We got a call after midnight at Rokeby this week that a snake was in a driveway.”

Mr Daly said other calls involved a big tiger snake caught in netting and a copperhead caught in wire mesh in a chook shed at Bridgewater.

“People need to be vigilant on hot days as snakes will seek out cooler areas such as the inside of houses. So remember, keep doors closed.”

Scott Smith from North West Snake Catchers said a young Tiger snake was spotted near the front door of the Bunnings store in Burnie just after 8am on Tuesday.

A member of the NW Snake Catchers crew was soon on the scene to relocate it out of town near a water source.

“Well done to the staff that expertly contained it until I arrived to collect and relocate up the bush,” catcher Brett Chatwin said.

“I reckon it has travelled there under someone’s vehicle. It looked a little stressed from the heat so I took it to a nice cool creek for a refreshing swim.”

Mr Smith said NW Snake Catchers were getting about 20 calls a day at the moment from residents who have found snakes at their properties.

“We are getting lots of calls about snakes inside houses and in sheds,” he said.

“Baby birds are starting to hatch and the snakes are often looking for a feed in shed rafters and house roof gutters. Our busiest time is usually from January to March and those two months are pretty nuts, but we are busy early this year.”

Tasmania has three species of land snake, the tiger snake, the lowland copperhead and the white-lipped snake.

All three species are capable of injecting venom, although the venom of the white-lipped snake has never been recorded as causing death to a human.

The last death in Tasmania from snake bite occurred at Oatlands where 78-year-old Winston Fish was bitten at least five times by a large snake while travelling on his farm.

Dogs are also commonly bitten. Vets recommend you immobilise your pet and try to keep him/her as quiet as possible before you rush to get veterinary treatment.

In 2020, three pet dogs died during the week after being bitten by snakes in suburban backyards in Hobart.