Snake season is here

When Tuncurry woman Linda Johnson told of her close call with a large brown snake on the bike path near the Great Lakes College Tuncurry campus recently, readers soon inundated The Advocate’s Facebook page with their snake sightings.

Susan Gilmour-Butterfield reported seeing brown snakes crossing the walking path down to the beach at the Tuncurry rockpool while David Connell saw two baby brown snakes at Tarbuck Bay. 

Katie Montefiore also said she saw what she believes was a five foot diamond python in her shed near the horse paddocks at Burgess Beach. 

Meanwhile, Forster woman Amanda Louise Bell captured a photo of a red belly black snake after it made its way into her home last Monday (September 29). 

Ms Bell managed to catch the snake before calling on the assistance of local snake catcher John Smith who told her what to do.  

“Warning to everyone snake season is fast approaching. We had a baby red belly black snake in the house tonight. I caught it with a pair of tongs and put it into a container and released it out at near McBride’s as suggested by the snake man (Mr Smith),” she wrote.

“It got in under the sliding door and the doors were shut but remember there are plenty of snake catchers out there to call don't kill them.” 

Mr Smith, who has been catching snakes for the last 14 years and is a member of FAWNA (For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid) said locals can expect to see a lot more snakes coming out of hiding especially while the weather stays warm. 

Mr Smith advises people to leave snakes alone and if they become a threat, call an expert. 

“Snakes are coming out of hibernation. If we have a hot summer like they say we are then you will see a lot more of them. The hotter it gets the hungrier they get,” he said. 

“When people see one they probably don’t know what kind of snake it is so it’s best to leave them alone. 

“I always stress to people that if they come across a snake especially near their home don’t try and kill it just call for help. 

“90 per cent of snake bites are from people either trying to catch or kill them.”

He said one of the most common snakes found throughout the Great Lakes is the red belly black snake. 

One of the biggest red belly black snakes reported (two-and-a-half metres long) was successfully released into thick bushland in Lake Macquarie last week after it was found hiding under an airconditioning unit at an engineering firm in Cameron Park.

National Parks and Wildlife advise things people can do to discourage snakes from lingering near their homes is to remove poultry feed, cat and dog food, tidy yards and vegetation under fence lines and fill gaps under doors and holes in walls to prevent snakes from entering the home. 

If you have a problem snake in your house or backyard you can contact Mr Smith on 0402390887.