As the sun beats down on the Australian landscape, backyards have become a bustling hub of wildlife activity.

Among these visitors are some of the world's most feared reptiles: snakes.

Before taking these slithery matters into your own hands, experts issue an urgent warning towards homeowners.

The rise in snake bite incidents has become a pressing concern in Australia, especially in areas like Queensland.

The state is home to over 120 species of snakes, including 20 species with lethal venom.

Recently, Queensland's hospitals saw a worrying uptick in snake bite cases.

Wild snakes have found themselves in Aussie homes over the recent years. Image Credit: Pexels/Giulia Botan

Last December, emergency departments recorded a 10 per cent increase in snake bite incidents compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre reported a staggering 35 per cent year-on-year increase in calls related to snake bites.

Stuart McKenzie, a seasoned snake catcher, attributes this surge to habitat destruction and human error.

As urban life reaches natural environments, snakes have been forced into closer quarters with humans.

This change in environment could lead to more frequent and potentially deadly encounters.

McKenzie, who is part of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers, also left a warning to Aussie homeowners.

'It is illegal to kill any snakes, and large fines may be incurred,' Stuart McKenzie stated.

'Snakes do not chase you, so don't use that as an excuse.

'Don't tell me you were trying to save your kids or your pets,' McKenzie added.

'If you have time to grab a shovel, you have time to move your loved ones to safety.'

According to McKenzie, snakes are defensive creatures by nature and will only attack when threatened.

McKenzie's experiences as a snake catcher also underscored the risks of untrained handling.

He recalled a recent incident where a snake bit a man as he tried to remove it from a playground.

According to McKenzie, the man mistook a venomous whipsnake for a harmless tree snake.

Fortunately, McKenzie was nearby to provide immediate assistance, but the situation could have quickly taken a turn for the worse.

In another harrowing example, a homeowner was bitten by the world's second-most venomous snake: the eastern brown snake.

The homeowner reportedly confused it with a non-venomous species.

These cases highlighted the importance of proper identification and the dangers of intervening without expertise.

The cruelty inflicted upon snakes also shook snake catchers like McKenzie, as he discovered a Coastal Carpet Python with a broken spine.

The python was allegedly attacked while consuming a wild possum.

'Now I am not sure why someone would do something like this. A snake eating a possum is a part of nature and happens quite regularly,' McKenzie clarified.

'There is no need to try and interfere, especially once the possum is dead and the snake is halfway through eating it.'

Queensland's snake season has extended beyond the typical summer months, with increased activity persisting into late autumn.

Queensland Health noted that the summer peak in snake encounters was larger and lasted longer than in previous years.

Despite reports of 'swarms of snakes', McKenzie emphasised that the real issue was the human-snake interactions driven by habitat loss.

It's crucial to stay informed and exercise caution during snake season.

If you encounter a snake at home, keep a safe distance and contact a professional snake catcher immediately.

Attempting to handle or kill a snake endangers you and your family and could violate the law.

Key Takeaways

• An expert snake catcher issued a warning to Australians against disturbing or killing snakes following a spike in snake bite hospitalisations.
• Queensland is Australia's snake capital with over 120 species, and encountering a venomous snake can be fatal.
• Habitat destruction has been one of the main drivers for the increased rate of snake bites, as well as people mistakenly trying to kill or capture snakes.
• It is illegal to kill snakes in Australia, with heavy fines applicable, and doing so could put individuals and families in danger.

Have you had any snake encounters at home? How did you handle the situation? Share your stories in the comments below, and let's spread awareness about the right way to deal with these slithery creatures.

 

[Sherza]

They say to call a snake catcher,but who’s going to pay for it. There’s a hell of a lot of people that simply do not have that kind of money to spare

 

[Jill57]

I have a few snake stories first one went into some irrigation fluming and would not come out no matter how much we shook it and knocked it . Then took the end of the flaming and snake was curled up in the end when we got it out it was as long as my teenage sons height .Secondly came home from work and their was a snake curled up on the back door mat, so I went through the front door .

 

[elaine41]

Please tell me how you find a professional snake catcher. We don't have telephone books any more so can't look there for their contact number. Anyway, by the time you found a contact for a snake catcher, rang him, gave your address, he got into his car & drove maybe an hour to get to you, the snake has packed his bag & left town. Many of us live in country towns with no "professional" snake catchers so have to deal with snakes the best way we can.

 

[RFG]

It is very costly to call a snake catcher in...had to do it a several times. Unfortunately my neighbours property along fenceline is the perfect breeding ground for snakes with the 1.6mtr high x 2mtr wide of weeds & overgrowth all the way along the 77mtr fenceline. Rats love it too, so that feeds the snakes. They mostly come in my yard from there and I get them all too often. I even get them on my verandah. Scares the hell out of me.

 

[RFG]

Google "snake catcher near me." Cost more on weekends though. I get browns, whip, pythons, tree snakes. I had a python curled up & not moving one day that my dogs were checking out, I called my dogs away thinking it was dead. Went back out to remove it & it was gone. Apparently a python can play dead when threatened. I have been told by snake catcher never to call your dog away as that is when they are likely to get bitten.

