Snake sightings soar in flood areas with residents warned to be wary and stop gaps under doors

Distressing pictures are emerging of near-drowned and fatigued native wildlife as rain continues to batter Victoria.

Distressing pictures emerging of near-drowned and fatigued native wildlife as Victoria’s flood crisis continues and wild weather batters the state.

Possums, magpies, wombats, blue tongue lizards, echidnas, and tawny frogmouths are among some of the animals Wildlife Victoria has tended to since the floods hit, with the emergency service receiving 3680 rescue calls over the past seven days.

Ms Ramadan said she had also rescued a number of kangaroos and joeys that sadly weren’t always the victims of floodwater, but of cars.

A rescuer dries a Kookaburra, distressed by the floods. Picture: Wildlife Victoria

A ringtail possum after it was saved from flood waters. Picture: Wildlife Victoria

“When Shepparton and Mooroopna first went under, we worked all day controlling traffic on the causeway because kangaroos were just getting cleaned up by vehicles,” she said.

“We really need people to be wary … if you see animals stranded try and leave them alone.”

Some northeastern council animal rescue services have been forced to close their doors due to flooding, as well as Bohollow’s Bunbartha shelter which was inundated.

Wildlife Victoria chief Lisa Palmer said it was the flood aftermath she was most concerned about.

Bohollow Wildlife Shelter's Kirsty Ramadan with one of nine southern boobook owls that had to be rescued in the floods. Pictured: Supplied

Horses stranded in floods at Bohollow’s Bunbartha shelter. Picture: Bohollow Wildlife Shelter

“What we’ll expect to see once we can get in (to flood-affected regions) and have a look is literally hundreds, if not thousands, of kangaroos and wombats drowned and other ground-dwelling species like echidnas,” she said.

Wildlife rescue organisations are urging those that come across injured or stranded wildlife to be considerate, keep their distance and to keep domestic pets away to avoid causing the injured animals more stress.

“These animals are exhausted, they have to swim through fast flowing water and they’re as stressed out as we are,” Ms Ramadan said.

This joey was spotted stranded on a piece of dry land in Mooroopna before it was rescued. Picture: Wildlife Victoria

These four ringtail possums are among dozens of animals rescued by Wildlife Victoria from rising flood waters. Picture: Wildlife Victoria

A combination of the floods and breeding season has also meant snakes are coming from “everywhere” in some inundated Victorian regions, with concerned locals advised to stop gaps under their doors.

It comes as Wildlife Victoria warns it expects to find thousands of kangaroos, wombats, echidnas and other native fauna drowned when flood waters subside and officers can safely enter regions to assess the carnage.

Snake and wildlife rescuer Kirsty Ramadan from Bohollow Wildlife Shelter in Bunbartha and Kotupna said she had received up to four snake rescue calls an hour during the floods but couldn’t respond to them all.

A Shepparton resident spotted this large snake near murky flood water. Picture: Beccy Tozer

“People need to be wary of snakes. We get a lot of snake calls and can only get to some, so we ask that people leave them alone,” she said.

Snake sightings have also skyrocketed in flooded Mooroopna, Rochester and Echuca, with a Campaspe Shire spokesperson saying snakes were coming from “everywhere”.

Near Shepparton, a large snake was spotted on the Kialla bridge walkway.

“Warn your neighbours if you see a snake and if you keep your distance you should be right,” Ms Ramadan said.

“If you’re worried, put towels or blankets under doors to shield the gap because smaller snakes will fit under your door and that’s a way to keep them out.”

To report injured wildlife in the Campaspe and Greater Shepparton areas, contact Bohollow Wildlife Shelter’s Kirsty Ramadan on 0447 636 953 or Deb Fowler or 0418 328 671.

Wildlife Victoria can be contacted on 03 8400 7300 or via its website for all statewide rescues. Information on how you can donate to each organisation is available on the websites.

Originally published as Snake sightings soar in flood areas with residents warned to be wary and stop gaps under doors