Snake season 2010 - it's on again!!!

[TheSnakeman]

As Melbourne's only listed snake catcher (in the phone book), we get inundated with calls for snakes in the spring.
I noticed several old threads here on the subject, some with conflicting information by self appointed experts, often arguing about definitions of terms like aggression and so I'll run through a few things here.
Snakes like to hide (live?) under hard cover such as shhets of wood, tin and the like (stuff most people here are familiar with).
If it is stored off the ground, (with a space between the bottom plank and the ground of more than 6 inch) snakes generally won't hang around, (except tree snakes, including tree pythons in northern areas, which are harmless anyway).
If you do not pick them up or try to kill them, your chances of a bite are virtually nil.
The peak season for snake sightings is Oct/Dec in Australia, so bear this in mind.
This week, (in cold Melbourne) the snake calls have ramped up to more than one a day (and it's still v-cold here) and I have no doubt that furtehr north, the snake activity's all happening already.
We get 3-5 calls to remove snakes a day (average, week on week, all days) in Nov/Dec, here in Melbourne.
Our problem is not snakes biting people, but rather snakes running away from people before we get to the address to find it.
Last night I had a call to catch a four foot Tiger snake seen during the day and with a torch at 8 PM I found it at night.
It was a "four foot" Bluetongue lizard.
All the best
Snakeman Raymond Hoser

[Dave50]

yep you are right in most instances they will flee with the exception of the brown that will actively chase you if you are between him/her and where he/she wishes to go during breeding/mating season, I have had to grab my kids on many occasions and "head for the hills" when "out and about", the buggers are pretty damn fast

[Woodwould]

As Melbourne's only listed snake catcher (in the phone book), we get inundated with calls for snakes in the spring.
I noticed several old threads here on the subject, some with conflicting information by self appointed experts...

Out of interest, what are you qualifications. Licencing often doesn't require any qualifications.

[Rum Pig]

I use to do call outs in Darwin and the number or rubber snakes we caught was unbelievable. Unfortunately the bloody cane toads has reduced our numbers dramatically.

[TheSnakeman]

Dave50, you are right about Brown snakes being fast.
I have dealt with them for decades and my view is actually quite different from the "consensus" and popular view, that they are nasty pieces of work that chase, bite and kill people.
I regard them as smart, intelligent and occasionally with a relatively short fuse and sometimes confused.
As it happens, I have a huge respect for them and "even trust my kids with them!".
Their intelligence is what makes them kill people, they are smarter than those who try to catch and kill them - end point bite=death!
More Aussies these days die from Browns bites than any other snakes.
As for "chasing" people, yes they will lunge and chase a short distance sometimes, especially when you are between them and their escape (often a hole).
Same applies to other snakes to a lesser extent.
We are the first (and still only) people in the world to breed the Eastern Browns, having published papers (Brown snake breeding) on this and also the first in the world with devenomized snakes (now second generation), which are harmless (but they don't know this).
Pain is the main driver of snakebites (including stick handling by handlers) and as ours are not subject to pain, we never use sticks on them, they never bite!
Amazing but true!
I personally would trust Brown snakes over Tiger snakes any day!
And while talking of trust, I put Inland Taipans even below the Tiger snakes, and we have measurable criteria for this judgement call.
Dave50, people like you are at little risk of bite, because it's hard to get bitten while running away - so congratulations on your good attitude.
Woodwould, you wrote:
"Out of interest, what are you qualifications. Licencing often doesn't require any qualifications. "
Well put, studied science at Uni and been working at leading edge of reptiles science for over 30 years.
My reptile papers are linked here, and my CV as a reptile expert here.
That does not make me an expert on all things reptile, but I like to think it does....
Yes, licencing for reptiles in Victoria in particular does not require any qualifications or evidence of expertise and as a result there are still too many fatal and near fatal bites, especially at that sheltered workshop called "Healesville Sanctuary" which has an endless line of so-called snake handlers getting carted to hospital for venomous snake bites.
Rum Pig wrote: " the number or rubber snakes we caught was unbelievable",
... yes it is!! We get the same as well!
Last one was a rubber rattlesnake at Warrandyte!
All the best
Snakeman
Reptile shows in Melbourne

[Blue-deviled]

I presume that they're out early due to the rainfall (and it's time to look for a dryer place to nap).

[Charleville]

It was a "four foot" Bluetongue lizard.

A great post! Thanks!


.

[TheSnakeman]

Blue-deviled said "I presume that they're out early due to the rainfall (and it's time to look for a dryer place to nap)." - yes that does explain most of it!
Snake catchers pray for floods!
All the best
Snakeman
educational reptile displays reptile parties Victoria

[Bluegum]

Great thread snake man thanks for starting it. We back onto a creek here in ipswich QLD and in the seven years since being here I have lost one dog to a brown snake and had another pulled from the yard by a local snake catcher. I agree with you completely, give plenty of space and keep your yard as clean as you can.

[Old farmer]

snakeman, thanks for this thread.

I must mention, though, that not killing a Brown which is lurking near the dog kennels seems a much too big an ask.

We have lost too many dogs which have been of far greater use than any bloody Brown snake. Red bellies are different.

[AlexS]

Snake catchers pray for floods!

Working on rivers most of my life, I've come across many snakes and agree, give them a bit of space and they won't worry you. Also did the snake rescues for WIRES for a while and found that most of them would take themselves into the bag for protection.

There was on place on the Mitchell R. (Vic.) where there was always a red bellied black - don't suppose he had any reason to move. Likewise a place near Gosford NSW where there was always the resident carpet snake.

There always seem to be lots of snakes in the western rivers during floods. Funniest thing I've seen was a bloke holding a current meter in the river, staring into space, miles away, when a dead brown snake wrapped itself around him. Talk about walking on water...

[Rattrap]

Snakeman, is there some form of barrier or at least a deterrent that can be used to keep snakes out of your backyard?

[AlexS]

Snakeman may have more information, but AFAIK, the best way is to remove the things that are attractive to them. If you have birds or chooks, you'll probably have mice around their feed, and snakes love mice. They like shelter they can get under, and they also like water if you've got it there for the dog.
It's pretty hard to remove every bit of shelter they like. Often, they are around for years and you won't know about them.

[hughie]

Snakeman, Many thanks for the info, I have a couple of grandchildren and in their education on snakes your post is most helpful. As we are near the bush and a water source its matter of common sense teach them the basics.

[TheSnakeman]

Gents (I assume most here are), I was pleased the thread didn't degenerate into a common "kill all snakes" forum the often occurs.
Yes, the man who posted that the best thing to do is remove potential housing and the like (e.g. tin on ground) was on the ball in his response.
Snakes spend most of their time hiding, so by getting rid of hiding places, you'll probably get rid of the snakes as well.
Dogs are always an issue with snakes (I lost one to a snake myself, RBB in Sydney).
Snake prevention is better than capture as Murphy's law states that snakes will turn up when you are not about and by the time you get home, the dog may be dead on the lawn.

Someone here asked
"Snakeman, is there some form of barrier or at least a deterrent that can be used to keep snakes out of your backyard? "

the answer is "yes".

Commercial repellents generally don't work (moth ball sprays, vibrators and the like).
However what does work (unfortunately) is bird netting sold in stores like Bunnings.
Problem is it only gets snakes of about 1 metre long (as they get stuck in the holes) letting others through unimpeded and also most snakes caught in netting die rapidly as the sun heats their bodies like a solar panel.
Their use to catch snakes is outlawed almost everywhere in Australia, BUT wildlife departments never prosecute people for killing snakes.
All the best
Snakeman
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