Snakes emerge

Thursday, 11 October 2007

With the arrival of warmer weather the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) says that snakes are on the move and urges people to give them plenty of space.

NPWS Acting Director Western Branch Mike Fleming said today that snakes are beginning to emerge after lying low over winter.

“Snakes need to replenish fat reserves and will start looking for prey such as mice, frogs and small lizards,” he said.

“This may bring some into contact with people as they move around the countryside to look for food.”

“However there are a lot of myths associated with snakes in Australia which have generated unwarranted fears.”

“Snakes will not go out of their way to attack people. In fact the opposite is true. They will go out of their way to avoid people.”

“Snakes will only bite as a last resort and generally if people are wearing sturdy shoes and long thick pants such as jeans then the chances of a snake actually inflicting a bite are extremely remote.”

“More than 90 per cent of all snake bites in Australia occur when people try to pick up or kill a snake.”

“The best policy is to leave them alone.”

“If people want to keep snakes out of their backyards, I would advise them to keep the area tidy and the lawn mowed so as to avoid providing places where snakes like to take shelter.”

“Snakes are protected by law and play an important role in the environment by keeping certain species such as mice under control.”

“If one enters your yard, leave it alone and generally it will move on. The general rule of thumb is to be aware it is snake season and to take the necessary precautions associated with the season,” he said.