General News
21 September, 2023
Snakes already being sighted around town
As the temperature rises and drier weather rolls in, snakes have begun slithering out — serving as an annual reminder for the community to take necessary precautions. Following a local’s recent encounter with a brown snake in Maryborough’s...
As the temperature rises and drier weather rolls in, snakes have begun slithering out — serving as an annual reminder for the community to take necessary precautions.
Following a local’s recent encounter with a brown snake in Maryborough’s McClure Street, near Golden Wattle Drive, it’s clear that the scaled reptiles have started to emerge.
“It was the largest one I’ve seen in a residential area in town — it was enormous,” said the resident, who asked not to be named.
“Everyone should be on the lookout.”
These sightings should prompt people to adopt relevant safety measures, according to Gianni Hodgson, owner of Hodgsons Snakes Rescue and Removal.
“Now that the weather has actually gotten warmer, the snakes are getting out and I have been getting around three calls a day,” he said.
“If people are walking outside, the most important thing is to watch where you’re going, that’s really crucial so don’t walk through long grass because you don’t know what you might step on.
“I think if you can spot the snake before you’re standing on top of it, there’s literally no danger because you can move away — that’s the main thing for your safety otherwise it can get dangerous.”
Apart from being careful outdoors, there are numerous steps people can take to make their homes less appealing for snakes as well.
“There’s nothing you can do to deter snakes or stop them from coming on your property but you can do things to make your house less inviting,” Mr Hodgson said.
“Snakes have needs, they need water, food and shelter so they’re going to be looking for those things — if you’ve got mice running around, that’s a snack for the snakes, so you need to be on top of the mouse population.
“Water is a big one too. If you have a veggie garden, there’s always going to be water and that’s very attractive for a snake, including other sources like a water bowl for your dogs so you should keep the bowl indoors and install a dog door.
“Finally, with shelter, going back to the garden side of things, you don’t want it to be too comfortable for the snakes so make sure to have gaps between each plant — that way if a snake gets in, it’ll have to expose itself before going to the next plant and they don’t prefer that.”
With school holidays also currently underway, Mr Hodgson said parents should try to ensure the safety of their children, especially when outside.
“Kids like to run around outdoors or in the backyard so it’s important to regularly remind them a couple of times a day to be careful and to watch where they’re going,” he said.
“If there’s play equipment in the yard, it’s a good idea to check it before your kid starts playing because snakes can hide under things like slide or swing sets.
“The main thing, however, is to remind kids regularly to keep an eye out and tell them to stay away if they do actually see a snake and make sure to call out for help.”
It is illegal to capture, harm or kill a snake in Victoria and Mr Hodgson said the best thing to do if you encounter a snake is to contact a snake catcher or the local council.
Hodgson’s Snakes — Rescue and Removal can be contacted on 0490 415 734.
People can also contact Wildlife Victoria on their emergency response line available 24/7 on 8400-7300