Alex Borg says this snake – the eastern brown – is one of the most common in Canberra. It also has the second most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. Photo: File.
As spring approaches, so does more movement from snakes.
Bungendore Veterinary Surgery recently warned on social media that snakes had been sighted in the area and called on pet parents to bring their animals in quickly if they were bitten.
Senior vet Dr Clem Watson says the post was written after several dogs were brought into the clinic because they were seen interacting with snakes (and could have been bitten).
“The majority of people are aware,” she says.
“It’s just a timely reminder that we’re at the time of year.
“We have a large animal population that has probably, at one stage or another, had an interaction with a snake. It doesn’t mean every dog in Bungendore has been bitten, but it’s not unusual to see snakes about.”
Dr Watson says the clinic tends to see mainly brown snakes and tiger snakes.
“We see a lot of snake bites for dogs and cats … especially in the height of spring [and] to the beginning of summer,” she says.
Once an animal is bitten, vets provide antivenom and supportive care.
If conditions worsen, the animal may be transferred to a specialist hospital for more intensive treatment.
Across the border in the ACT, Alex Borg from Canberra Snake Catcher is also preparing for more snakes to soon be on the move.
Alex, who works with Dr Gavin Smith in the Canberra Snake Tracking Project, says the reptiles stay active throughout winter.
“There is a bit of a misconception they go to sleep, they stay in one particular spot for all of winter and don’t move. But that’s not the case,” he says.
“If the conditions are correct, they’ll come out and have a drink. In other cases, they might come out and feed.”
Since June, Alex has answered six calls about snakes.
He says more snakes are expected to be found in houses and businesses in the coming weeks, but we shouldn’t be scared of the reptiles.
“You can never snake-proof a place,” he says.
“The most snakes we find in Canberra are eastern brown snakes … from our research about 80 to 85 per cent of the callouts we get are eastern brown snakes.”
These callouts are followed by red-belly blacksnakes, then the common tiger snake which Alex says come from areas such as Lake George, Braidwood and Bungendore.
He says as reptiles search for shelter, food, water – and warmth – they often find themselves close to humans.
“Canberra’s been famous for its false spring for many years. Snakes don’t have calendars,” he says.
“They don’t look at when the computer says it’s autumn or when the computer says it’s spring [to become more active].”
Alex says snakes will bite in self-defence and urged people to stay away from them.
“Generally speaking, if a snake hears you or sees you, it will disappear long before you even know it’s there.
“It can’t bark; it can’t meow. It can’t scratch or kick … [but after biting], the snake gets portrayed as the issue.”
If you’re bitten, take these three steps: use a compression bandage, stay still and call Triple Zero.
Contact Canberra Snake Catcher on 0421 281 439 if you find a snake. Follow the Canberra Snake Tracking Project through its Facebook page.
