By DANE LILLINGSTONE
SUMMER is almost here and that means our slithery friends will be out in force but snake handlers have reinforced the message – don’t be afraid.
It’s been said countless times before but it is true – snakes won’t attack you unless they feel threatened.
Local snake handler Lyn Gynther said instead of being scared of the 127 land snakes in Australia, you should get smart.
“Understand them, educate yourself, and learn a little bit about their behaviour,” she said.
“A snake will only react to an action, so basic physics really, if you throw your hands up that’s a threat to them, it frightens them, and they’re going to react and defend themselves.”
Lyn said there were a few things to remember should you encounter a snake.
“Just keep your eye on it, if it’s in your yard, keep an eye on it and slowly back away from it, and give it an exit route so it can get away,” she said.
“If you have a snake coming towards you, the best thing you can do is stand perfectly still. I’ve had them go over my feet and through my legs and they haven’t even realised that I’ve been there because I’ve basically just become another part of the environment.”
Lyn also confirmed that snakes make the most of the summer months and are generally more active during the hottest part of the day.
“Summer is the mating season, they’ll be starting to wake up now and they’ll breed and have babies around December, January and come winter they’ll go to hibernation again,” she said.
“Snakes normally are out in summer between 10am till 3pm, they are moving more active at that stage and browns in particular around that time. Having said that, blacks are nocturnal, you can run into a Redbelly Black at night time.”
“Snakes are looking for somewhere they feel secure and where they can hide, so don’t give them that.”
If you are bitten by a snake you should call triple-zero (000) immediately and apply a compression bandage over and around the bite to curb the flow of venom through the body.
Council and police do not handle snake calls, with private handlers the most advisable way to remove a threat.
