‘Urgent warning’ for influx of venomous snakes

Sydney’s record rainfall is expected to lead to a “massive” snake season, with experts issuing an urgent warning as sightings rise.

Experts have issued an “urgent warning” to watch out for venomous snakes in NSW with the recent weather creating the “perfect environment” for the dangerous creatures.

The Australian Reptile Park said snake sightings in the state had increased due to heavy rains over the last week and temperatures warming up.

“The unusual amount of rain we’ve had means we could be in for a massive snake season,” head reptile keeper Jake Meney said.

“When it rains the activity of small mammals, other reptiles and birds can increase and this means snakes will likely be more active and on the hunt for food.

“The increase in temperature will also see snakes out and about looking for a mate as breeding season ramps up.”

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts the mercury to hit 24C on Friday and 22C on the weekend in Sydney.

Australian Snake Catchers’ Sean Cade, who works across Sydney and the Blue Mountains, said he expected at least six to ten call outs on Thursday due to the clear day.

“The wetter weather is not ideal for the snakes so when we do get a break there seems to be a bit of a surge, influx because they haven’t been able to come out and warm up, hunt and do that sort of stuff,” he told news.com.au.

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Sydney-based snake catcher Sean Cade. Picture: James Croucher

Mr Cade said due to it being the start of breeding season, he had been finding two snakes at the same location, which made his job trickier.

“Either it’s two males in combat because there’s a female nearby or it’s a male and a female,” he said.

“It has been a little bit harder for me as I’ve got to grab two venomous snakes instead of one. It’s a matter of if one spots you and then takes off and that sort of thing.

“People should definitely be aware snakes are out and about and moving around.”

It’s not just NSW snake catchers under the pump.

Brisbane-based snake catcher Josh Castle, who runs Josh’s Snake Catching and Relocation, was called by a scared family on Wednesday who had found five tree snakes at once.

He told news.com.au the family had recently moved into a house in Caboolture and were moving excess bricks when they made the discovery. The snakes were wrapped between the bricks and through the holes.

Brisbane-based snake catcher Josh Castle. Picture: Instagram

Mr Castle has been called out to groups of snakes recently. Picture: Instagram

Mr Castle also had a call out for three eastern brown snakes in the one spot this week.

“Usually in previous years we’ve only found the two together,” he said.

He is already getting up to 10 call outs a day but said as the warm weather becomes more consistent it will be “hectic”.

The Australian Reptile Park - which is the only facility in Australia that milks venomous snakes for their venom to produce antivenom - called on the public to exercise extreme caution and be aware snakes could be venturing into backyards or homes.

The park advises everyone to keep the grass around their houses mowed and avoid piling up left over wood from winter or accumulating stick piles.

Snakes will bite if startled and the park warns, depending on the species, a snake bite could destroy blood cells, cause blood clots, or excessive bleeding and destroy tissue. A bite can kill you in as quick as 30 minutes.

Australian Reptile Park head reptile keeper Jake Meney. Picture: Australian Reptile Park

Head reptile keeper Jake Meney said most snake bites happen when people are trying to catch or kill a snake, so if you don’t do that you should be OK.

“However, it is important to know the correct first aid technique, so if the worst-case scenario occurs you are prepared,” Mr Meney said.

That technique is to keep the victim calm and immobile, remove all jewellery, apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the bite site, then bandage the entire limb (not just the bite area). Most importantly, you must immediately call an ambulance or go direct to hospital.

Mr Meney explained: “By applying the pressure-immobilisation bandage, venom cannot easily spread through the body, slowing down the envenomation process by giving more time for the bite victim to seek antivenom at hospital”.

The Australian Reptile Park saves approximately 300 lives each year through its antivenom program.