Three eastern browns in less than 10 minutes - snake season starts
WALKERS narrowly avoided three eastern browns in less than 10 minutes on a track at Waterfall Gully this morning — snake season has started in earnest.
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WALKERS have narrowly avoided three eastern browns in less than 10 minutes on a track at Waterfall Gully this morning.
Jo West, 53, was walking up along the Centre Track at about 8.30am with her husband Phil when they were confronted by a huge eastern brown snake.
“We’d been walking less than 10 minutes when I made the comment that it’s probably that time of year we should watch out for snakes and then one shot off to the side of us,” the Erindale resident said.
“Maybe three steps later there are two big browns just sitting there sunning themselves, all sleepy.
“We decided we’d had enough, turned around and went out for coffee instead.”
She said now that she knew they were out and about she would choose safer tracks.
“Usually once we start spotting snakes we choose wider tracks where you’ve got a better chance of spotting one — like the Waterfall Gully Winter track which is wide and has just been resurfaced — while avoiding the goat tracks.”
The eastern brown snake is considered the world’s second-most venomous land snake.
Snake Catchers Adelaide manager Ange Broadstock said the season had started.
“With the warmer weather and there being lots of mice around, the snakes have started moving about,” she said.
“We’ve certainly seen a lot out and about and already breeding which is a sign there will be a lot about this season.”