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Snakes are out and about again, according to the ACT government. There have recently been “several snake biting incidents at Mount Stromlo”. Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman warned that “with the recent warmer weather, snakes had started to emerge from hibernation to bask in the sun and search for food and water”. “The recent wet weather means longer grass, which is creating the ideal environment for snake encounters,” he said. “If you plan to travel through bush and grassland areas, be prepared and always communicate your travels with family or friends. Travel with basic first aid equipment, enclosed shoes and a mobile phone.” He said the territory’s ambulance service was urging people to learn how to deal with bites. The first rule is: dial triple zero. “Always assume the snake is venomous and apply a firm pressure bandage over the bitten area and around the affected limb, using a bandage or other suitable material,” ACT Ambulance Service chief officer Howard Wren said. Rain makes grass grow thicker but the reptiles are also loathe to go out in the wet, according to Luke Dunn of Canberra Snake Rescue and Relocation. This means that the season is likely to have fewer incidents. He tackled two brown snakes on Tuesday, one in a backyard and the other in an underground car park, but last year when it was really hot and dry, it was three a day. “Eastern Browns Snakes (which we deal with 99 per cent of the time) already spend a lot of time in their shelter sites (burrows, cracks and crevices etc..),” he said. “When you add undesirable weather conditions such as rain, they will spend even more time going to ground.” READ MORE: Snakes don’t hide in the grass but they do use it as a through-way. “It just means people need to be more aware of their surroundings and vigilance is needed so they don’t accidently tread on one that cannot be seen in the longer grass,” the snake catcher said. He urged “common sense”: “During snake season, stick to open, formed paths and avoid thick grassed areas where you cannot see your feet, and keep dogs on leash on formed paths when out on walks.” Gavin Smith of ACT Snake Removals has had fewer call-outs this year than last – on Wednesday he removed an eastern brown from a kennels in Queanbeyan. He said this season was very different from last year when snakes were appearing in all kinds of unexpected places (like just outside the Canberra Centre).
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Snakes are out and about again, according to the ACT government. There have recently been “several snake biting incidents at Mount Stromlo”.
Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman warned that “with the recent warmer weather, snakes had started to emerge from hibernation to bask in the sun and search for food and water”.
“The recent wet weather means longer grass, which is creating the ideal environment for snake encounters,” he said.
“If you plan to travel through bush and grassland areas, be prepared and always communicate your travels with family or friends. Travel with basic first aid equipment, enclosed shoes and a mobile phone.”
He said the territory’s ambulance service was urging people to learn how to deal with bites. The first rule is: dial triple zero.
“Always assume the snake is venomous and apply a firm pressure bandage over the bitten area and around the affected limb, using a bandage or other suitable material,” ACT Ambulance Service chief officer Howard Wren said.
Luke Dunne and an eastern brown snake. Picture: Canberra Snake Rescue and Relocation
Rain makes grass grow thicker but the reptiles are also loathe to go out in the wet, according to Luke Dunn of Canberra Snake Rescue and Relocation.
This means that the season is likely to have fewer incidents. He tackled two brown snakes on Tuesday, one in a backyard and the other in an underground car park, but last year when it was really hot and dry, it was three a day.
“Eastern Browns Snakes (which we deal with 99 per cent of the time) already spend a lot of time in their shelter sites (burrows, cracks and crevices etc..),” he said.
“When you add undesirable weather conditions such as rain, they will spend even more time going to ground.”
Snakes don’t hide in the grass but they do use it as a through-way. “It just means people need to be more aware of their surroundings and vigilance is needed so they don’t accidently tread on one that cannot be seen in the longer grass,” the snake catcher said.
He urged “common sense”: “During snake season, stick to open, formed paths and avoid thick grassed areas where you cannot see your feet, and keep dogs on leash on formed paths when out on walks.”
Gavin Smith of ACT Snake Removals has had fewer call-outs this year than last – on Wednesday he removed an eastern brown from a kennels in Queanbeyan.
He said this season was very different from last year when snakes were appearing in all kinds of unexpected places (like just outside the Canberra Centre).
