Everything you need to know about snake season in SA

Spring doesn’t only mean warm weather and pretty flowers. It also means snakes! Here’s everything you need to know about slithering season.

People aren’t the only creatures on the move as the weather starts warming up.

SA snake catchers say snake season has started early this year, and summer is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent memory.

Adelaide Snake Catchers, one of several snake catching services in SA, issued a public warning after a series of call-outs about venomous baby snakes.

In as early as August, the business caught three baby red-bellied black snakes and one adult nesting in an area on the Torrens Linear Park.

“It’s earlier than normal, especially to see the babies,” owner Rudy Della-Flora said.

A snake was also spotted at a popular riverfront reserve in Murray Bridge.

By October, dozens of eastern brown snakes had been spotted across Adelaide.

So what should you do if you encounter a snake this summer?

And what should you do if you get bitten?

SNAKE SEASON IN SA

Snakes start moving again in spring after their winter hibernation.

You can encounter a snake anywhere in SA, including in the city.

Red-bellied black snakes are commonly found in the Adelaide Hills, tiger snakes are common around the Murraylands, south east and Kangaroo Island while death adders are found near the coast on the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas.

IF YOU SEE A SNAKE

Keep children and pets away and do not attempt to touch it.

According to the SA Environment Department, most snake bites happen when people try to catch or kill them.

IF YOU FIND A SNAKE AT HOME

Stay calm. If you disturb the snake it might find a place to hide inside your house.

If it’s safe to do so, close the doors inside your house and use rolled up towels to block any gaps.

Open the external doors so the snake can escape.

Call a licensed snake catcher to remove it.

“Most of the time people don’t see them because they are shy creatures,” Murraylands snake catcher David Dique told the Messenger.

“For the most part, give them some respect, give them space and they will take off,” Mr Dique said.

“My advice to any one is to call a licensed snake catcher and get them to remove them safely and relocate them – they are protected species,” he said.

IF YOU SEE A SNAKE WHEN GARDENING

Wear thick leather gloves and long, heavy pants (such as jeans) and covered footwear.

Use a stick to poke into piles of mulch or foliage before putting your hands in.

■ Don’t put your hands into places where snakes may be sheltering, including

■ Holes in logs or trees

■ Holes in tree roots

■ Holes made by other animals

■ Cracks in the ground

■ Under rocks.

IF YOU SEE A SNAKE WHEN BUSHWALKING

Snakes can hear low-frequency sounds like foot steps and will usually slither away or hid to avoid detection.

Stick to well-worn and open tracks.

If you’re walking in scrubby areas, use a stick to alert snakes that you are approaching.

Wear clothes that contrast with the environment (normally darker clothes) so snakes will be more likely to see you coming.

Avoid walking through densely vegetated areas, especially during spring.

Step onto, rather than over, fallen logs in case a snake is lurking on the other side.

Don’t step or put your hands anywhere you can’t see.

Wear loose-fitting long pants and boots that cover your ankles.

Snake experts say SA is in for a bumper snake season this spring and summer.

HOW TO KEEP SNAKES AWAY FROM YOUR PROPERTY

Rats and mice are a snake’s primary food source, so you can keep snakes away by taking steps to keep rodents away.

That means making sure not to leave food scraps, pet food and seeds and grains where rats and mice can feed on them.

Don’t feed wildlife foods such as bread or cake as this can attract rodents.

Keep your aviary bird seed and chook food in sealed containers and clean up any grain spills.

If you have a compost heap, make sure you turn it over regularly to discourage rodents from breeding in them.

Also, don’t put egg shells in your compost because rodents love them and if you have raw food scraps, put them into a compose bin, rather than your heap.

You should also take steps to make sure rodents don’t have too many places to hide, such as sheds, garages, boxes and wood heaps.

Also be aware that water that you leave around for your pets and animals during hot weather can attract snakes and lizards.

If you do leave water out, make sure the containers are away from the house to reduce the risk of you encountering a snake.
Also keep grass trimmed around ponds and swimming pools so you can more easily see if a snake is present.

For more tips, check out this handy fact sheet.

IS IT LEGAL TO KILL A SNAKE?

In SA, snakes are protected by law (National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972).

If a snake has attacked, or is attacking a person, it is lawful to kill the snake humanely without a permit.

Information sources:Department of Environment and Water / SA Health