MYTH 1:
Bites from baby venomous snakes are more dangerous than those from
adults because they always deliver a full dose of venom.
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.
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
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.
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.