Since being born, I’ve gone through some biblical-esque disasters that would make even Moses blush. I grew up in the droughted lands of Wagga Wagga, where catching locusts was a childhood pastime. It once rained actual spiders. I even remember surviving when the local Eagle Boys got closed.
However, I still need to get mentally prepped for this year’s noteworthy snake season. Which, according to Nine News, is currently happening.
Thanks to a third La Niña, NSW’s wet conditions are forcing the state’s snakes to venture outside of their normal habitat. This means that they’re making schools, homes, backyards, and empty pipes their very own hotels. On the Coffs Coast, there has already been a whack of people calling experts for assistance with the snakes on their property.
Moreover, a snake population boom in Queensland this summer is on the cards. As a snake catcher named Stuart McKenzie told The Courier Mail, November could be big business for him.
“Breeding season might have been pushed back,” explained McKenzie. “This time last year we were flat chat, so I actually think this season might go longer.”
“We haven’t had the rush of browns mating and fighting, that hasn’t happened yet. They rely on those dryer days. But that will come.”
This sentiment was echoed by another Queensland snake catcher, Josh Castle. As he stated, “When it warms up it’s going to be absolutely hectic.”
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What Should You Do If You Encounter a Snake?
The Wildlife Information, Rescue, and Education Service (WIRES) has some advice if you meet a snake in the wild. A reptile expert of theirs, Kenny Damanschke, said to NBN News, “Stand back and observe. Certainly don’t try to touch the animals.”
“If you’re concerned for the animal’s wellbeing, give WIRES a call.”
Damanschke also gave some advice if a snake comes onto your property. “We can teach people that we don’t need to worry about them,” he asserted. “Keep an eye on them, keep the kids away from them.”
“In the event that it’s just unmanageable,” Damanschke also commented, “we will come, and we’ll help out by relocating the snake.”
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