Snakes – Our Unsung Aussie Heroes!
Jennifer Kay, a rescue volunteer with WIRES Illawarra, shares five good reasons to celebrate snakes this summer
By Jennifer Kay, a rescue volunteer with WIRES Illawarra
Summer is the season when we are more likely to encounter snakes in our suburbs and local bushland. They are more active in the warmer months searching for food and finding a mate.
There are about 200 species of snakes in Australia but only a handful have bites that are life-threatening. Like all Australian native wildlife, snakes are protected so it is against the law to kill or injure them.
Being aware of snakes is part of living in Australia. It is important to know that if you stay well away from them, they will not harm you. Australian snakes are not naturally aggressive and only attack if provoked.
Hugh Marriott, Reptile Co-ordinator for WIRES Illawarra, says: “Treat all snakes with respect and learn to identify them.
"The best way to avoid being bitten is to leave them alone. Use common sense because most snakes are just moving through the environment trying to avoid trouble.”
Green Tree Snake trapped in corrugated iron fencing. Photo: WIRES
So why do we call snakes Aussie heroes?
- Snakes are good recyclers! They eat seed-eating animals but cannot digest the seeds, so these are dispersed around the environment helping to generate native bush.
- Snakes are both predator and prey. They are like unpaid employees, eliminating rodents, such as rats and mice, and other pests that live in our urban environments. They are in turn a food source for a wide variety of birds including eagles, falcons, owls, kookaburras and butcher birds.
- Snake venom has been used for centuries as a key ingredient in a wide variety of pharmaceuticals, providing health benefits for billions of people.
- Snakes feature strongly in creation stories, paintings and carvings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, who highly value them.
- Snakes are an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. Having them around means our environment is healthy enough to sustain them!
Green Tree Snake trapped in wheels of a laundry trolley. Right: Entangled Red-Bellied Black Snake rescued from discarded netting. Photos: WIRES
It is important to protect our snakes.
Unfortunately, many snake species are declining because of human activity. Hugh Marriott is concerned about the negative impact of rodenticides commonly used in our community.
"Native wildlife, such as snakes and owls, who rely on rats as a regular food source, succumb to secondary poisoning after eating rats that have been baited with poison," Hugh says.
"It is essential to seek more sustainable alternatives to traditional pest control methods, to protect the wildlife that plays a crucial role in controlling pest populations.”
WIRES volunteer rescuing a Red-Bellied Black Snake with head trapped in a drink can. Photo: WIRES
What should you do if you see a snake in your yard?
Firstly, do not panic! Give it space and back away slowly. Allow it to leave. Snakes usually move on if given time. If trapped in your property, contact WIRES on 1300 094 737 for assistance. Keep pets and children far away from it and never try to catch or kill it. If bitten, it is a medical emergency. Immediate First Aid is required and always call 000.
If you find a snake in your house, move to another room, close the door and put a towel at the bottom of the door. Call WIRES immediately for assistance.
The next time a snake makes a surprise appearance in your area, spare a thought for the many awesome things it brings to our community and be grateful it is helping to protect your environment!
