Video: Eastern brown snake with broken back found escaping the cold weather in Marino

A brown snake has been found tucked away in a sneaky hiding spot in metropolitan Adelaide only days before winter, sparking a warning. Video credit: Snake Catchers Adelaide

An eastern brown snake has been found escaping the cold weather inside a pit in Marino.

The discovery was made by Snake Catchers Adelaide during a pit check earlier this week with a video showing the venomous snake slithering alongside it.

The video was posted on the Snake Catchers Adelaide Facebook page, encouraging people to be wary.

“After a staff member went to conduct a pit check in Marino recently they lifted the heavy lid only to find a snake inside,” the post read.

“These pits are a common spot for snakes to spend winter as there’s a small hole in the lid they can get in and out of and they are dry from the elements of winter and usually give the person a fright!”

Snake Catchers Adelaide removed the snake, which appeared to have a broken back, from the pit for a check-up.

Manager Angie Broadstock said the snake had two lumps that appeared to be inflicted from a shovel.

Sadly, the snake was euthanised due to the severity of its injuries.

The snake had a broken back. Picture: Snake Catchers Adelaide

It had to be euthanised due to its injuries. Picture: Snake Catchers Adelaide

She said concrete pits provide a safe place for snakes to escape the cold during winter.

“When you lift the concrete lid there is usually a black piece of plastic underneath so the snakes like to go on top of the plastic so they stay dry all winter and they can keep warm when the sun heats up the concrete,” she said.

A red bellied black snake was recently found hiding inside a Telstra phone pit between two neighbouring houses.

“The snake actually bit a Jack Russel puppy a few days prior,” she said.

“A couple days later the neighbours kept seeing this red belly coming out of the Telstra pit and sunning itself.

“If it saw anyone go past, it would just duck back in there so its very common.”

Other popular spots include behind retaining walls, underneath tin sheets, large rocks, and inside holes and cracks in the ground.

While the cold weather makes snakes slower, its always best to keep your distance, she said.

“If you do spot one in your backyard, its always a good idea to keep out of their view,” she said.

“But keep your eye on it and (call a catcher) from a safe distance and not move too much until the catcher arrives.”

Originally published as Video: Eastern brown snake with broken back found escaping the cold weather in Marino