Snake catcher bitten by eastern brown snake in Onkaparinga Hills
THIS snake catcher gets a shock when an eastern brown whips around and bites her on the finger. But she’s not going to let that stop her from catching the venomous reptile. Watch the video
AFTER seven years on the job, one dedicated snakecatcher met her match in the Onkaparinga Hills.
When Ange Broadstock grabbed the unsuspecting eastern brown by the tail, he whipped around and bit her finger.
Shocked, she dropped the snake, then ran after it and caught it again, before it could disappear into the long grass.
“I dropped him — as you do — then I went, ‘no, you’re not getting away from me’, so I chased him,” she said.
“I missed the first couple of goes then I grabbed him again, successfully bagged him and off I go to hospital.”
Fortunately it was a “dry bite — no venom injected” so she was free to go after four blood samples and an overnight stay.
“I thank my lucky stars ... You’re supposed to lay down and keep calm and I do the opposite, naughty,” Ms Broadstock said.
“When I got bitten it felt like the hard side of velcro, the prickly side, I didn’t know it had pierced the skin.”
Video footage of the bite and subsequent release of the snake “where he has another quick go at me before he goes on his way” is drawing a crowd on Facebook.
Snake Catchers Adelaide has been extra busy over the warm weekend, with 30 about call-outs on Saturday and a further 15 on Sunday.
“The snakes have just been asleep for the whole winter,” Ms Broadstock said.
“When they come out of hibernation they’re very hungry and they’re looking for a mate ... Mating season is now, October, so that’s why it’s so busy. October and into November is really busy.”
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Animal Welfare Manger Dr Deb Kelly said snakes were found everywhere in the state, including the suburbs.
“Don’t think that you’ll only see them in the bush or in rural areas — you’ll find them in the suburbs and at the beach as well,” Dr Kelly said.
“Brown snakes are common in all regions, but each area has its local specialty.
“You’ll find red-bellied black snakes in the hills and tiger snakes around the River Murray and the South East, and death adders are common in the coastal areas of the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas.
“You’ll see a few copperheads on Kangaroo Island, and up north in the mining areas, mulga snakes are regular visitors.
“All of these snakes are venomous, so if you see any snake it’s safest to steer well clear of it.”
Dr Kelly said people should always seek medical attention if a person or a pet were bitten by a snake, even if they thought it was not venomous.
“When it hatches, a baby eastern brown snake already has enough venom on board to hospitalise or even kill an adult,” she said.
“Don’t try to catch or kill a snake yourself, as this is when most bites happen.
“If you see one in your home or business, watch where it goes, keep children and pets away and call a snake catcher to remove it.
“If it’s outside and heading towards bushland or a field, just leave it alone. Most snakes aren’t aggressive and they won’t chase you.”
Dr Kelly said the best way to discourage snakes was to keep yards tidy all year round.
“Long grass, wood heaps, stored building materials and rubbish piles are all good places for snakes to hide, as they also provide cover for the mice and rats that are their favourite prey.
“Keep grass short and wherever you can, store items off the ground in racks. When you’re cleaning up, be careful where you step and where you put your hands. If you have chickens or other birds, make sure you clean up spilt seed as it attracts rodents.
“If you deny snakes their hiding places and food sources, you’ll be much less likely to have them move in with you.
“But remember that they are protected native animals and they do play an important part in our ecosystem, particularly in controlling rats and mice.”
For more information on how to maintain your property to reduce the likelihood of attracting snakes, visit theLiving with Wildlife website.