 

[Beezzzy]

Morning, yes I am very worried. Two weeks ago while laying on my bed reading just after lunch, I had a brown head and tongue flicking coming from a light socket above my head. I left the room, along with my Maltese dogs. I rang snake catcher, who said he'd be out later in the day when they are most active. I felt this one was very active now thanks !!. Charge was going to be $160 whether he got it out or not. I am 70yrs old and moneys tight as we all know, so on consideration that by late arvo it could be anywhere I cancelled the call. Yesterday while letting my little dogs out here"s the snake at my back door. Same color and size, so I'm assuming same snake. To say I s.... myself is an understatement. By the time I got the dogs back inside of cause he had disappeared. Now I'm too scared to work in my garden, and very anxious letting dogs out to do their business.
Why can't the right authorities pay these snake catches, because of the cost may be why there is an increase in the bites. ? Yes he may be long gone and yes it may not be poisonous,( was a brown in my eyes . ) but my pleasure of the garden is gone . Why are they protected, there are millions of them???

 

[Isis]

Not just Queensland. In suburban Melbourne every summer a small creek frequented by many dog walkers has copperheads having a nice time chafing the rats in the choked area of the creek. Complaints to council each year and nothing. Guess someone needs to be bitten.

 

[HelenC]

Morning, yes I am very worried. Two weeks ago while laying on my bed reading just after lunch, I had a brown head and tongue flicking coming from a light socket above my head. I left the room, along with my Maltese dogs. I rang snake catcher, who said he'd be out later in the day when they are most active. I felt this one was very active now thanks !!. Charge was going to be $160 whether he got it out or not. I am 70yrs old and moneys tight as we all know, so on consideration that by late arvo it could be anywhere I cancelled the call. Yesterday while letting my little dogs out here"s the snake at my back door. Same color and size, so I'm assuming same snake. To say I s.... myself is an understatement. By the time I got the dogs back inside of cause he had disappeared. Now I'm too scared to work in my garden, and very anxious letting dogs out to do their business.
Why can't the right authorities pay these snake catches, because of the cost may be why there is an increase in the bites. ? Yes he may be long gone and yes it may not be poisonous,( was a brown in my eyes . ) but my pleasure of the garden is gone . Why are they protected, there are millions of them???

Good point!

 

[SGH]

I have been told that there is a herpetologist at the pet store in the Mt Ommaney shopping centre in QLD, who will fetch the legless lizards at no charge to the aged population. Locally of course.

 

[Mika in the van]

We had a brown snake near our back door. Called the nearest catcher, an hour and a half away! Said there was no point coming out as it would be gone by the time he arrived. But if we really wanted him to he would at a cost of $150. I was terrified of going out to my car or working in the garden after that. Every rural council should have trained snake catchers ans should be free or cheap.
Our neighbours also had one hanging around their carport where there 2 outdoor dogs beds were. They couldn’t afford $150 just in case the snake happened to be there at that particular time. So he did what he had to to protect his dogs.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I'll be f**ked!

See a venomous snake and it's dead. No snake catchers, no worry. A shovel and a swift beheading. End of story.

I got sick of spending $1000s on vet bills for my dogs bitten by red bellied black snakes.

 

[Jest]

tell me what good they do aoart from scaring everyone. New Zeakand survives without them. horrible things.

 

[Jest]

Google "snake catcher near me." Cost more on weekends though. I get browns, whip, pythons, tree snakes. I had a python curled up & not moving one day that my dogs were checking out, I called my dogs away thinking it was dead. Went back out to remove it & it was gone. Apparently a python can play dead when threatened. I have been told by snake catcher never to call your dog away as that is when they are likely to get bitten.

what! the bloody snakes need to only be there during the week. do they have the weekend off? the more i read it is no wonder people take it into their own hands. stupid australia.

 

[Veggiepatch]

what! the bloody snakes need to only be there during the week. do they have the weekend off? the more i read it is no wonder people take it into their own hands. stupid australia.

Don't forget to celebrate the Brown Snake Day on the 30th of February every year.

Just a few days away....

 

[MIZMAC]

Don't forget to celebrate the Brown Snake Day on the 30th of February every year.

Just a few days away....

I'd celebrate ALL SNAKES DAY on 28th

Beggar a no day. Do what you feel is best for these slithery creatures. I have hated them all my life. A venomous one was found curling up the leg of my bassinette when I was only weeks old

 

[Macarj]

Just leave the snakes alone they gradually move on

 

[Veggiepatch]

I'd celebrate ALL SNAKES DAY on 28th

Beggar a no day. Do what you feel is best for these slithery creatures. I have hated them all my life. A venomous one was found curling up the leg of my bassinette when I was only weeks old

Let's all celebrate ONE EYED TROUSER SNAKE DAY!

Are you up to it????

 

[MiasMum]

We had a brown snake near our back door. Called the nearest catcher, an hour and a half away! Said there was no point coming out as it would be gone by the time he arrived. But if we really wanted him to he would at a cost of $150. I was terrified of going out to my car or working in the garden after that. Every rural council should have trained snake catchers ans should be free or cheap.
Our neighbours also had one hanging around their carport where there 2 outdoor dogs beds were. They couldn’t afford $150 just in case the snake happened to be there at that particular time. So he did what he had to to protect his dogs.

I had a Brown in my kitchen a few years ago! Reckon my two cats had dragged it in through the cat door! It was looking very tired when I saw it, and the cats were SO pleased with themselves! I now have a chipped tile on my kitchen floor!

 

[Isis]

I'll be f**ked!

See a venomous snake and it's dead. No snake catchers, no worry. A shovel and a swift beheading. End of story.

I got sick of spending $1000s on vet bills for my dogs bitten by red bellied black snakes.

Quite understand