The weather is warming up here in The Highlands.
You know what that means, don’t you?
Snake season!
We caught up with Ray McGibbon, affectionately known locally as Ray the Snake Man, to get the low down on everything we need to know about our slithery friends.
We still don’t trust any creature that can move that fast without legs, but at least now we know what to do if one crosses our path.
A delightful mix of species calls the Highlands home
Red belly black snakes, Highlands copperheads, diamond pythons, white-lipped snakes and mustard-bellied snakes like to hang out in the Highlands.
Eastern browns also live in the Highlands but tend to live on the west side of the Hume Highway preferring the drier conditions there.
They move around looking for water and food
In drier climates, snakes are on the move looking for water sources and food sources.
Ray has noticed a fair bit of activity where housing estates are going up, places like the back of Moss Vale for example. This is simply because we’re displacing them from their natural habitat, so they come looking for a new place to live.
If you live near a water source like a creek or dam, or you have a water source in your yard, you’ll be more likely to have snake activity and contact.
Stay still
If you come across a snake in your garden, on your property or in the bush, stand still and do not move.
In most situations, the snake will put on a display posture, they’ll flatten themselves out to make themselves look bigger to scare you away, and then retreat. Red bellies and copperheads do this. A brown snake or tiger snake will stand their ground and are less likely to retreat.
Stay still for 30 seconds to a minute, then back away slowly.
Do not try to kill or capture the snake at all.
Get kids and pets inside and away from the snake, but be sure to keep your eye on the snake the entire time so when you call Ray or another snake catcher to catch it, you can tell them exactly where it is.
Snakes are relocated to a suitable environment
Snake catchers relocate the snake within a 20 kilometre radius which is part of their licence.
Ray relocates them far enough away from people to hopefully not cause a problem again, and close to an area with water and food sources. Red bellies and copperheads eat skinks, lizards, tadpoles and frogs. Red bellies will also look for rodents to eat if food is scarce.
Keep the area around your house clear to discourage snake activity
Make sure you have high visibility across your garden and clear space around your house.
Keep lawns short and gardens maintained. Snakes love an unkempt garden!
Space plants so there aren’t bushes clumped together.
Keep woodpiles elevated and a good distance from the house or where kids play.
Water features are popular locally here too. If you’re going to have a water feature, try not to have one close to the house.
Everyone should have a snake bite kit
These are essential in The Highlands and great to have as part of your first aid procedure if someone does get bitten.
If you or someone is bitten by a snake, call 000 immediately.
The key is staying as still as possible.
Take any jewellery or watches off and take shoes off but leave clothes on.
Apply a pressure bandage over the clothes, starting at the bite location and moving up the limb, then heading back down the limb.
Leave fingers and toes unbandaged and mark the site of the bite on the bandage every time you go over it, so paramedics know the bite location.
Splint the limb and do your best to keep the victim calm.
The key to cohabitation is education
Living with snakes is part of daily life here.
90% of our snakes are venomous so it comes down to making sure we are educated about snakes and what to do when we come across one to keep everyone (including the snake) safe and happy.
Ray McGibbon runs Southern Highlands Snake Catchers. If you need him (and hopefully you won’t so much after reading this article!) call him on 0400 734 225.
