Love them or hate them, Lake Macquarie is home to a variety of snakes. These include the beautiful Diamond Python, Golden-crowned Snake, Tree Snake, Yellow-faced Whip Snake, Red-bellied Black Snake, and Eastern Brown Snake. As the weather warms up, snakes that have been less active during the cooler months become more active. Make sure you keep an eye out when exploring local bushland, parks, and backyards this spring.
Warm weather = snakes
In spring, male snakes become more active as they head out to find a mate, sometimes travelling long distances. Once breeding season is over, you’re just as likely to come across a male as a female. Snakes generally remain active through the warmer months before becoming less active in autumn and winter, although a warm winter’s day can still bring one out. While Lake Macquarie is home to a variety of snake species, two you should know well are the Red-bellied Black Snake and Eastern Brown Snake. Let’s take a closer look at both.
Red-Bellied Black Snakes
Red-bellied Black Snakes like to live near water, so you’ll often find them around streams, lagoons and creeks. They shelter in long grass, under rocks or in burrows and are a medium-sized snake. These snakes generally grow to around 1.5–2 metres long. Their head and body are glossy black, sometimes with a lighter brown snout, while their underside is a striking red, pink or orange colour. One of the most commonly encountered snakes in our area, Red-bellied Black Snakes are generally not aggressive towards people. They are more likely to freeze or flee when they feel threatened. If one happens to move in your direction, it can look like it’s coming to attack when it’s simply trying to escape. The best thing to do is give it plenty of space and let it move away on its own.
Eastern Brown Snakes
Another medium-sized snake found around Lake Macquarie is the Eastern Brown Snake. It generally grows to around 1.5 metres long. Despite its name, its colouring can range from a milky coffee colour to almost black, while younger snakes may have darker bands along their bodies. Their head and body are usually similar in colour, with orange or amber-coloured eyes and large black pupils. Eastern Brown Snakes are well adapted to living around people and may shelter beneath sheds, buildings and other structures, as well as in long grass, woodlands and scrub. Unlike the Red-bellied Black Snake, the Eastern Brown can become defensive when it feels threatened and may rear up before striking. They are highly venomous, so if you spot one, keep your distance, keep children and pets well away, and give the snake plenty of space to move on.
First aid for snake bites
You may not always feel or notice a snake bite, so if you think you or someone else has been bitten, treat it as an emergency. Call 000 immediately, regardless of the type of snake, and begin first aid while waiting for help.
- Move away from the snake and keep everyone safe.
- Keep the person calm and as still as possible and call 000.
- Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage as soon as possible.
- Firmly bandage over the bite site first. The bandage should be firm, but not so tight that it causes numbness or loss of circulation.
- Continue bandaging the entire limb, starting at the fingers or toes and working upwards.
- Keep the bitten limb completely still by splinting it if possible.
- If the bite is on the torso and cannot be bandaged, apply firm pressure over the area.
- If possible, mark the bandage with the location of the bite.
- DO NOT use a tourniquet, cut or wash the bite, or try to suck out the venom.
Remember: Keep still, bandage, and call 000.
How to avoid a snake
Avoiding contact with snakes is always the best approach. We asked former Lake Macquarie resident and expert snake catcher Jake Hansen for his top six tips to make your home and garden less inviting to snakes.
- Remove hiding spots. Piles of rocks, loose sheets of tin, rubbish and stacked timber all make great hiding places. Seal gaps in rock gardens and retaining walls where possible.
- Check under sheds and buildings. Snakes won’t dig their own holes, but they will happily use gaps and holes created by other animals. If your home or shed sits on a concrete slab, make sure any openings underneath are filled or sealed.
- Keep plants off the ground. Low, dense plants provide somewhere for snakes to hide and warm themselves. Choose plants that can be pruned to leave a clear gap between the foliage and the ground.
- Tidy up around pools and ponds. Overgrown shrubs, water, and gaps in retaining walls can create an ideal snake hideaway. Keep bushes trimmed and seal any gaps where snakes could shelter.
- Seal gaps around doors. On hot days, snakes may seek out cool, sheltered spaces. Fit weatherstripping along the bottom of doors and seal other small gaps around your home. Snakes can squeeze through surprisingly narrow spaces.
- Don’t attract rats. If you keep chooks, avoid leaving food scattered around your yard and remove uneaten feed. Rats can attract snakes, so keeping your garden clean and reducing food sources can help make your property less appealing.
Common snakes in Lake Macquarie
So, what should you do if you spot a snake in your yard? Stand back, keep your distance, and let it move on. If you have young children or pets and you’re concerned, contact a local snake catcher who can safely relocate it. This helps keep both you and the snake safe. Snakes are fascinating native animals. Learning how to safely live alongside them is an important part of enjoying our beautiful Lake Macquarie environment.
If you’re interested in learning about funnel web spiders, check out: Funnel web spiders at large in Lake Macquarie
References:
Expert Snake Catcher – Orange Snake Catcher: Facebook page {Accessed November 2020}
Health Direct: Snake Bites {Accessed November 2020}
Australian Geographic: Australias 10 Most Dangerous Snakes {Accessed November 2020}
Red-bellied black snake Australian Museum {Accessed November 2020}
Eastern brown snake, Australian Museum {Accessed November 2020}
