Two snakes battle it out for over an hour outside IKEA store
Snakes fighting is common among a lot of breeds, a snake catcher explains.
In stuff made of some people's nightmares, two red-bellied black snakes have been captured fearlessly fighting it out in front of stunned onlookers outside an IKEA store near Brisbane.
Brendan Warlow, was near IKEA at Slacks Creek, just south of Brisbane, when he came across two "very healthy, thick bodied red-bellied black snakes fighting".
"These guys didn't care who was watching them, man or dog, they kept battling for over 75 minutes," he told Yahoo News Australia.
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Why do snakes fight?
This is not the first fight between two red-bellied black snakes captured in the last week or so. Just recently, a woman on NSW's Central Coast was awe-struck when she came across two fighting red-bellies.
Snake Catcher Mark Pelley told Yahoo these fights are seen across most snake species and are usually between two male snakes fighting over a nearby female they want to mate with.
"They can go for minutes to hours and they'll usually wrestle until one backs down," he said.
Do you have a story about Aussie native species? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com
Are we seeing more snakes around lately?
You wouldn't be crazy in thinking there have been far more snake sightings in recent days.
As the weather heats up, snakes come out of what's known as brumation — similar to hibernation and is when a cold-blooded animal's temperature drops and they hide underground — and head straight into peak mating season.
"Male snakes are desperate for females after brumation," Mark explained.
On top of this, snakes thrive in urban areas, where human waste attracts mice and rats — the perfect food source for snakes and one of the reasons they're so important for our ecosystem, Mark added.
Even still, it can be terrifying to find one, and even scarier if they're fighting or near your home.
If you spot a snake, the best advice is to:
Stop and back away slowly
Keep an eye on the snake and keep your distance
Don’t panic or make fast movements
Don’t try to touch, catch or hurt the snake
Contact a professional snake catcher if one is in your home
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