Melbourne set to face summer snake explosion after perfect spring conditions

VICTORIA’S cold, wet spring means more — and bigger — snakes will be lurking around our homes this summer, reptile experts have warned.

VICTORIA’S cold, wet spring means more snakes will be lurking around our homes this summer, reptile experts have warned.

The “snake season” has had a late start because the cooler temperatures kept snakes quiet but the warm weather that finally arrived last week heralded a surge in calls from people findings snakes around their properties.

It seems snakes in the northern and western suburbs have been active earlier than those in other areas, but calls in all areas picked up in the past week and are expected to be high all summer.

“With all the rain the grass has grown so there’s more mice and rodents living out there in the grass. Once the sun burns off the grass and everything goes brown, mice and critters will invade houses and snakes will follow them in,” said Barry Goldsmith of Snake Catcher Victoria.

“It’s been a cool start to the year so not a lot of snakes, but as it warms up it’s going to be red-hot and there will be a lot of people come into contact with snakes,” said Mr Goldsmith who covers the Mornington Peninsula.

Snake catcher Barry Goldsmith predicts there’ll be bigger and more snakes around peoples’ homes this year. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Western suburbs snake catcher Adam Sapiano from Vic Reptiles said the rain had also increased the amount of food available for snakes, particularly frogs, so there were more and bigger snakes because of the extra food.

Tiger snakes are the most common venomous snake found around Melbourne, with brown snakes also abundant.

Snake Ace snake catcher Jason Donnelly last week removed three brown snakes, ranging from 1.2m to 1.4m, from the same Warrandyte property in a day.

“They are looking for feed. I’ve had a lot of brown snakes around people’s front doors, back doors and garages,” he said.

And he had his first call to remove a snake from inside a house in Ivanhoe.

“They are all around, but particularly along waterways, creeks and rivers,” he said.

A tiger snake being wrangled by Barry Goldsmith. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Urban sprawl has also bought humans and snakes closer than ever before.

Construction of new estates on the city fringes means more people living where snakes traditionally slithered undisturbed, and Mr Sapiano said he was being called to remove snakes in older parts of the western suburbs where he hasn’t had snake calls from in years because roadworks and new estates were forcing snakes to look for new homes.

And because snake catchers must release the snakes they remove within 5km of the catch point, he said it was getting harder to find appropriate release sites.

It’s not just humans coming into contact with snakes, but pets and animals too.

Because they are smaller, dogs and cats often succumb quickly to snake bite.

“We have treated six cases of snake bites over the past couple of months. With warmer weather predicted over the coming months we want to urge owners to be vigilant,” said Dr Russell Harrison, Head of Hospital Services at Lort Smith Animal Hospital.

“With prompt treatment, the prognosis for survival is good, however when there is a delay in giving the pet antivenin the chance of survival decreases and pets need prolonged intensive care which is costly,” Dr Harrison said.

And each reptile expert the Sunday Herald Sun spoke to warned people to stay away from any snakes they see and call a licenced catcher.

“Don’t try to catch or kill it. That’s how people get bitten. If you can keep an eye on it it’s the best way to increase our chance of catching it,” Mr Sapiano said.

“Always watch from a safe distance, which is as far away as possible without losing eye contact.”

And Mr Goldsmith reminded people it’s illegal to kill snakes, and to cut the head off a snake is animal cruelty because the head stays alive for 15 minutes.”

Trying to catch or kill a snake is a good way to get bitten. Picture: Norm Oorloff

PET PROTECTION

— A cat or dog that is bitten by a snake may show a variety of signs depending on the species, age and amount of venom yielded by the snake during the bite. Common signs your pet has been bitten by a snake include collapse and vomiting, which can occur within minutes of a bite; trembling, salivation, urination and defaecation; dilated pupils and, in severe cases, paralysis and death.

— Treatment for affected pets is intensive and a number of blood and urine tests are usually performed. Initially your pet will be stabilised with intravenous fluids and oxygen.

— Antivenom will be administered and it is important your pet is monitored carefully as they may react to the antivenom (which is prepared from horse serum). Often multiple doses of antivenom are required and this becomes quite costly.

— With early detection of a snake bite, intense treatment and monitoring there is a good chance that your pet will survive a snake bite.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS BITTEN BY A SNAKE

— Seek immediate veterinary attention.

— Keep your pet calm and quiet.

— Don’t wash the wound or apply a tourniquet.

— Under no circumstance should you attempt to kill or bring the snake into a clinic, as you may get bitten. There are snake identification kits that your vet may use.

Souce: Lort Smith Animal Hospital