Hidden danger lurking in photo of Aussie backyard
The tiny detail can easily be missed with Aussies being warned to be aware.
A tiny detail barely visible in a photo of a family's backyard shows just how easily potential dangers can go unnoticed around the home, with Aussies being urged to stay alert.
The image shows a rocky retaining wall lining the outside of the garden at a property in Greenbank, Queensland — but hiding between the rocks is an extremely venomous eastern brown snake.
Snake catcher Brandon Wilkinson was called to the property by the homeowners whose pet dog encountered the reptile in the yard last week. Wilkinson said "it took off into the retaining wall to hide" from what it thought was a predator, seeking shelter out of harm's way.
"Snakes aren't territorial, they don't live in one specific place. So most of the time, if they get disturbed they will go into retaining walls, concrete slabs, garden beds, just somewhere they can get some cover and hide away from us or dogs," he told Yahoo News Australia.
When Wilkinson arrived at the home he found the snake nestled between the second and third rock on the top row of the wall — but it can only be seen up close. The snake was a gravid female, meaning she was pregnant and "full of eggs". "That's probably why she couldn't go too far behind the wall" like they normally would, Brandon explained.
Many unable to locate the hiding snake
Brandon shared the photo on the local snake catcher's Facebook page on Tuesday and asked people if they could "spot the snake". Unsurprisingly, many wrongly guessed where the snake was hiding in the image, although some spots could have made a decent hiding hole too.
Snakes can easily hide in places around the home
There are many places around the garden where snakes can hide, including long grass, overgrown gardens and clutter — so it's best to be aware. The animals are known to camouflage which can help them hide from predators, said Dan Busstra, another Queensland-based snake catcher. It also helps them sneak up on prey.
"Some snakes will hide in places they have smelt an animal, and wait for it to hopefully return," he said. "Snakes don’t feel comfortable out in an open area. They tend to stay near things they can hide under."
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Python spotted hiding high in tree
Recently, Busstra from Coes Creek near Woombye, saw one lurking high in a tree while exploring the Nambour area, further north of the state. A photo he took and shared online shows a heavy bushland area full of untamed trees and shrubs.
But towards the top of the image, a coastal carpet python can be seen hanging from a branch, although its camouflage can make it difficult to spot. "All snakes can climb but not all snakes will do it all the time," Dan explained, but said "pythons and tree snakes are the ones you find the most up there".
What to do if you spot a snake
Both snake catchers agreed that snakes are best when left alone. Doing so will ensure the safety of everyone — humans, pets and the snake itself.
"If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. If you see a snake, avoid it," said Busstra. "The best thing you can do is try to keep an eye on them from a safe distance. I can't stress the safe distance part enough," Wilkinson added.
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