South Australia snake season to turn into bumper summer

Adelaide Snake Catchers issued a public warning after a spate of call-outs about baby venomous snakes.

On Thursday, August 10, three red-bellied black snake babies and one adult were caught nesting under a section of the River Torrens Linear Trail.

Rudy Della-Flora, owner of Adelaide Snake Catchers, said a 500-metre stretch of the trail had turned up 16 snakes in the past six years, with four of those caught being eastern browns.

“It’s earlier than normal, especially to see the babies,” Mr Della-Flora said.

“Once summer hits, they will be all over Adelaide and there isn’t anything you can do about it.”

Mr Della-Flora said that being mindful of potential snakes around you is the best way to avoid getting bitten.

“I have a saying, ‘Snakes don’t bite, people get bitten,’” Mr Della-Flora said.

“If you see one, stay still and back away, or just walk away.

“It’s when people try to catch them, scare them, poke them, throw stones at them or hit them with shovels that there is trouble.”

Dog owners are also warned to be extra vigilant and keep pets on leashes as Mr Della-Flora said you don’t know where they might be sniffing.

“Snakes aren’t going to have a go at them, it’s the dogs that go sniffing and want to play with them that cause a load of issues,” Mr Della-Flora said.

Despite concerns that we could be headed for our hottest summer yet, Mr Della-Flora said that snakes are often hiding out until hours of optimal temperatures.

“Snakes optimal temperatures are between 25 and 35 degrees,” he said. “Anything over is too hot, and under is too cold, so during those over 40 degree days we don’t get any calls unless its early morning or late afternoon.”

Originally published as South Australia‘s early snake season to turn into bumper summer