Greystanes: California kingsnake crosses Ettalong Rd
Why did the snake cross the road? Possibly to escape a Greystanes house where it was allegedly kept illegally.
Parramatta
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A couple who discovered a California kingsnake cross a Greystanes road has heightened concerns from wildlife experts there may be more of the exotic snakes kept illegally and posing a threat to native reptiles.
Australian Snake Catchers’ Sean Cade said a couple was driving along Ettalong Rd on Friday when they saw the 120cm male snake slithering across the busy street, near AJ’s Cafe, before a car ran over it.
The snake, which is native to the US and Mexico, died the next day.
“People drove past it and said they weren’t sure if it was a piece of rubber or foam and a car ran over it and they saw it and said it’s definitely a snake,’’ Mr Cade said.
The brown and white snake could have slithered from a house on the same street that Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor raided on June 26.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said exotic wildlife and protected fauna were seized from the property but no charges were laid and inquiries were continuing.
Mr Cade said the California king snakes were becoming more common because pet owners liked their striking skin patterns and colours.
“They’ve been here for a number of years now so people are breeding them here and it’s a black market thing.”
Mr Cade said Australian Snake Catchers was working with the Primary Industries Department to tackle the bio hazard.
“They’re becoming more and more widespread,’’ Mr Cade said.
“These are fascinating to people for some reason but they don’t realise the impact on the environment if they get out.
“If you’re going to have it, legally or not, keep it locked up.”
He said another California snake was also collected at Georges Hall and Colyton recently.
Mr Cade said the kingsnakes typically ate rattlesnakes but were not venomous.
“It’s a colubrid-type snake so they have large grooved teeth in the back of their mouth,’’ he said.
“The potential for them to breed and crossbreed is there but they carry different diseases and things like that for our environment.’’
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