Is That a Brown Snake or a Harmless Lookalike? Snakes Commonly Confused on the Sunshine Coast

By How to Identify a Brown Snake

Is That a Brown Snake or a Harmless Lookalike? Snakes Commonly Confused on the Sunshine Coast

You’re walking through your Sunshine Coast backyard when something long, slender and brown suddenly moves across the grass.

Your first thought?

“That’s a brown snake!”

But is it?

When it comes to brown snake identification, appearances can be incredibly misleading. Not every brown-coloured snake is an eastern brown snake, and not every eastern brown snake is actually brown.

Confused already? You’re certainly not alone.

The Sunshine Coast is home to numerous snake species, and several share similar colours, body shapes and behaviours. While some are harmless to humans, others are highly venomous.

So, how can you tell the difference, and more importantly, what should you do if you’re unsure?

Let’s explore some of Sunshine Coast’s most commonly confused snakes.

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What attracts snakes to homes cover image. Stuart looking like he's deep in thought in a back garden.

What Attracts Snakes to Your House? 9 Things Sunshine Coast Homeowners Overlook

By what attracts snakes

What Attracts Snakes to Your House? 9 Things Sunshine Coast Homeowners Overlook

You keep your lawn tidy, your garden looks fantastic, and you’ve never deliberately invited a snake over for a visit. So why has one suddenly appeared beside your patio?

It’s a question plenty of Sunshine Coast homeowners ask, particularly as the weather warms up.

The surprising truth is that what attracts snakes to your property often has very little to do with the snake itself. Instead, it’s usually something you’re unknowingly providing.

Food, shelter and suitable temperatures are the main attractions, and even the nicest Sunshine Coast backyard can offer all three.

Before you start worrying about every rustle in the garden, here are nine things that could be making your home particularly appealing to our slithery neighbours.

 

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Cartoon image of Stuart McKenzie and a snake in a back yard

What Should You Do If You Find a Snake in Your Backyard?

By I Found A Snake In My Yard, Snake In Yard No Comments

What Should You Do If You Find a Snake in Your Backyard?

Picture this. It’s a beautiful sunny afternoon on the Sunshine Coast. You’re enjoying a cuppa on the patio, the kids are playing outside, and suddenly you spot something slithering across the lawn.

A snake!

For many homeowners, discovering a snake in the backyard is enough to send them straight back inside.

But before you panic, it’s worth remembering that snakes are a natural part of life here on the Sunshine Coast. Most aren’t interested in people and would much rather disappear into the nearest garden bed than have anything to do with us.

However, knowing what to do when you encounter one can make all the difference.

Stuart McKenzie and the team at Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 have been professionally relocating snakes for over 15 years. Here are their tips for handling an unexpected backyard visitor.

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Cartoon of Stuart McKenzie, a snake and some money as a promo image for blog

Why Do Snake Catchers Charge in Queensland?

By Why Do Snake Catchers Charge No Comments

Why Do Snake Catchers Charge in Queensland? And Why Isn’t Snake Removal Free?

You’ve just spotted a snake slithering across your backyard, disappearing underneath the deck or, even worse, making itself comfortable inside your house.

Naturally, your first thought probably isn’t about money. It’s more likely to be something along the lines of, “How on earth do I get that thing out of here?”

But once you’ve decided to call a professional snake catcher, another question often comes up.

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SNAKES & PETS

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In the warmer summer months from September to March, snakes become much more
active and pet owners need to be careful to safeguard their pets from snake bite, as well
as know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of snake bite.
Dogs will often try to chase or kill snakes resulting in bites usually to the dog’s face and
legs. Cats, being instinctive hunters, are also quite susceptible to snake bites.

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SNAKE BITES

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In Australia estimates of snake bite have reduced from around 3000 to 1000 bites per. This
is largely a result of the increasing public awareness about snakes. As 95% of people who
are bitten are trying to catch or kill the snake it seems obvious that the more we leave
snakes alone the more the annual bite rate will continue to decline. Of the previously
mentioned 1000 people who are bitten each year only around 200-300 require
hospitalisation and anti-venom, out of that only 1-4 people die annually from a snake bite.
This is a very low mortality rate for a country with over 24 million people. Read More

Keeping Snakes Away From Your Home

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What might attract snakes to my home?
Snakes are often attracted to yards and houses, where food and shelter are unknowingly
provided by the human inhabitants. Some snakes such as the Eastern Brown feed on
rodents and are attracted to farm sheds and suburban backyards to hunt rats and mice.
Carpet Pythons regularly find their way into bird aviaries and chicken pens to prey on the
roosting occupants. They are also found in roof cavities hunting for rats and possums.

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A SNAKE

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A SNAKE

• DON’T PANIC!! Contrary to popular belief Australian snakes are timid and in the
majority of cases will be quick to flee to nearby cover in the even of a human
encounter. On occasion they will lay still in hope you will go away. A snake will not
make a deliberate motion towards you unless provoked or unless it believes you are
an immediate threat. Due to the large size of humans compared to snakes,
sometimes our presence alone when in close proximity to a snake can cause it to
feel threatened and bring about defensive behaviour.

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