Urgent warning after venomous snakes caught in the act in Aussie home
Snake catcher Zachery had the job of pulling the two snakes apart.
An urgent warning has been issued to Australians as unseasonably warm weather has meant that snakes are leaving their winter hiding places ahead of schedule. The warning comes as one snake catcher had the arduous job of breaking apart two venomous snakes mating hiding behind a Queenslander's wall clock.
Footage shows snake catcher Zachery, who runs Zachery’s Snake and Reptile Relocation, approaching the wall before carefully pulling the clock to one side to reveal the two brown tree snakes - a venomous breed which grows to seven-feet-long.
"A 'timely' reminder that with the warmer weather snakes are on the move and looking for 'luv'," snake catcher Zachery said. "This pair of brown tree snakes now safely relocated back to the bush."
Zachery is seen in footage slowly removing the snakes before later relocating them back into the wild. According to Queensland's Department of Environment Science and Innovation, while the brown tree snake is venomous, they rarely harm humans.
"However it can strike aggressively at its prey, launching itself into a series of s-shaped loops when threatened. Bites from large individuals should be monitored carefully," the department said.
Urgent warning as snake season starts 'earlier than expected'
The warning was echoed by the Australian Reptile Park have issued an urgent warning that venomous snakes are being sighted earlier than expected as the weather warms up.
"The Australian Reptile Park is URGENTLY advising the public to be vigilant for venomous snakes as temperatures have increased over the past week," a spokesperson said.
"With Spring set to begin next week, snake sightings have been reported earlier than usual due to the recent warm weather along Australia’s east coast."
As temperatures warm up, snakes are emerging from their hiding spots with snake catchers already reporting a rise in callouts "rarely seen at this time of year".
Traditionally, snakes don't come out of brumation until September, but unseasonably warm weather has seen this brought forward.
Operations Manager at the Australian Reptile Park, Billy Collett said: "Snake bites mostly occur when people are trying to catch or kill the snake, so if you don’t do either of those things, there’s a greater chance that you’ll be okay!
"However, it is important to know snake bite first aid, so if the worst-case scenario occurs you are prepared."
First aid for snake bites includes keeping the bite victim calm and immobile, removing all jewellery and/ or watches, applying a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the bite site, then bandaging the entire limb not just the bite area, and seeking emergency medical assistance immediately by calling an ambulance or going directly to the hospital.
"By applying the pressure-immobilisation bandage, the venom cannot easily spread through the body, slowing down the envenomation process by buying the bite victim more time to seek medical attention at the hospital," Collett said.
Australian Reptile Park's antivenom program saves approximately 300 lives a year.
— With Jam Press
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