Local snake expert, Dave Borg said winter was the preferable time to have an unexpected meeting with a snake.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They are much more docile on a cold day, Dave said.
But, try telling that to one-time Great Lakes councillor and Stroud resident Karen Hutchinson who has had two such encounters in the past three weeks.
Karen’s latest meeting was on Thursday, June 8 when she ventured into her ‘sewing shed’.
Thankfully brave grand-daughter Chloe was on-hand to catch and release the unwanted visitor.
Karen’s earlier encounter was while she was cutting fabric at the counter in Crafty Friends at Stroud.
“A fellow worker Margaret Swilks was evacuating the shop – I hadn't heard the word snake; I kept cutting,” Karen said.
“A customer kept a torch on it till our local snake man arrived.”
Luckily, Karen’s latest meeting wasn’t such a surprise.
“I was picking up some black fabric off the floor in the shed, but this time I did see it.
“I calmly walked to the house and collected our grand-daughter Chloe – she's been trapping wild dogs on our property – so I thought she could be the hero.
“My husband asked what we were up to and Chloe answered with, ‘just going to catch a snake. He didn't move but the better of it got to him, when he saw it he said 'that's a snake' .
“Men.
“Think I’ll buy myself a lottery ticket”.
Judging from the size and gloss of the snake it looks like a Small-eyed Snake, which is more common than the black, Dave told the Great Lakes Advocate.
“They are common here in dry parts.”
He also said it was common to see this species together at this time of year, and believed Karen’s two snakes were a male and female getting ready for the mating season.
Dave said this snake, which measured between 50-90cm, was as venomous as a black snake.
“But, unlike the black snake, which has had no recorded fatality, the Small-eyed Snake has caused one human fatality.
“They have a big payload of venom.”
This species will bite readily and thrash about if handled.
Bites from this species should be treated immediately and attended to with correct first aid.
Dave said it was not uncommon to see snakes around at this time of year.
Most Australian snakes do not completely hibernate because of our climate, Dave explained.
Only recently Dave had a meeting with an eastern Small-eyed Snake in a roll of fence wire on his Hallidays Point home, while he has come across five is as many years.