Sydney snake warning: WIRES plea for people to ‘leave them alone’

With wild weather events causing havoc across NSW, more and more snakes are finding their way into suburbia. This is what you should do if you encounter one.

Sydney electrician Gary Pattinson believes all Australians should have a healthy respect for snakes. And, while he says it is okay to take a snap from a safe distance, leave them alone and definitely don’t touch.

“They have every right to be here, as much as we have,” Pattinson told The Daily Telegraph. “Leave them alone and they will move on and do their own thing. They want absolutely nothing to do with human beings. We are a threat to them and snakes will defend themselves when they feel threatened.”

Pattinson is a volunteer for native animal rescue service WIRES and a reptile trainer for the organisation. He was recently snapped rescuing a Red Belly Black Snake that washed up on Manly Beach.

An increase in extreme weather events like flooding and bushfires has forced snakes and other animals out of their usual habitats and into more suburban areas.

WIRES reptile trainer Casey Towns and Gary Pattinson are trying to spread awareness about snake safety as more and more reptiles pop up in suburbia. Picture: Monique Harmer

A recent report in The Daily Telegraph said that snake populations are booming because of the mouse plague but that flooding had driven them into smaller areas of high ground.

“Accidental bites are almost unheard of,” he said.

“Snake bites generally occur when people are doing the wrong thing, which is interfering with snakes, trying to handle them, trying to catch or kill them. The snake that is left alone is harmless generally and the dangerous snake is the one that you don’t leave alone. Any bites are only ever defensive, there is no aggressive nature in snakes, it is always defensive.”

The most common snakes around Sydney and NSW include non-venomous pythons, as well as venomous snakes like the Red Belly Black, Eastern Brown snakes, Tiger and Death Adders.

There is an array of smaller species that people just don’t know exist like Eastern Small Eyed, Golden Crown and Yellow-Faced Whipsnake.

WIRES reptile trainer Gary Pattinson says snakes only attack when threatened. Picture: Monique Harmer

“If you don’t know what it is, assume it is venomous,” community services worker and WIRES reptile trainer Casey Towns said.

“Snakes are around. There are a lot of blocks in the middle of suburbia that have resident snakes on them, brown snakes in particular tend to live a lot more around people because they are specialised in eating the mice and things like that we attract. It is a nice easy source of food for them so we tend to encounter brown snakes a lot more than some of the other species.”

Towns, who has volunteered for WIRES for 16 years, continued: “Be respectful of them, they are potentially quite dangerous so don’t put yourself in a position where you are going to potential encounter a bite. Don’t try and handle a snake. Unfortunately most bites are from people trying to do the wrong thing. And the most important thing is knowing your first aid and having first aid equipment. If you do encounter a bite, the most important thing is to get your compression bandage on as quickly as possible, it is a lifesaving technique.”

OPINION: WHY HUMANS AND SNAKES CAN CO-EXIST

Don’t do this at home.

Some would think I am crazy to handle venomous snakes. Many people have a healthy fear of snakes, and rightly so – one small bite and you could die.

That’s why I believe it is important for all Australians to be informed on not just what snakes are in their area but what you need to do if you encounter one.

Firstly, don’t ever interfere with a snake. If you see one in your yard, on your property or in a public area, leave it alone.

Poking or prodding a snake to get a reaction is beyond stupid.

Daily Telegraph reporter Jonathon Moran handling a death adder. Picture: Monique Harmer

I’ve long been fascinated by snakes – I’ve got four of them at home – Elizabeth, Carrie, Olive and Ginger – along with our four dogs, a turtle and some goldfish. That’s our permanent resident count on top of the rescues we take in for differing periods. We’ve currently got a green tree frog in care, as well as a baby ringtail possum.

Like many, I was distraught as I witnessed the millions of animals killed in the devastating bushfires a few years back. Feeling helpless, I registered with WIRES in the hope of being able to do something constructive.

I really wanted to rescue and care for snakes but to do that, you must do the WIRES immediate response and care course that is one day and covers the basics.

You then specialise in rescuing and caring for different animals – birds, possums, koalas, reptiles – and they have different courses to train you for each.

It is all on a volunteer basis.

Snake handling is a two-day course and to pass, you must successfully rescue an Eastern Brown Snake, a Tiger Snake and a Red Belly Black Snake. We also handled Death Adders and some non-venomous pythons.

WIRES reptile trainer Casey Towns teaching Jonathon Moran how to bag a Red belly black snake. Picture: Monique Harmer

It should be scary or at least something to be cautious about. If it isn’t, quite frankly, you are stupid and shouldn’t be handling a snake.

To generalise, snake temperaments can vary by species and therefore require different handling techniques. An Eastern Brown is more likely to be defensive and stand its ground whereas a Red Belly Black will do its best to slither away.

Full of bravado and with a healthy dose of nerves mixed with excitement, I travelled out to an old scout hall in Sydney’s west for my weekend of training alongside about 25 others. Some were new recruits, others returning for a refresher as you must do every two years as a registered rescuer and carer.

Australian snakes are protected by law in all states and territories and play an important role in maintaining the natural environment.

WIRES adheres to strict protocol when training. Snakes are wild, kept for training from recent rescues before being released where they were found.

The local hospital is notified so as to ensure antivenene is on hand in case of emergency.

In being told that, the reality of the course hit home hard. The fact is, snakes can kill you. There is no way to sugar-coat that. It is not that they are out to chase and bite humans but, like us, if forced to defend themselves, they will bite.

Snakes are magical creatures, other-worldly in appearance. We need to respect them. Give them space. Let them pass. If you live in an area where snakes are common, carry the appropriate medical supplies (compression bandage) and ensure your pets are safe.

When an injured snake is encountered, or one is found where it should not be (like the bonnet of your car or inside a house) call WIRES or a local snake catcher to help.

There is room for all of us – it isn’t a them or us situation. Let’s keep it that way.