La Perouse snake: Council warns residents to keep dogs on leash as hot spots revealed

A toddler and a dog are among those to experience frightening encounters with a black snake, believed to be living under a footpath, in Sydney’s southeast. See the snake hot spots across Randwick LGA.

A toddler and a dog were nearly bitten by a black snake living under a footpath in Sydney’s southeast, leading to authorities warning residents to keep dogs on leads and be wary in key locations.

La Perouse resident Sarah Newling said her three-year-old daughter Ellie was startled to see a snake on the footpath near the La Perouse Museum last Monday.

“We were walking along the left side and I was chatting to my husband and Ellie had run up ahead a little, and she didn’t see the snake,” she said. “She nearly stepped on it. She couldn’t stop crying … She was really scared.”

In another incident, Little Bay man Patrick Gorwhite was walking his labrador Spark and briefly let him off the leash. In that moment, Spark sniffed something to the side of the path and Mr Gorwhite soon noticed a huge snake sitting half way between the grass and the path.

“I called Spark back straight away and put him back on his lead,” Mr Gorwhite said.

The big black snake seen on the footpath in La Perouse. Photo: Facebook

“We don’t usually take that route and I wasn’t even thinking about snakes. I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if I noticed him sniffing a few seconds later”.

A post on a community Facebook page warning people about the “huge black snake along the footpath towards La Perouse” has attracted dozens of likes and several comments about how the snake lives under the concrete and is seen often.

Authorities warn locals to keep their dogs on a leash except for in designated parks. Picture: Randwick Council

“My dog was never attacked but it’s always on the leash,” one person wrote. “My worst nightmare,” wrote another person.

Randwick mayor Dylan Parker said snakes were part of the natural environment and often found in parks and beach areas, especially during spring when they become more active.

“Snakes sometimes take cover in crevices under footpaths temporarily until they find a quieter location to move onto,” he said.

“Walkers in our area should be aware that snakes could be in nearby bushes and take proper precautions when walking – stick to the designated paths, always keep dogs on a leash and don’t walk through long grasses. Dogs should be kept on a leash at all times unless they are at an off-leash dog park”.

Mr Parker said if a person was bitten by a snake, they should seek medical attention, apply snake bite first aid immediately and report the bite to the local authority.

He said there were five spots within the Randwick LGA where snake signs warn the public of an increased presence.

They are: South Maroubra Beach, Malabar Wetland, Little Bay Bicentennial Park in Yarra Bay and Frenchmans Beach Reserve.

According to the RSPCA, spring time is prime snake spotting season as males seek out mating partners.

“Snakes don’t want to be near humans any more than humans generally want to be near snakes, so being proactive and keeping a cool head if one crosses your path will help keep you and your pets safe,” its online education resource reads.

“Most people and pets that get bitten by snakes are bitten when they disturb, frighten or try to move the snake”.

The Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) also warns snake sightings are more common during wet weather.