Edweena Singh’s photo of a brown snake enjoying the sand and water of Wallis Lake just across from the popular Memorial Drive foreshore has caused a stir on the Great Lakes Advocate’s Facebook page.
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It comes just over a month after a brown snake was photographed swimming out from the water between the flags at packed One Mile Beach (click here to read the story). The photo and story were picked up by print and broadcast media across the nation and even by some overseas news sites.
In Edweena’s photos the deadly snake is seen swimming and slithering on the sand.
"It was on the middle island under the bridge where people swim to and park their boats. I don't know what type of snake it was, just that it was greyish brown."
Local snake expert John Smith says he's pretty certain it's a brown snake.
"It's more than likely a brown snake - it's the only thing it could be at that size and colour. There is a sea snake that's similar in colouring but it's a bit thicker in the body.
"We are getting a hell of a lot of those (black snakes) and they're all big - lots of six footers. It could be because of the humid weather - the hotter it is the hungrier they are but it's unusual to get so many big ones like this."
- Forster snake expert John Smith
Mr Smith is 67-years-old and has been handling snakes since he was a teenager and working with them in the Forster area for the past 15 years.
"I can identify most snakes."
While he's pretty sure it's a brown, he says the breed normally don't like the water.
"They're more of a dry country snake. That one at One Mile last month was more than likely spooked into the water."
He admits it has been a 'good' season for snakes - particularly blacks.
"We are getting a hell of a lot of those and they're all big - lots of six footers. It could be because of the humid weather - the hotter it is the hungrier they are but it's unusual to get so many big ones like this."
It got people talking and sharing their own photos of close encounters with snakes.
One that caused a huge reaction was from Jody Bosley Cruse who discovered a large diamond python (which is not venomous) on the doorstep at her Tuncurry home recently.
People were keen to know how she reacted to finding such a large snake on her doorstep with Nichole Parkes posting: ‘Omg how did you react when you saw this? I know I would have been having kittens because damn that's a big one. I hope nowhere near Wharf Street.'
Jody Bosley Cruse replied: ‘He wasn't killed - my neighbour who is familiar with removing snakes came in and removed him and my hubby drove him further away to release him back in the bush.’
Sue Beere was completely horrified saying simply: ‘ I'd have to move out if I saw that anywhere near my home.”
