The Snakes Are Slithering in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Snakes have been slithering around Newcastle and the Hunter one month earlier than usual.

In the Hunter, brown snakes are the most common, and right now they're on the hunt for food and a mate.

It's prompted renewed calls for Hunter residents to be smart around snakes - 23 of the 35 people who died from a snake bite between 2000 and 2016 in Australia were bitten by a brown snake.

Image Australian Reptile Park

They've been seen in the most unusual of places, most recently a 1.5 metre brown turned up for breakfast at a cafe in Stockton. They've also been caught on camera in inner-city car parks and frequently in residential areas.

"It's coming into breeding season so that's why we're seeing a lot of male to male combat, more snakes in people's local areas than before and the activity level at the moment is just really really high for a number of reasons including food and mating season," said Dan Rumsey from the Australian Reptile Park.

While snakes will defend themselves if they have to, Dan says it's really a last resort and they'll only bite if they're provoked or hassled.

"The majority of snake bites in Australia come from one of two things and that's people trying to kill or catch them so the key thing is if you don't do either of those two you're going to limit your chances of being bitten by a snake dramatically."

He also said even the fastest snake in the world only gets to 14km/hr, so they're not coming out of hiding just to chase you.

"Granddad used to tell you brown snakes will chase you, try to bite through your car to get you. They don't operate like that at all. Most of the guys who work here have been catching snakes from since they were 7 or 8 years old - I've never had a snake chase me in my life so I promise you it won't happen," said Dan.