Clyde: Four red-bellied black snakes found at Factory St
A reptile catcher was shocked to find more than one venomous snake after tradies installing a 5G tower in western Sydney called him to the site.
Parramatta
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Australian Snake Catchers’ Sean Cade is accustomed to discovering all kinds of reptiles in urban Sydney but was shocked at the number of red-bellied black snakes that greeted him at Clyde on Monday.
The reptile catcher discovered four of the venomous snakes after tradies who were installing a 5G tower at Factory St, Clyde, alerted him to their discovery.
The snakes, each measuring about 1.2m, were slithering near the tower in bushland and lurking under dumped metal pieces, including a 8m by 50cm chunk, near the Australia Post centre.
“Nothing was unusual about it other than it was four,’’ Mr Cade said. “It was just the amount that was unusual.
“There will be more snakes, 100 per cent.’’
Cade says the fact three males and one female snake stuck together in a group instead of dispersing could be down to their diet and mating season.
“Snakes have snakes in their diet so they eat each other but if they’re the same length they can’t eat each other,’’ he said.
“Normally the males would go into combat.’’
The proximity to Duck Creek makes the cycleway near Clyde train station a popular habitat for the snakes, who often lie under stones.
Mr Cade released them further up the creek, complying with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s rules that stipulate they be rehomed within 15km of where they were found.